SpaceX has disabled over 2,500 Starlink devices being used by cyber scam syndicates in a lawless corner of Myanmar, according to the company. Despite efforts by regional authorities to crack down on the scams, the networks have continued to proliferate.
The move comes after a raid on one such compound this week uncovered 30 sets of Starlink “receivers and accessories.” The scam centers, which are dedicated to scaming victims out of billions of dollars every year, often lure workers with promises of well-paid jobs or traffick them into carrying out online fraud schemes.
For over a year, the US has raised concerns that criminal networks in Myanmar were using Starlink to access the internet and carry out scams. The company provides high-speed internet service using a network of thousands of satellites at low-Earth orbit.
A recent investigation found that Starlink receivers had been installed on the roofs of scam compounds at a “huge scale.” The US Congress Joint Economic Committee has begun an investigation into Starlink’s alleged involvement in the centers.
The global scam industry is growing rapidly, with criminal groups using artificial intelligence and online cryptocurrency markets to move vast amounts of stolen money undetected. Southeast Asia is a hotspot for romance or investment scams known as “pig butchering,” and Myanmar has become an attractive destination for cybercrime networks who are shielded by corruption and the military junta.
Experts say that while the impact of ceasing Starlink operations is significant, there were still victims trapped inside other buildings of the compound who confirmed they were being forced to scam last night.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/23/asia/myanmar-starlink-scam-centers-spacex-intl-hnk