KUALA LUMPUR - The Japanese government will provide forensic equipment to police in several Southeast Asian countries as fraud targeting Japanese citizens continues to escalate.

The government signed an exchange of notes with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), pledging up to 516 million yen in grant aid on February 16 in Bangkok.

The equipment will be supplied to the police in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It will enable authorities to analyze seized smartphones and computers, thereby strengthening data analysis and surveillance capabilities.

Southeast Asia has become a key base for organized fraud groups, and addressing cross-border crime remains a major challenge amid ongoing arrests in the region.

According to the Nikkei, financial damage from special fraud and social media-based scams targeting Japanese citizens reached 324.1 billion yen in 2025 (preliminary figures), up 1.6 times from the previous year.

Authorities estimate that around 300,000 people are involved in scam operations across Southeast Asia.

In 2025, Japan’s National Police Agency dispatched senior officials to Thailand, Cambodia, and two other countries to hold consultations with local law enforcement leaders. 

“To effectively counter rapidly evolving criminal networks, we must join hands to confront this common threat”, said Masato Otaka, Japan’s ambassador, emphasizing the need for international cooperation.