The European Union has described scam centres as a complex security threat at the intersection of trafficking in human beings, cybercrime, organised crime and financial crime, warning of their rapid proliferation from Southeast Asia to Latin America and West Africa. In a statement delivered on 24 June 2026 at the UNTOC Working Group on Combating Trafficking in Persons, the EU highlighted that victims are compelled to commit online fraud targeting victims worldwide, including within the EU, and that criminal networks increasingly use AI-powered tools for recruitment, control and exploitation.
The statement, delivered on behalf of the EU and its Member States, noted that AI facilitates automation of communication, generation of fake identities and websites, deepfakes and voice cloning in multiple languages, increasing the scale and sophistication of trafficking-related crimes. At the same time, the EU acknowledged that AI can support counter-efforts through improved financial intelligence and online investigations.
The EU outlined a broad multidisciplinary and international partnership to combat scam centres, including cooperation with ASEAN partners, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Council of Europe and Interpol, as well as discussions within the G7 framework. Regional engagement is pursued through the ESIWA+ programme, including a joint EU-Thailand workshop in August 2025 and an EU-Thailand-ASEAN regional seminar in April 2026. A forthcoming EU-funded project will support prevention, operational cooperation and international engagement against scam centres globally, with a focus on Southeast Asia.
Operational cooperation has intensified under the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), targeting both trafficking in human beings and cybercrime priorities, with actions supporting intelligence-sharing, joint investigations, victim identification and protection, and cooperation with third countries affected by scam compounds.
The EU stressed the essential role of digital services providers, noting obligations under the Digital Services Act for very large online platforms to mitigate systemic risks. The AI Act and guidelines on high-risk AI systems address risks linked to manipulation and malicious use, while the amended Anti-Trafficking Directive reinforces the non-punishment principle for victims coerced into unlawful activities.
At policy level, the European Commission is preparing a new EU Action Plan to combat online fraud and a new EU Strategy on combating Trafficking in Human Beings, expected in October 2026, which will focus on technology-facilitated trafficking, including online exploitation and artificial intelligence.