Sri Lanka sees ‘alarming’ rise in cybercrime as scam networks relocate from south-east Asia
Prison guards escort detained Chinese nationals suspected of running scam centres in Sri Lanka. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFPView image in fullscreenPrison guards escort detained Chinese nationals suspected of running scam centres in Sri Lanka. The police said all those arrested had come to Sri Lanka on tourist visas.The transnational scam industry that flourished in south-east Asia over the past decade has become of the largest organised-crime enterprises in the world.
- ▪Prison guards escort detained Chinese nationals suspected of running scam centres in Sri Lanka.
- ▪Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFPView image in fullscreenPrison guards escort detained Chinese nationals suspected of running scam centres in Sri Lanka.
- ▪The police said all those arrested had come to Sri Lanka on tourist visas.The transnational scam industry that flourished in south-east Asia over the past decade has become of the largest organised-crime enterprises in the world.
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| Original publisher | World news | The Guardian |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/16/sri-lanka-alarming-rise-cybercrime-scam-networks-south-east-asia-cambodia-myanmar-china |
| Publication time | Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:27:46 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-16T00:42:43.057Z |
| Last seen | 2026-06-16T01:27:24.851Z |
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Prison guards escort detained Chinese nationals suspected of running scam centres in Sri Lanka. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFPView image in fullscreenPrison guards escort detained Chinese nationals suspected of running scam centres in Sri Lanka. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFPSri LankaSri Lanka sees ‘alarming’ rise in cybercrime as scam networks relocate from south-east Asia Experts say criminal networks favour Sri Lanka due to ease of getting tourist visas and limited regulation on sim cards and internet connectionsHannah Ellis-Petersen in Delhi and Aanya Wipulasena in ColomboMon 15 Jun 2026 20.27 EDTLast modified on Mon 15 Jun 2026 20.29 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleExperts have warned that Sri Lanka is emerging as a hub for transnational cybercrime, after a crackdown in…
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