Meta disables 150,000 accounts in global sting on Southeast Asian scam centres

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Agence France-PresseMarch 12, 2026 at 02:12 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Meta disabled over 150,000 accounts as part of a global operation targeting Southeast Asian scam centers on Wednesday. The crackdown, led by Thailand’s Royal Thai Police Anti-Cyber Scam Centre with support from the FBI and US Justice Department, also resulted in 21 arrests in Thailand. These scam centers, often located in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, operate sophisticated networks that lure victims into fake relationships and cryptocurrency investments. The scammers target internet users worldwide in multiple languages, stealing billions of dollars through these fraudulent schemes. Meta investigators acted on real-time intelligence shared by law enforcement agencies to disable the accounts.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Phnom Penh 40% Laos 60% Cambodia 60% Myanmar 60% Scam Centre Strike Force 70% United States Justice Department 70% Thai police 70% Thailand 70% FBI 70% Royal Thai Police Anti-Cyber Scam Centre 80% Meta ×290%

Keywords

scam centres 100% online scams 90% fraud 70% meta 70% cybercrime 60% southeast asia 60% law enforcement 50% criminal networks 50% cryptocurrency investments 50%