Meta has disabled more than 150,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to criminal scam centre networks in Southeast Asia. The move is part of a major international law enforcement operation that also resulted in 21 arrests by the Royal Thai Police.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, 11th March 2026, following the second Joint Disruption Week in Bangkok. The operation was led by the Royal Thai Police Anti-Cyber Scam Center, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Justice Scam Center Strike Force.
The effort involved agencies from multiple countries, including Singapore, Thailand, the US, the UK’s National Crime Agency, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. About 4,900 of the disabled accounts were removed with assistance from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), which shared intelligence with Meta. A pilot operation in December 2025 had removed 59,000 accounts, pages, and groups, resulting in six arrest warrants.
Meta investigators acted on real-time intelligence from law enforcement partners. The disabled accounts were associated with scam centres, many operating from compounds in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. These networks run sophisticated operations that trick victims into fake romantic relationships, cryptocurrency investments, and other frauds, stealing billions globally.
Mandarin-speaking audiences in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore were frequently targeted. Meta noted that this reflects both the potential returns from larger markets and the operational capabilities of scam compounds, where workers are trained to conduct outreach in English or major regional languages. Criminal syndicates remain opportunistic and can target individuals anywhere.
During the operation, three main scam types were observed on Meta platforms. First, law enforcement impersonation scams, where criminals pose as police or government officials to extort victims. Second, digital arrest scams, which involve fake video call “arrests” to coerce victims into payments or asset transfers. Third, cryptocurrency investment scams, where fraudsters build false romantic or professional relationships to lure victims into financial schemes.
David Agranovich, Meta’s director of global threat disruption, highlighted the value of collaboration: “When platforms and law enforcement can share intelligence in real time and coordinate action against the criminals, we can disrupt these networks faster and more effectively than any of us can do alone.”
Daryl Poon, Meta’s director of law enforcement for the Asia-Pacific region, said that scam networks operate across borders and adapt quickly, often shifting tactics between platforms and jurisdictions. Poon added that initiatives like the Joint Disruption Week allow Meta to stay ahead of emerging scam trends and better protect people across the region.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Gregory Kang from the SPF emphasised the importance of cooperation, stating that by proactively sharing information, authorities can more effectively disrupt the criminal networks behind these scams. Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej of the Royal Thai Police described the harm caused by these syndicates to communities and economies, noting that tackling scams requires a joint effort between the public and private sectors. Bhuridej added that the operation sends a clear message to criminals that the Royal Thai Police and their partners will continue to suppress and eradicate all forms of online crime to make Thai society and the region safe for all citizens.
Chris Sonderby, Meta’s vice-president and deputy general counsel, added that the operation demonstrates how sharing information and coordinating efforts can make real progress in disrupting criminal activity at its source.
Meta also announced new safety features across Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp. On Facebook, alerts help users assess suspicious friend requests from accounts with few mutual friends or mismatched country locations, offering options to block or report. On WhatsApp, alerts warn users about suspicious account-linking requests used by scammers to gain access, highlighting the request’s origin and potential risks. On Messenger, advanced scam detection is expanding to more countries. Users receive warnings when chats with new contacts show common scam patterns, can share messages for AI review, and receive guidance on blocking or reporting scams.
Meta also released its adversarial threat report for the first half of 2026, highlighting emerging scam trends. These measures build on prior efforts that removed millions of accounts linked to criminal scam centres.
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