Recently, the notorious Myanmar-based telecom fraudsters have been living in fear. On [Month Day], a Chinese delegation arrived in Myanmar and held in-depth discussions with senior Myanmar officials on further enhancing law enforcement and security cooperation, as well as combating telecom fraud and human trafficking. On [Month Day], senior officials from China, Myanmar, and Thailand visited the infamous Myawaddy telecom fraud park, forming a joint task force to crack down on illegal activities such as telecom fraud and online gambling, and to expedite the repatriation of foreigners who illegally entered Myanmar. With the three countries striking hard, the fraudsters are now scrambling to flee.

On [date], senior officials from China and Myanmar held in-depth discussions on combating telecom and online fraud, among other issues. Without eliminating telecom fraud, there can be no peace for the people. In recent years, telecom fraud activities have been rampant worldwide, and new types of cybercrime, represented by telecom fraud, have become a global governance challenge.

Endless Tricks. Nowadays, telecom fraud has evolved far beyond its "first-generation version" of poorly crafted scripts and heavy accents. It has become a "composite technology," with victims growing increasingly younger. The latest survey and analysis by Shanghai police show that by the end of the year, the average age of telecom fraud victims in Shanghai was only years old.

Fraudsters rack their brains to craft scripts, tailoring different scams for key demographics. They sometimes pose as alumni of international students to offer "low-cost currency exchange," or impersonate school staff to swindle "tuition and fees." At other times, they use technical means to spoof embassy or consulate phone numbers, pretending to be embassy officials to commit fraud. They may also act as law enforcement officers to trick victims into paying bail, or disguise themselves as official institutions to send malicious links to targets...

With the help of blockchain technology, telecom fraud gangs have become more brazen in transferring funds. Some compounds even disguise themselves as "technology industrial parks," using live streaming and e-commerce as covers to carry out fraud. With the advancement of generative artificial intelligence, fraudsters now leverage related technologies to produce highly realistic images, text, videos, and voices within seconds. They can also tailor their scams in multiple languages, including Mandarin, dialects, English, and other less common languages, based on their targets. Statistics show that as telecom fraud methods grow increasingly diverse, nearly half of the global population encounters such scams at least once a week, with victims spanning all walks of life.

Severe losses. The rampant spread of telecom fraud has caused extremely serious economic losses to countries around the world. A survey report released by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance reveals that the total annual losses of telecom fraud victims worldwide exceed one trillion US dollars, equivalent to the GDP of a relatively developed country, even surpassing that of nations like Switzerland and Poland.

For example, the annual losses due to telecom fraud in the UK reach a staggering billion pounds (approximately billion RMB). In a single year, Japanese police uncovered over telecom fraud cases, involving more than billion yen (around billion RMB). That same year, assessments by the Russian Federal Bank revealed that fraudsters swindled approximately billion rubles (about billion RMB) from Russian citizens. Behind these figures lie countless individuals in unbearable pain and numerous families torn apart. The gray industries that have emerged from this, such as human trafficking and organ trade, are even more heartbreaking.

Why has Myanmar become a hub for telecom fraud? For China, telecom fraud originating from Myanmar accounts for the highest number of cases, the widest scope of impact, and the most severe consequences, posing a serious threat to the lives and property of the Chinese people. Due to unique historical factors and the geopolitical environment, as well as long-standing conflicts between the majority ethnic group and minority groups, Myanmar has seen the rise of regional armed factions. Many border areas suffer from a lack of oversight and rampant chaos, leading to the proliferation of telecom fraud syndicates in northern Myanmar and small parts of the southeast.

The military serves as a "protective umbrella." Previously, the issue of telecom fraud in northern Myanmar was mainly concentrated in the Shan and Kachin states. Bordering China's Yunnan Province, northern Myanmar's complex geographical environment, with its dense forests and mountainous terrain, provides favorable conditions for cross-border fraud. Over the years, border cities in Shan State such as Muse and Laukkaing have been key strongholds for telecom fraud syndicates, where the dismantled "Four Major Families of Northern Myanmar" were once based.

The tri-nation joint law enforcement team targeted the telecom scam compound in Myawaddy, located in the Karen State of southeastern Myanmar. This border town, adjacent to Thailand, serves as a major trade port between the two countries. The influential figure controlling the Myawaddy region is Colonel Saw Chit Thu of the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), whose troops are known as the Karen Border Guard Force. These local armed groups have formed a "warlord + illicit industry" alliance with the telecom scam syndicates. Inside the compound, armed patrols, high walls with electric fences, and tight surveillance create an "inescapable net." Facilities such as hospitals and casinos are also present, making it virtually a "state within a state." Telecom scam groups exploit this semi-autonomous status to establish shell companies and set up fraudulent operations, luring Chinese citizens into criminal activities.

