Wired Investigation Reveals Criminal Networks in Myanmar Use Starlink For Scam Operations

A recent Wired report revealed that fraud companies in Myanmar use Starlink’s satellite connection for scam operations. Authorities have requested Elon Musk’s company to intervene but the startup has remained unresponsive.

According to Wired, workers from fraud companies located in Tai Chang have shared evidence of the use of Starlink service, and authorities in Thailand and the United States believe the tech company has the ability to take action against the criminals.

Last year, Erin West—then deputy district attorney for Santa Clara County, California—learned about a case in Tai Chang and tried to reach a lawyer at SpaceX, letting them know that criminals were using Starlink to “scam Americans,” but never recieved a response.

Wired revealed that at least eight scam compounds located around the Myanmar-Thailand border use Starlink services for their multibillion-dollar businesses, as the Thailand government tried to cut their internet and electricity services. Watchdogs and experts shared that satellite internet service requests have increased.

Rangsiman Rome, a member of the House of Representatives in Thailand, sent a public message addressed to Musk through his social media platform X a few days ago.

“We’ve been exposing scam centers in Southeast Asia and uncovered solid proof that cybercriminals in this region are exploiting Starlink for massive fraud,” wrote Rome. “This is a serious issue with real-world consequences. We have been pushing for immediate actions from our government to cut electricity and internet to the compounds, but they have begun to utilize Starlink to access the internet instead.”

Rome said they know the exact location of the criminal organizations and they expect to collaborate with Starlink to stop malicious actors and fraud companies.

From the satellite images shared, the compounds look like apartment blocks or hotels but have fences, arm guards, and watch towers. According to a United Nations report from 2023, around 120,000 people have been trafficked into scam compounds in Myanmar—the scam companies force people to work day and night. Criminal networks in the area have also been linked to malicious Chinese actors.

A few months ago, Meta revealed it collaborated with law enforcement to disrupt fraud operations in scam compounds in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the UAE.