Myanmar to demolish 150 buildings at 'scam nest' KK Park

(CLO) On November 9, the Myanmar military said it was demolishing about 150 buildings in the scam den area called KK Park, following a crackdown in October.

Online scams have flourished in Myanmar’s loosely regulated border regions, where they have become a haven for criminal gangs that defraud unsuspecting internet users and rake in tens of billions of dollars a year.

Some of the people working in these “fraud factories” are exploited, tricked or forced to work. However, many also volunteer to participate, attracted by the high income and luxurious working environment, serving the crime lords and their key employees.

KK Park area in the Myanmar-Thailand border area. Photo: PNJ

In October, the Myanmar military announced a major raid on the KK Park scam center, where they uncovered more than 2,000 scammers. Around 1,500 went on to flee to Thailand rather than be “rescued.”

According to Myanmar state media, authorities discovered 148 buildings linked to the scam in the area, including dormitories, a four-story hospital and a two-story karaoke complex.

Myanmar media added that 101 buildings have been destroyed, while 47 others are in the process of being demolished. Locals in Myanmar and Thailand said they have heard continuous explosions since the Myanmar military operation began.

Satellite image shows KK Park in Myawaddy, Myanmar. Photo: Maxar Technologies

Previously, reports said that a series of Starlink satellite internet receivers were installed at this scam den, after Thailand issued a cross-border internet blockade to prevent cybercrime establishments from operating.

Following the investigation, SpaceX, Starlink's parent company, announced that it had disconnected more than 2,500 satellite internet terminals in areas suspected of being fraud centers in Myanmar, in a bid to prevent the use of its technology for criminal purposes.

Several countries are working with Myanmar to crack down on fraudulent activities in the country. In February, a joint operation led by China resulted in the repatriation of about 7,000 fraudsters from Myanmar, in what was considered the largest crackdown to date.

Source: https://congluan.vn/myanmar-tien-hanh-pha-do-150-toa-nha-tai-o-lua-dao-kk-park-10317179.html