An investigative report by Agence France-Presse (AFP) says that as Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries step up their crackdowns on telecom and online fraud, some transnational scam groups have begun shifting to Africa, with Madagascar emerging as a new base of operations.
According to the report, Madagascar’s law enforcement authorities carried out operations with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice in August and September this year, dismantling 13 scam sites. A total of 148 Chinese nationals were repatriated to China.
The investigation found that the activities mainly involved online dating and fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, with victims in the United States, Canada and other countries.
Some of the groups involved had previously operated in Cambodia. Information released by the U.S. Department of Justice on October 27 indicated that a criminal group involving Malaysian and Chinese nationals allegedly established scam sites in Madagascar in early 2025. Some operations may have moved there following stronger law enforcement in Cambodia.
In addition, three Brazilian nationals said in court documents that they had entered scam compounds in Cambodia through online recruitment. They were later moved to Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, in early May 2026 because of the Cambodia–Thailand border situation and local anti-scam operations.
At the same time, people from some African countries were attracted by false offers of highly paid jobs. After arriving, their passports were confiscated, and some were even forced to take part in scams.
Analysts say the repeated relocation of transnational scam groups highlights the need for stronger international law enforcement cooperation against such crimes. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against six suspects in cases related to Madagascar.
There is currently no evidence that all the scam sites uncovered in Madagascar were relocated from Cambodia.
