Myanmar Cyber-Scam Hub Under Siege

In November 2023, Laukkai, a city in Myanmar's eastern Shan State known for its cyber-scamming operations, found itself under siege. Htun, trapped in a scamming compound, expressed a mix of fear and hope, stating, “We were really happy, even though we could be killed, because it was our only chance at freedom.” The city has become a significant center for cyber-crime since the military coup in February 2021, with operations proliferating along the border with China and Thailand, where armed groups often collaborate with the military. A report by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) described the rise of scamming in Myanmar as a “criminal cancer.” The military has attempted to distance itself from these operations, blaming them on “Chinese criminals” and claiming to have partnered with China to combat the issue. The United Wa State Army, which has a ceasefire with the military, has cooperated with Chinese authorities to repatriate thousands of Chinese nationals involved in these scams. As the conflict escalated, Htun awoke on November 20 to find that his employers and fellow workers had vanished, leaving him in a dangerous situation. Meanwhile, residents like Hong Naw, who moved to Laukkai in 2019, noted a change in the city’s atmosphere, reporting it was cleaner but struggling economically. Mai Leng, another local, faced conscription by armed forces while trying to escape the chaos, highlighting the ongoing instability in the region as heavy fighting continues.