Myanmar has proposed the death penalty for people running violent online scam operations, as authorities move to tighten action against transnational fraud networks that have spread across the country and drawn rising international scrutiny over scam compounds linked to romance and cryptocurrency fraud.
Draft Law Targets Violent Scam Operators
Myanmar’s military backed government introduced the Anti Online Scam Bill on May 14. The draft proposes maximum sentences of life imprisonment for individuals running scam centres or conducting digital currency fraud.
The bill goes further in cases involving coercion and abuse. It permits capital punishment for operators accused of using violence, torture, unlawful arrest and detention, or cruel treatment to force trafficked workers into carrying out online scams. Lawmakers are expected to take up further discussion of the bill during the next parliamentary session in early June.
The proposal comes as Myanmar faces mounting pressure over scam compounds that have become associated with organised criminal activity across Southeast Asia. Many rescued workers later reported abuse, forced labour and illegal detention inside such centres.
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Regional Scam Crisis Spurs Tougher Response
Online fraud networks expanded rapidly across Myanmar after the 2021 military coup, according to the screenshots, which say instability across the country helped organised crime groups establish large scam compounds in unstable border regions. The growing reach of these operations has made the issue more than a national law enforcement problem, with authorities in several countries stepping up investigations and legal responses.
The figures from the Federal Bureau of Investigation showing that online scams caused more than $20 billion in losses in the United States last year. U.S. authorities have also increased enforcement efforts against Southeast Asian fraud networks tied to cryptocurrency scams.
Last month, the United States Department of Justice announced coordinated action against scam compounds operating in Myanmar and Cambodia. Authorities charged two Chinese nationals linked to crypto investment fraud operations, seized 503 fake investment websites and froze more than $700 million linked to crypto related money laundering schemes.
Neighbouring Countries Expand Cybercrime Laws
Myanmar is not alone in moving toward tougher legal measures. Cambodia recently approved new anti fraud legislation aimed at crypto scams and organised cybercrime. Justice Minister Keut Rith described the law as strict like a fishing net, with punishments including prison terms of up to 10 years and fines reaching $250,000 for serious offences.
Singapore has also expanded its cybercrime response. The Singapore Police Force plans to launch a new Cyber Command unit in July 2026, bringing scam investigations, cyber intelligence and enforcement operations under one structure. Minister Goh Pei Ming said the Cyber Command would be the tip of the spear during the Anti Scam Conference 2026.
In the United States, the Department of the Treasury has recently launched a threat intelligence programme for digital asset companies. Regulators are increasingly treating crypto platforms as part of critical financial infrastructure, a shift that is prompting tighter cybersecurity coordination as governments respond to the expanding scale and sophistication of cross border scam operations.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
