Cybercrime Has Real Victims - Industrial-Scale Scam Centers and Digital Economy Resilience

Explore the devastating human impact of modern cybercrime through this 33-minute conference talk from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026. Discover how cyber fraud has evolved beyond simple financial theft to encompass human trafficking and tech-enabled coercion, with industrial-scale scam centers across South-East Asia trapping workers while targeting victims worldwide. Learn about the alarming projection that online payment fraud will exceed $362 billion by 2028 and examine potential strategies to disrupt these criminal operations, protect exploited workers, and build resilience in the digital economy. Gain insights from expert speakers including Valdecy Urquiza, Anne Neuberger, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Gary A. Haugen, and Jeremy Jurgens as they address the intersection of cybercrime, human trafficking, and global economic security. Understand the complex challenges facing governments, international organizations, and private sector partners in combating these sophisticated criminal networks that blur the lines between digital fraud and physical exploitation.