Introduction
Are you feeling anxious, wondering, "Why are scams increasing so much?" and "Are measures being taken to combat them?"
recent years,Online fraudIt has expanded at an astonishing speed, and is no longer a personal matter but has transformed into a massive international business.
This article provides a clear explanation of the realities, methods, and countermeasures of fraudulent businesses in various countries, based on the latest trends, as well as future prospects.
Online fraud has become "one of the world's largest illegal industries."
Currently, online fraud is not just a type of crime,Approximately 75 trillion yen annuallyIt is growing into a massive industry, which is estimated to be a huge industry.
This is on a scale comparable to illegal drug trafficking and has the following characteristics:
- "Cross-border crime" that operates across national borders
- Organized and specialized business models
- High profitability through the use of digital technology
Of particular note is the fact that the US and UK governments have taken large-scale asset seizures and imposed sanctions.
With approximately 2 trillion yen worth of cryptocurrency being seized, national-level countermeasures are becoming more serious.
In other words,**It's not "individual vs. con artist," but "state vs. crime industry."We are now entering the ** phase.
The reality and sophisticated methods of fraudulent businesses
So why has it expanded to this extent?
Behind this lies an extremely sophisticated methodology and structure.
- "Relationship-building scams" that exploit people's psychology“
Scammers don't ask for money right away.
They build trust through social media and messaging apps, then use romantic feelings or friendship to extract funds.
Typical examples include so-called "romance scams" and "investment scams." - Tracing difficult-to-trace fund transfers using cryptocurrency
Because the stolen funds are transferred in cryptocurrency, tracking and recovery are extremely difficult.
This results in an extremely high return on investment compared to the risk of crime. -
The existence of factory-type fraud bases
In Southeast Asia, there are facilities known as "fraudulent factories."
It is estimated that approximately 200,000 people were involved.The features are as follows:
- A facility surrounded by barbed wire and surveillance cameras
- Control by armed security
- Some may have been forced labor.
Thus, fraud is not a **individual crime** but is operated as an **"industrialized business**.
Measures taken by various countries and the reasons why it still doesn't stop
While countries are strengthening their countermeasures, complete deterrence has not yet been achieved.
Main countermeasures
- US and UK: Asset freezes, economic sanctions, and property seizures.
- China: Mass arrests and harsher punishments (including death sentences)
- Singapore: Strengthening of anti-money laundering laws
These measures have had a certain deterrent effect.
However, the problem lies in the "adaptability of fraudulent businesses."
Why won't it stop?
- You can quickly move your base to another country.
- The profits are so enormous that entry into the market is unstoppable.
- In some countries, enforcement is insufficient.
In fact, our bases are beginning to diversify from Southeast Asia to Pacific nations, the Middle East, and other regions.
In other words,“The structure of a "cat-and-mouse game"That's how it is.
Summary
Online fraud is no longer a problem that can be prevented by individual vigilance alone.
What's important is the ability to question things and the perspective to understand how things work.
The same applies to work.
"The more appealing the offer, the more you should pause and think about it."
"Making decisions based on unseen risks."
These two points can be considered the fundamental stance for the coming era.
