How do scam hubs in Southeast Asia operate?
CYBER SECURITY
2 NOVEMBER 2025
- About 500 Indian citizens who recently fled the KK Park cyber crime hub in Myawaddy township, near the Thailand border in south-eastern Myanmar, are set to be repatriated by the Indian government.
- KK Park is one of the most notorious “scam cities” on the Myanmar-Thailand border — a massive, purpose-built compound in the Myawaddy township in Karen State, controlled by a junta-allied Border Guard Force (BGF) led by warlord Saw Chit Thu, who has close personal ties to Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing.
- The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Saw Chit Thu earlier this year for his deep involvement in criminal operations, citing forced labour and links to the scam compounds.
- Following reports of widespread Starlink usage at these compounds, the Myanmar junta conducted a “raid” into the KK Park compound and confiscated 30 Starlink devices.
- Democracy activists described the “raid” as a staged public relations stunt.
- This media-friendly operation coincided with a U.S. Congressional investigation into the use of Starlink at scam hubs.
- The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) calls these “compound crime” facilities industrial, jail-like complexes where thousands are trafficked and forced to commit cybercrimes.
- One of the most infamous scams run by such compounds is “pig butchering” (shā zhū pán), a combined investment and romance scam. Scammers build trust over many days, often faking romantic relationships, then convince victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms.
- After showing fake initial profits and luring larger investments, they “butcher” victims by disappearing with everything.
- Other scams include impersonation (posing as police or bank agents) and extortion through blackmail.
- Cambodia is another major hub, with large-scale centres
- While initially targeting Chinese citizens, victims now span over 110 countries across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, including India.
- The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates these scams generate billions of dollars annually.
