26 May 2025

Thailand’s unwinnable war on scammers

In February 2025, Thailand unleashed an unprecedented crackdown to salvage its reputation as a gateway for transnational — typically Chinese-run — scam networks lurking in mainland Southeast Asia. Having rescued thousands from scam dens in Myanmar, Thailand could claim mission accomplished. But Thailand knows that rings hollow when syndicates remain fluid and the fight is multi-front, all while domestic cleavages persist and the geopolitical costs of leaning on China are rising.