"Piglets" fetch a good price. In recent years, the transnational human trafficking route from Bangkok, Thailand, to Myawaddy, Myanmar, has been operating covertly. Myawaddy in Karen State and Mawlamyine in Mon State, along with Mae Sot District in Thailand, have become cross-border hubs for telecom fraud syndicates due to their proximity to the border between the two countries. Among these, Myawaddy is located in the eastern border region of central Myanmar, adjacent to Thailand, where crossing just a single river brings one into Thai territory.

In the widely discussed case of Wang Xing, he was lured to the region and subsequently kidnapped. Earlier this year, actor Wang Xing was deceived into traveling from Thailand to the fraud compound in Myawaddy, Myanmar. The area is controlled by local armed forces, where government oversight is weak. Additionally, Thailand's border management has been plagued by severe corruption issues, leading to frequent cross-border crimes. According to insiders, for every "piglet" (trafficked individual) sold in Thailand, the traffickers receive between 10,000 to several hundred thousand RMB, with at least 10,000 RMB going to border police on both sides as kickbacks.

Three Nations Join Forces in a Powerful Crackdown, Leaving No Escape for Telecom Fraud. In fact, as Malaysia's Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated, cross-border crime is an issue no single ASEAN country can resolve alone—it requires regional cooperation and joint efforts. China has consistently taken strong and resolute actions against cross-border illegal activities, actively mediating to promote multinational joint law enforcement operations. It spares no effort in rescuing compatriots trapped in "dens of thieves," safeguarding the lives and property of its people and maintaining order in regional exchanges and cooperation among nations.

In the same year, China organized and implemented the "Seagull" joint law enforcement operation, coordinating efforts among six countries—Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam—to jointly combat regional telecom and online fraud crimes, their derivative offenses, and the smuggling of firearms and ammunition. During this period, the parties involved cracked over a variety of cases, primarily telecom fraud, arrested more than 10,000 suspects, and rescued over victims.

With China's advocacy, the Myanmar government has intensified its crackdown on telecom fraud. This year, through cross-border law enforcement cooperation, the two countries have transferred over 10,000 suspects involved in fraud, dismantled the "Four Families" in northern Myanmar, and uncovered masterminds such as Bai Suocheng and Wei Huairen. Just yesterday, the main case against the Ming family crime syndicate in northern Myanmar, responsible for the deaths of several Chinese citizens, concluded its first trial in Zhejiang.

Since the beginning of this year, Myanmar has controlled and reviewed a number of foreigners who entered the country illegally. A joint working group from China, Thailand, and Myanmar is currently conducting identity verification and detailed investigations to expedite the repatriation and transfer process. Meanwhile, the Karen State Border Guard Force recently issued an ultimatum, demanding that telecom fraud groups leave the area by the end of the month, further squeezing the living space of telecom fraud criminals.

From [date] to [date], Thai Prime Minister Phethongtham paid a state visit to China, with combating telecom and online fraud crimes being one of the key topics of her trip. Starting from [date] this year, Thailand cut off electricity, fuel, and internet supplies to five border areas in Myanmar, including Myawaddy, causing local oil prices to surge to [amount] Thai baht per liter (approximately [amount] Chinese yuan) and electricity supply to plummet by [percentage]%. This move directly weakened the operational capabilities of fraud syndicates, forcing some zones to rely on diesel generators and satellite communications for basic operations, and leaving Myanmar's fraud zones temporarily paralyzed. *(Note: Please replace the placeholders like [date], [amount], and [percentage] with the specific numbers or details from the original text if available.)*

Additionally, Thai police have established a dedicated platform to share critical information such as the addresses of fraud syndicates with various embassies, actively advancing efforts to crack down on these criminal groups and assist victims in returning home. To restore Chinese tourists' confidence in traveling to Thailand, the country has also pledged to "eradicate telecom fraud syndicates by the end of the year."

On [specific date], victims of telecom fraud in Myawaddy await repatriation. Telecom fraud is the "new drug" of the globalization era, with its cross-border nature and concealment far surpassing traditional crimes. As crackdowns intensify, Myanmar's telecom fraud syndicates may spread to other regions and countries. Those who dare to harm China will be punished, no matter how far they flee. No matter where these fraudsters escape to, China will collaborate with relevant nations to strike hard, resolutely safeguarding the lives and property of the Chinese people!