In a significant move against rampant digital fraud, Myanmar’s military recently announced the shutdown of a massive online scam operation situated near its border with Thailand. The extensive raid, which unfolded starting in early September, resulted in the detention of over 2,000 individuals and the seizure of numerous Starlink satellite internet terminals, as reported by state media on Monday, October 20, 2025.
Myanmar has long been a hotbed for sophisticated cyberscam operations, with perpetrators targeting and defrauding individuals globally. These illicit schemes often rely on elaborate tactics, such as ‘romance scams’ that exploit emotional vulnerabilities or deceptive ‘pig butchering’ investment pitches designed to steal large sums of money.
Beyond financial fraud, these scam centers are notorious for their human rights abuses. They frequently lure unsuspecting foreign workers with promises of legitimate employment, only to hold them captive and coerce them into participating in these criminal enterprises.
The issue of cross-border scam operations gained considerable international attention just last week when both the United States and Britain imposed sanctions on the masterminds behind a large Cambodian cyberscam syndicate. In a related development, the alleged ringleader of that gang was formally indicted by a federal court in New York.
Details from Monday’s Myanma Alinn newspaper revealed that the army’s recent operation specifically targeted ‘KK Park,’ a well-known cybercrime hub. This raid was part of a broader crackdown initiated in early September, aimed at stamping out online fraud, illicit gambling, and other transnational cybercriminal activities.
The newspaper also featured images showcasing confiscated Starlink equipment and soldiers actively involved in the raid, though the exact timing of these photographs remains unconfirmed.
KK Park’s strategic yet volatile location on the outskirts of Myawaddy, a significant trading town in Myanmar’s Kayin state bordering Thailand, complicates enforcement. This area is only loosely controlled by Myanmar’s military government, with substantial influence also wielded by various ethnic minority militias.
In a late Monday statement, Major General Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the military government, accused senior leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU)—an armed ethnic organization resisting military rule—of being complicit in the scam operations at KK Park.
These accusations stem from earlier claims that a KNU-affiliated company permitted the land lease for these operations. However, the Karen National Union, a key faction in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, vehemently denies any involvement in these illegal scam activities.
Myanma Alinn further reported that the army identified over 260 unregistered buildings during the raid. Among the seized items were 30 Starlink satellite internet terminals. While 2,198 individuals were detained, their nationalities were not disclosed by the military.
Starlink, the satellite internet service by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, lacks official licensing in Myanmar. Despite this, hundreds of its terminals have been illegally smuggled into the Southeast Asian nation, likely facilitating these unauthorized operations.
SpaceX was unavailable for immediate comment on Monday. However, Starlink’s official policy strictly prohibits ‘conduct that is defamatory, fraudulent, obscene, or deceptive,’ underscoring the illicit nature of their use in Myanmar.
This isn’t the first time Myanmar has targeted such operations; similar crackdowns on cyberscam networks occurred earlier in 2025 and throughout 2023.
In February, under significant pressure from China, the governments of Thailand and Myanmar collaborated on a joint operation that successfully rescued thousands of human trafficking victims from various scam compounds. This effort involved cooperation with ethnic armed groups that control significant portions of Myanmar’s border regions.