A probing investigation of Southeast Asia's online scam industry - told through the voices of survivors

Running the gamut from the infamous 'pig butchering' romance con to sophisticated online extortion and investment fraud, Southeast Asia has emerged as the global hub for cybercrime. Based on years of field research, Scam takes an in-depth look at the history and inner dynamics of the region's online scam industry. Revealed are the appalling working conditions - akin to modern slavery - in the hundreds of prisonlike compounds that have mushroomed throughout multiple countries. The result is a shocking exposé of victims forced to be perpetrators, a tragic modern tale.

"[An] eye-opening investigation...the authors make an ominous prediction that increasing alienation, economic desperation, and technological advancement will lead to more such exploitation of both scammers and scammed alike. It's a shocking exposé of a little-known underworld and a frightening glimpse into a growing threat." - Publishers Weekly

"This excellent, rigorously researched study lays out how the complicity of local officials and the vast wealth that can be achieved through cybercrime make this a problem that won't go away easily." - Bloomberg

"In Scam: Inside Southeast Asia's Cybercrime Compounds, Ivan Franceschini, Ling Li, and Mark Bo delve into the structure of this powerful shadow industry. Seeking to move beyond sensationalist headlines and stereotypes, they conducted interviews with hundreds of victims of these scam compounds. Their research paints a grim picture of a growing aspect of contemporary capitalism." - Jacobin

"Fascinating ... one of the first books to provide a comprehensive overview of this alarming criminal industry." - Telegraph