Why online scam operations are flourishing in war-torn Myanmar

A sign at the final checkpoint before entering Mae Sot in Thailand, warning travellers about cyber scams near the Thai-Myanmar border. [Xu Peng, The Conversation]

South-east Asia has become the "ground zero" for the global online scamming industry, according to the UN, costing victims billions of US dollars each year. Scam operations are run by Chinese crime syndicates from fortified compounds in countries like Myanmar, which has been embroiled in a nationwide armed conflict since 2021.

The size of the scam industry has led to sustained security crackdowns in recent years. This has included a number of joint operations involving police forces from multiple countries. However, despite releasing tens of thousands of trafficked workers from these compounds, the raids have done little to wipe out scam operations.