Seized scam centre in Myanmar offers rare glimpse into industry targeting Australians

A major operation by pro-democracy forces in Myanmar’s borderlands uncovered one of the country’s largest online scam operations, offering a rare insight into a global industry targeting Australians and others. According to satellite imagery, witness accounts and local investigations, the scam industry is evolving and expanding into remote areas, increasingly beyond the reach of authorities. The Karen National Liberation Army, an ethnic Karen armed group, recently reclaimed territory previously controlled by a militia. During this operation, they discovered a large apartment complex hidden behind jungle and razor wire fencing. Inside, they found a sprawling facility housing approximately 3,000 individuals engaged in industrial-scale cyber fraud. The site, known as Shunda Park, served as a central hub for sophisticated online deception schemes. Victims described harrowing conditions within the compound. One individual, identified only as Ivan, recounted being trafficked through Thailand to Myanmar and subjected to severe mistreatment. He said that when scammers failed to target enough people, they were physically punished, chained and confined to dark rooms for extended periods with minimal sustenance. Similar accounts emerged from other workers, detailing abuse, deprivation, and visible signs of injury. Photographs shared with Australian media showed bruising and other physical trauma. During the operation, troops confiscated thousands of mobile devices, SIM cards, and hard drives, along with instructional materials outlining methods for conducting romance scams. These findings underscore the scale and sophistication of the operation. The compound appeared deceptively ordinary from the outside, resembling a standard office building, yet its internal workings revealed a highly organized criminal enterprise. The seizure of Shunda Park highlights the broader trend of the scam industry flourishing amid the instability caused by Myanmar’s ongoing conflict. Since the 2021 military coup, such operations have expanded rapidly across the country’s lawless border regions, generating substantial illicit profits while exploiting trafficked laborers from around the globe. Two individuals, Ivan from Malaysia and another from Taiwan, spoke to the ABC about their experiences being lured into these compounds in the mountainous regions of Myanmar’s Karen State. They requested anonymity due to fears of retaliation or further online harassment. Despite efforts by Thailand and the Myanmar military to dismantle such centers, the industry appears to be adapting and persisting. Notable examples include the former operations of Shwe Kokko and KK Park, both of which housed thousands of workers before being raided or destroyed. KK Park alone reportedly employed up to 25,000 scammers prior to its destruction. Thai anti-trafficking officials noted that the actual number of people detained might have been even higher. Analysts suggest that the industry is shifting toward more decentralized structures, making it harder to track and eliminate. Jason Tower, a senior analyst with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, stated that the problem is not diminishing but changing. “The problem isn’t disappearing, it’s morphing,” he remarked. On the ground, representatives from the Free Burma Rangers corroborated this assessment. Cameron, a member of the organization working with rescued victims, observed multiple suspected scam compounds under construction along the route to Shunda Park. Nathan Ruser, an analyst from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute monitoring these sites via satellite, noted that new facilities are being developed even as authorities claim progress in dismantling existing ones. “The growth of these centres is following an exponential curve,” he explained. Newer compounds often resemble residential apartments, strategically located near the Thai border. Many are situated close to one another, suggesting coordinated activity. Tower pointed to emerging patterns indicating a shift in operational tactics designed to avoid detection. “Scamming 2.0 is effectively compounds no longer within view from the Thai border, but operating in more concealed locations.” This evolution presents a persistent challenge for international efforts to combat transnational cybercrime.