百亿诈骗帝国，为何越打越狂？

Core Points - The article discusses the expansion of transnational fraud networks despite global crackdown efforts, highlighting the U.S. Treasury's sanctions against a Cambodian crime syndicate involving 146 individuals and entities [1][2][3] - The "pig butchering" investment scams have resulted in losses exceeding $16.6 billion for U.S. citizens over recent years, with Southeast Asian scams alone causing over $10 billion in losses in 2024, a 66% increase year-on-year [2][6] - The article emphasizes the evolution of organized crime in the digital age, transforming into a decentralized and modular global business model that operates like a tech company [13][14][15] Group 1: Crime Network Operations - The crime syndicate led by Chen Zhi has established a luxurious empire in Cambodia, controlling at least ten closed zones where coerced workers are forced to engage in high-intensity scam operations [2][3] - These operations involve the use of over 100 shell companies and extend from Mauritius to Taiwan, including activities like Bitcoin mining in Laos and luxury resort development in Palau [3] - The article notes that the crime networks have adapted to target foreign victims, particularly Americans, as a response to increased domestic crackdowns in China [4][46] Group 2: Financial Impact and Growth - Data indicates that cryptocurrency scams are projected to generate at least $9.9 billion in 2024, with a 24% annual growth rate since 2020, and "pig butchering" scams increasing by 40% [6][52] - The article highlights that the fraud industry has become a multi-billion dollar enterprise, with the potential for further growth as it evolves and adapts to law enforcement efforts [9][34] Group 3: Challenges in Law Enforcement - The article describes the "whack-a-mole" effect, where law enforcement actions against individual crime leaders do not significantly impact the overall network, which continues to adapt and expand [30][34] - It points out the challenges posed by the global nature of these crime networks, which operate across multiple jurisdictions, making coordinated law enforcement difficult [40][42] - The article emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive approach to combat these networks, focusing on dismantling the infrastructure that supports them rather than just targeting individual leaders [73][76] Group 4: Societal Implications - The article warns that the rise of these scams is eroding trust in society, leading to a "global trust deficit" that affects interpersonal relationships and economic interactions [57][65] - It argues that the commodification of emotions and trust in the digital age poses a significant threat to social cohesion and future wealth creation [61][67] - The article concludes that without effective measures to combat these scams, society as a whole will bear the costs of increased suspicion and reduced trust [69][70]