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<\/a><\/h2>\nMyanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 View from November 28<\/strong><\/h2>\n(MoeMaKa) November 29, 2025<\/p>\n
\nThe Growing Difficulty of Tackling the \u201cTiger Scam\u201d Problem<\/strong><\/h1>\nThe crisis surrounding the so-called \u201ctiger compounds\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 large-scale online fraud syndicates \u2014 has many root causes and involves many actors. This makes the problem increasingly complex and difficult to resolve.<\/p>\nThese scam gangs operate in areas with weak rule of law or in territories controlled by armed groups. They pay these armed groups for protection while running vast illegal fraud operations. Inside the compounds, trafficked workers are tortured, abused, or even sold to other scam operations like enslaved labor. Some allegations claim organ harvesting, although there is currently little concrete evidence<\/strong> of medical facilities, equipment or experts needed for such crimes.<\/p>\nTo carry out the core fraud operations \u2014 and the related forms of violence and human trafficking \u2014 the scam syndicates rely heavily on the protection of armed groups<\/strong>. Those groups are fully aware that the gangs are conducting massive criminal scams; they simply shield them under the fa\u00e7ade of \u201ccasino operations.\u201d<\/p>\nIn Myanmar\u2019s borderlands \u2014 the ethnic armed group territories along the China\u2013Myanmar border, and the Karen and Mon regions along the Thai\u2013Myanmar border \u2014 conditions have been ideal for these scam networks to flourish. Over just a few years, they expanded rapidly.<\/p>\n
After northern Shan\u2019s scam compounds were crushed during Operation 1027 in late 2023, the scam syndicates largely disappeared from that region. They then shifted and regrouped at the Thai\u2013Myanmar border<\/strong>, becoming the main hub. Although civil war has continued in Myanmar, many scam compounds in these border areas remained untouched by the fighting and were allowed to operate. Despite intense conflict in Karen State since 2021, places like Shwe Kokko, Kyauk Khat, KK Park, and Three Pagodas Pass<\/strong> allowed scam operations to continue growing.<\/p>\nThese areas are not controlled by one armed group alone \u2014 several different armed actors share authority and collectively prevent any interference in the scam zones. It is hard to deny that the money flowing from these scam operations has, to some extent, funded the ongoing domestic war<\/strong>.<\/p>\nNow, however, the situation has reached a point where everyone involved is being forced to confront the scam problem<\/strong> \u2014 armed groups, the military junta, and even Thai police and immigration officials. There is no longer any way to ignore it.<\/p>\nThe Myanmar junta is also implicated: until early last year, powerful Border Guard Force (BGF) leaders such as Saw Chit Thu were heavily involved. Because those BGF units were under the junta\u2019s formal command structure, the junta will eventually be held responsible for those links.<\/p>\n
At present, there is no real coordinated strategy<\/strong> among the Myanmar military, Thai authorities, and the armed groups operating in the border areas to dismantle the scam networks. There is no serious joint operational response. Instead of cooperation, each side is blaming the others<\/strong>, creating a \u201cblame game\u201d dynamic.<\/p>\nIn recent weeks, the junta has begun its own crackdown by entering KK Park<\/strong>, a site previously leased to the KNU, and launching operations in Myawaddy to target the scam networks. They have destroyed buildings, smashed computers and phones seized from the compounds, and pushed scam workers toward the Myanmar and Thai sides of the border.<\/p>\nYesterday, junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told the media that KNU and KKO\/DKBA<\/strong> armed groups were involved in the scam operations \u2014 highlighting their role. The junta is clearly taking advantage of the world\u2019s attention on scam suppression to politically attack the KNU, using KK Park\u2019s land lease as an entry point. Notably, the junta has deliberately avoided mentioning the BGF<\/strong>, which was actually the earliest and most deeply involved armed group running and benefiting from these scam operations.<\/p>\nThere is still no clear evidence of how profits from the scam operations were shared with junta leaders \u2014 which is why the military can still deny its direct involvement. But the political benefits<\/strong> the junta gained from allowing the compounds to operate are undeniable.<\/p>\nFor its part, the KNU, which has long maintained a non-conflict stance toward other Karen armed groups, also avoided criticizing the scam operations in the border areas. Only recently \u2014 after the KNU stormed a DKBA-protected scam site in Min Let Pan \u2014 has KNU become directly involved in enforcement operations.<\/p>\n
Now the challenge becomes even bigger:
How will the thousands of scam victims fleeing these compounds be processed, screened, repatriated, sheltered, or assisted?<\/strong>
This will require manpower, money, legal authorization, and coordination \u2014 all of which are in short supply.<\/p>\nIn recent days, KNU has appealed to the Thai government and the international community to help resolve large-scale humanitarian challenges emerging from the Min Let Pan raids. How Thailand and foreign embassies respond \u2014 and how KNU handles the next phase of dismantling the scam networks \u2014 will be crucial to watch.<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 Myanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 View from November 28 (MoeMaKa) November 29, 2025 The Growing Difficulty of Tackling the \u201cTiger Scam\u201d Problem The crisis surrounding the so-called \u201ctiger compounds\u201d \u2014 large-scale online fraud syndicates \u2014 has many root causes and…<\/p>\n
