Southeast Asia has rapidly emerged as the new “ground zero” of the global online scam industry. According to UN assessments, cyber-fraud networks operating from this region siphon off billions of dollars from victims every year. In countries like Myanmar — torn by internal conflict since 2021 — criminal syndicates have built large fortified compounds to run sophisticated scam operations.
Despite joint crackdowns by several countries and the release of thousands of trafficked workers, these networks have not disappeared. Instead, they simply relocate to new areas and resume operations.
Tight Chinese border pushes scam hubs south
The author has conducted field research along the China–Thailand–Myanmar borders since 2018. Their findings show that China maintains extremely strict security controls near its frontier.
Before travelers even reach the border in Yunnan province, they pass through multiple internal checkpoints. Identity verification, questioning, and surveillance are routine. Digital billboards, posters and loudspeakers repeat one warning over and over: “Do not cross the border to work in scam parks.”
At the same time:
- Phone SIM cards require real-name registration
- Anti-fraud apps are installed on smartphones
- Cross-border financial transactions face close scrutiny
Together, these measures have made it increasingly difficult for criminal groups to operate large scam centers near China. As a result, several hubs shut down — and many networks shifted further south.
Thailand’s border: humanitarian leniency brings new risks
The Thailand–Myanmar border tells a different story. For decades, it has served as a lifeline for trade, migration and refugees fleeing conflict. Here you find:
- long-standing refugee camps
- extensive humanitarian infrastructure
- numerous informal crossing points
All of this makes movement relatively easier.
Cities like Mae Sot have become hubs for both commerce and relief work — but the same roads and bridges are exploited by traffickers moving victims into scam compounds.
Checkpoints do exist, yet they often operate with humanitarian flexibility. On a recent journey, the researcher passed three checkpoints; documents were checked quickly and travelers were waved through. This ease of movement also benefits recruiters and scam operators.
Inside Myanmar: checkpoints for security — and profit
Inside Myanmar’s contested borderlands, the situation becomes even more complex. Roads and river routes are controlled not by one central authority, but by different ethnic armed groups and border guard forces.
Their checkpoints:
- claim to ensure security
- but also function as lucrative toll-collection points
Whenever political alliances shift, checkpoints can be moved, tightened or relaxed. Scam operators exploit this “elasticity”: when pressure rises, they simply move compounds, equipment and workers elsewhere.
Reports indicate that, in some cases, militias themselves escort Chinese scam workers from hubs like KK Park and Shwe Kokko to major cities such as Yangon or Mandalay — charging hefty “fees” for safe passage.
Crackdowns bend the industry — they don’t break it
Even after high-profile military raids, several scam hubs were soon back to business. The reasons are clear:
- uneven border controls
- entrenched militia networks
- advance warnings of raids
- enormous criminal profits
Whenever risk increases in one location, operations shift to another. Raids and temporary security measures alone are not enough to dismantle the industry.
What next?
Experts argue that any effective solution must work on multiple levels:
1. Zero tolerance toward human trafficking
2. Stricter international oversight of financial flows
3. Deeper cross-border law-enforcement coordination
4. Safe rehabilitation pathways for rescued victims
Otherwise, Myanmar’s “moving scam hubs” will continue to reappear — and people around the world will keep falling prey to online fraud.
