A new kind of battle is raging in South-East Asia — not on the frontlines, but in the digital shadows. Since Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, the country has become a global hotspot for cyber scams — sprawling criminal networks that have stolen billions from victims worldwide. Now, the junta, long accused of profiting from these schemes, claims it’s cracking down. But many remain sceptical: is this a genuine effort or another move in a broader game of control?
Massive Raid, Starlink Seized
On October 21, Myanmar’s military raided one of its most notorious scam hubs near the Thai border, arresting over 2,000 people, including 445 women. The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported that 30 sets of Starlink receivers were seized — equipment vital to these operations.
Starlink, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, isn’t licensed to operate in Myanmar, yet hundreds of terminals have been smuggled in via Thailand. Favoured by scam centres for its ability to operate even during local blackouts, the service has helped these criminal enterprises stay connected. Following the raid, SpaceX said it had cut off Starlink access to more than 2,500 devices linked to scams in Myanmar.
K.K. Park — The Scam Capital
The operation centred on K.K. Park, a notorious cybercrime hub near Myawaddy in Kayin State, across the Moei River from Thailand’s Mae Sot. The junta claims to have occupied 200 buildings and detained 2,200 workers there, including 15 Chinese nationals accused of online gambling and fraud.
For years, K.K. Park has symbolised the region’s criminal underworld — a nexus of online fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering. The site operates under the control of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a militia that splintered from the Karen National Union (KNU). These armed groups have long been accused of profiting from the scam industry while ignoring the brutal conditions faced by trafficked workers. Under growing international pressure, some factions have been forced into reluctant cooperation.
A junta spokesperson alleged that senior KNU leaders were directly involved in the scams, a claim the Karen resistance denies.
How the Scams Work
The operations stretch across Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, preying on job seekers through fake recruitment drives. Victims are promised high-paying I.T. or sales roles, only to be trafficked into militia-controlled compounds once they cross the border.
Their passports and phones are confiscated, cutting them off from the outside world. Inside heavily guarded complexes, they are forced to run online scams under threat of violence. Beatings, starvation, and torture are common for those who fail to meet targets.
Among the most common scams is “pig butchering” — where fraudsters build fake romantic or investment relationships to drain victims’ savings. Other variants include romance and cryptocurrency scams. Earlier this year, Chinese actor Wang Xing was rescued from one such compound after being duped with a fake acting job — a tactic increasingly used by these networks.
Indian Victims Caught in the Net
India has emerged as a major target. More than 540 Indian nationals have been rescued from South-East Asian cybercrime rings this year alone. Many were trafficked through Thailand into Myanmar after being recruited via fake job ads on social media.
In March 2024, reports revealed that around 5,000 Indians had been lured to Cambodia under the guise of data-entry jobs. Investigations by India’s Cyber Crime Coordination Centre even uncovered links to China. A new hotspot, Hpa Lu near Myawaddy, has recently emerged as a key destination for Indian victims. As of September 2024, 886 Indians have been repatriated from Myanmar.
The Scale of the Crisis
The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that cyber scams in South-East Asia cost victims $37 billion in 2023. The U.S. and U.K. have sanctioned over 100 entities tied to the networks. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, scams originating from this region caused $10 billion in losses in 2024 alone.
In May, Washington designated the Karen National Army a transnational criminal organisation and sanctioned three of its leaders. Meanwhile, a U.S. congressional committee has opened an inquiry into Starlink’s alleged involvement with Myanmar’s scam hubs — though Elon Musk cannot be compelled to testify.
Thailand’s Crucial Role
Thailand occupies a pivotal but complex position in this web — both a transit point for victims and a staging ground for enforcement. Its strong digital infrastructure, cross-border networks, and large migrant workforce make it central to the flow of scam operations.
Following former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Beijing in February, Thailand launched a joint crackdown on Myanmar-based scam hubs, cutting electricity, fuel, and internet to compounds near Myawaddy. Around 7,000 people have since been rescued from scam centres around Shwe Kokko, another notorious hotspot.
Crackdown or Cover-Up?
Despite the junta’s self-congratulatory tone, analysts believe the K.K. Park raid was more symbolic than sweeping — designed to placate Beijing, which has ramped up pressure on Myanmar to dismantle Chinese-led criminal syndicates. China says it has already arrested more than 57,000 nationals involved in cross-border fraud.
Yet, reports indicate at least 27 other scam centres continue to operate in the Myawaddy area, many protected by militia groups allied with the junta. The selective nature of the crackdown raises uncomfortable questions about whether the military’s “cyber war” is truly about justice — or about preserving its own power in the shadows.