The crisis surrounding the so-called \u201ctiger compounds\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 large-scale online fraud syndicates \u2014 has many root causes and involves many actors. This makes the problem increasingly complex and difficult to resolve.<\/p>\n These scam gangs operate in areas with weak rule of law or in territories controlled by armed groups. They pay these armed groups for protection while running vast illegal fraud operations. Inside the compounds, trafficked workers are tortured, abused, or even sold to other scam operations like enslaved labor. Some allegations claim organ harvesting, although there is currently little concrete evidence<\/strong> of medical facilities, equipment or experts needed for such crimes.<\/p>\n To carry out the core fraud operations \u2014 and the related forms of violence and human trafficking \u2014 the scam syndicates rely heavily on the protection of armed groups<\/strong>. Those groups are fully aware that the gangs are conducting massive criminal scams; they simply shield them under the fa\u00e7ade of \u201ccasino operations.\u201d<\/p>\n In Myanmar\u2019s borderlands \u2014 the ethnic armed group territories along the China\u2013Myanmar border, and the Karen and Mon regions along the Thai\u2013Myanmar border \u2014 conditions have been ideal for these scam networks to flourish. Over just a few years, they expanded rapidly.<\/p>\n After northern Shan\u2019s scam compounds were crushed during Operation 1027 in late 2023, the scam syndicates largely disappeared from that region. They then shifted and regrouped at the Thai\u2013Myanmar border<\/strong>, becoming the main hub. Although civil war has continued in Myanmar, many scam compounds in these border areas remained untouched by the fighting and were allowed to operate. Despite intense conflict in Karen State since 2021, places like Shwe Kokko, Kyauk Khat, KK Park, and Three Pagodas Pass<\/strong> allowed scam operations to continue growing.<\/p>\n These areas are not controlled by one armed group alone \u2014 several different armed actors share authority and collectively prevent any interference in the scam zones. It is hard to deny that the money flowing from these scam operations has, to some extent, funded the ongoing domestic war<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Now, however, the situation has reached a point where everyone involved is being forced to confront the scam problem<\/strong> \u2014 armed groups, the military junta, and even Thai police and immigration officials. There is no longer any way to ignore it.<\/p>\n The Myanmar junta is also implicated: until early last year, powerful Border Guard Force (BGF) leaders such as Saw Chit Thu were heavily involved. Because those BGF units were under the junta\u2019s formal command structure, the junta will eventually be held responsible for those links.<\/p>\n At present, there is no real coordinated strategy<\/strong> among the Myanmar military, Thai authorities, and the armed groups operating in the border areas to dismantle the scam networks. There is no serious joint operational response. Instead of cooperation, each side is blaming the others<\/strong>, creating a \u201cblame game\u201d dynamic.<\/p>\n In recent weeks, the junta has begun its own crackdown by entering KK Park<\/strong>, a site previously leased to the KNU, and launching operations in Myawaddy to target the scam networks. They have destroyed buildings, smashed computers and phones seized from the compounds, and pushed scam workers toward the Myanmar and Thai sides of the border.<\/p>\n Yesterday, junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told the media that KNU and KKO\/DKBA<\/strong> armed groups were involved in the scam operations \u2014 highlighting their role. The junta is clearly taking advantage of the world\u2019s attention on scam suppression to politically attack the KNU, using KK Park\u2019s land lease as an entry point. Notably, the junta has deliberately avoided mentioning the BGF<\/strong>, which was actually the earliest and most deeply involved armed group running and benefiting from these scam operations.<\/p>\n There is still no clear evidence of how profits from the scam operations were shared with junta leaders \u2014 which is why the military can still deny its direct involvement. But the political benefits<\/strong> the junta gained from allowing the compounds to operate are undeniable.<\/p>\n For its part, the KNU, which has long maintained a non-conflict stance toward other Karen armed groups, also avoided criticizing the scam operations in the border areas. Only recently \u2014 after the KNU stormed a DKBA-protected scam site in Min Let Pan \u2014 has KNU become directly involved in enforcement operations.<\/p>\n Now the challenge becomes even bigger: In recent days, KNU has appealed to the Thai government and the international community to help resolve large-scale humanitarian challenges emerging from the Min Let Pan raids. How Thailand and foreign embassies respond \u2014 and how KNU handles the next phase of dismantling the scam networks \u2014 will be crucial to watch.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 Myanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 View from November 28 (MoeMaKa) November 29, 2025 The Growing Difficulty of Tackling the \u201cTiger Scam\u201d Problem The crisis surrounding the so-called \u201ctiger compounds\u201d \u2014 large-scale online fraud syndicates \u2014 has many root causes and…<\/p>\n
How will the thousands of scam victims fleeing these compounds be processed, screened, repatriated, sheltered, or assisted?<\/strong>
This will require manpower, money, legal authorization, and coordination \u2014 all of which are in short supply.<\/p>\n
\n