INTERPOL Warns of Surge in Phishing, Ransomware, and AI-Driven Scams Across Asia-Pacific

A new report from INTERPOL reveals a dramatic increase in cybercrime across Asia and the South Pacific, driven by rapid digitalization, new technologies, and organized criminal networks. The 2025/2026 Asia and South Pacific Cyberthreat Assessment Report highlights phishing as the most widespread and financially damaging cybercrime, with a third of countries in the region reporting over 10,000 cases between January 2024 and March 2025. Over half of INTERPOL member countries reported that cybercrime accounted for at least 30% of all crimes recorded nationally.

Ransomware attacks have surged, with over 135,000 incidents estimated in 2024, primarily targeting real estate, manufacturing, and financial services. Cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence, ransomware-as-a-service models, and sophisticated social engineering. Deepfake and AI-driven scams involve impersonating business executives to authorize fraudulent transactions. Transnational organized crime syndicates in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines have set up extensive scam centers using forced labor for investment and romance scams, contributing to $37 billion in regional losses.

Other trends include banking trojans and information stealers like RedLine, Lumma, LokiBot, Negasteal, and ZBot as the second most prevalent cybercrime type. Phishing click rates in the region are nearly double the global average. DDoS attacks surged 92% in 2024, and system intrusions caused about 80% of data breaches. Deepfake technology is used for sexual exploitation and blackmail. INTERPOL is coordinating joint operations, investigations, training, and policy development to combat these threats.