In 2024, the Global Anti-Slavery Organization (GASO) received a distressing message regarding fraudulent activities taking place at the Tai Chang center in Myanmar. A victim of slave trade disclosed that instead of being promised legal work, he was forced to deceive people online alongside thousands of others at the center. The victim’s primary concern was not his own rescue, but the ongoing criminal activities facilitated through the misuse of technology.
The victim revealed that despite the recent disconnection of the Tai Chang center’s internet connection to Thailand, fraudsters continued their illicit operations by installing Starlink terminals on the rooftops of the complex’s buildings. This allowed them to maintain network connectivity and carry out fraudulent activities without hindrance.
The alarming message reached Erin West, an investigator specializing in cryptocurrency scams, who promptly alerted SpaceX about the illegal use of the Starlink system by scammers to target Americans. Unfortunately, there was no immediate response from SpaceX regarding the matter.
Reports from Wired investigations highlighted the widespread exploitation of Starlink by fraudsters operating in criminal compounds along the Myanmar-Thailand border. It was revealed that eight such compounds were connected to the Starlink system, with over 40,000 connections recorded between November 2024 and February 2025.
Photographic evidence from Tai Chang corroborated the presence of numerous satellite dishes on the buildings, indicating the extensive use of Starlink by criminal groups in the region. Despite being aware of the locations of these fraudulent complexes, the Thai National Security Committee’s plea for cooperation with SpaceX to disable them from the network went unanswered.
Although Starlink has the authority to disconnect customers engaging in fraudulent activities, no action has been taken against the criminal groups in Myanmar utilizing the company’s equipment. These organizations operate fraudulent complexes resembling hotels or residential buildings, holding up to 120,000 individuals captive and coercing them into online scams that generate substantial profits for the criminals.
Prior to resorting to Starlink, fraudsters in the region relied on mobile or wired communications from Thailand, but switched to the satellite system when those methods were shut down by authorities. Despite the seizure of 78 Starlink terminals during a 2024 crackdown on fraudulent operations, the criminals were undeterred.
In response to unauthorized use of the Starlink satellite system, SpaceX initiated efforts in 2024 to combat illegal activities in countries where the service lacked official authorization. This included dismantling a significant underground network distributing Starlink satellite kits in Sudan, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.