Reports: US Tech Used by Myanmar Scam Centers to Target Victims Globally

What happened

An investigation by The Associated Press and FRONTLINE reports that multiple scam centers operating in Myanmar have been using software created with artificial intelligence models from American technology companies to impersonate victims and perpetrate fraud on an unprecedented scale. Survivors and leaked records estimate that one trafficked scammer alone targeted around 50,000 victims across at least 17 countries during a single month, with victims including individuals in Kurdistan, Turkey, Russia, Poland, and Argentina.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The report highlights that these scam operations utilize AI-powered tools to manage workflows and generate convincing fake profiles, allowing scammers to engage simultaneously with hundreds of potential victims. Supervisors at the scam centers exert tight control, reportedly using electric batons to monitor workers. These centers continue to grow in size and number, with satellite imagery indicating at least two dozen new scam sites have emerged since a regional crackdown in late 2025.

The investigation shows that US-based tech companies provide foundational technology along the digital supply chains exploited by scam operators in Myanmar, from AI models to internet infrastructure. While the AP found no evidence that these firms are breaking laws, the report raises questions about how effectively they enforce terms of service prohibiting illegal uses like fraud, especially given the massive estimated losses in the US alone, nearing $200 billion in 2024.

Known from the source

• Safeer Mohammed Koorimannil was trafficked to a scam center in Myanmar and impersonated a Singaporean woman online.
• He communicated with more than 100 people per shift and targeted about 50,000 victims from at least 17 countries in a month, per records smuggled to AP.
• AI models developed by US tech companies are being used as tools in these scam operations.
• Satellite imagery shows at least two dozen new scam compounds in Myanmar since late 2025.
• Scam centers reportedly use electric batons to enforce worker compliance.

What remains unclear

Cybersecurity analysts cited in the report argue that internet service providers, AI developers, and satellite internet providers such as Starlink could do more to prevent fraudulent abuse but currently lack strong legal or economic incentives to intervene robustly. These findings come amid wider concerns over Myanmar’s ongoing conflict, displacement, and challenges in controlling illicit activities within its borders.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Exact involvement and responsibility of specific US tech companies in enabling scam operations. Independent confirmation of the estimated victim count and geographic spread. Verification of financial loss estimates linked directly to scams operating from Myanmar.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: DVB English. Open the source.