Despite recent crackdowns by the military junta and some ethnic armed groups on illegal foreign-run cybercrime operations, incidents of online financial scams targeting the public remain on the rise across Myanmar.
According to junta-controlled media, from January 30 to June 17, over 9,000 foreign nationals who had illegally entered the country were detained. Of those, 8,906 were deported through Thailand to their respective countries, while investigations are ongoing for the remaining individuals.
However, border-based sources report that many foreign nationals involved in online scam networks are still operating in remote border areas and continue to carry out financial fraud.
In a recent case in the town of Three Pagodas Pass, a local resident lost over 70 million kyats in an online scam.
“A friend of mine and someone close to him recently lost more than 70 lakhs. They were tricked into transferring money online, and afterward, the scammers deleted their accounts and vanished without a trace,” said a resident from the area.
Local sources also noted that during the current school enrollment season, there has been an increase in scams disguised as online education services, leading more families to fall victim to fraud.
Cyber activists in Myanmar point to a combination of factors fueling the growth of scams: the involvement of armed groups in scam operations, deepening political instability, the collapse of legal oversight, and increasing economic desperation.
“Online platforms are now a central part of daily life. In times of conflict like now, people are more vulnerable to various threats. It’s hard to quantify these scams accurately, but what’s clear is that improving individuals’ digital security awareness is crucial,” said a digital rights advocate.
As part of preventive efforts, digital rights organizations are emphasizing the importance of public education in digital safety and encouraging users to be skeptical and cautious when conducting daily transactions on social media platforms.
Junta authorities have claimed that online scams are costing Myanmar citizens more than five billion kyats annually. However, digital activists believe the actual losses on the ground could be even higher.
Although the regime has focused on deporting illegal foreign nationals involved in scam rings, there has been little to no effort to support or compensate the victims, leaving many locals bearing the full brunt of financial loss.
Digital rights groups also recommend that those affected by online scams or facing suspicious online activity report incidents via the Spring Security Network’s social media channels, which are working to raise awareness and provide assistance where possible.
