Sri Lanka emerges as new online scam hub after Cambodia and Myanmar

Over 700 foreigners detained this year as Chinese cyber-crime syndicates seek new perches

Sri Lankan police are on the lookout for foreign scammers who have set up shop in recent years. © Reuters

BANGKOK -- Sri Lanka's police and customs officials are facing a new challenge after foreign operatives started setting up cyber-scam operations in the island nation -- an inviting destination after Chinese-led transnational criminal syndicates faced crackdowns on multibillion-dollar operations in Southeast Asia.