Congress Committee Investigates Starlink over Myanmar Scam Centers
The Guardian | Starlink has become Myanmar’s biggest internet provider. A US Congress committee is investigating the activity of Elon Musk’s business in providing internet access to scam centers.
Chairman of Prince Group Indicted for Operating Scam Compounds
US DOJ Press Release | Chairman of Prince Group indicted for operating Cambodian forced-labor compounds engaged in crypto scams. DOJ files forfeiture action against about $15 billion in Bitcoin.
Myanmar scam centres booming despite crackdown, using Musk’s Starlink
The New Indian Express (AFP) | Despite a crackdown that was supposed to shut down Myanmar scam centers, they’re growing — and Starlink’s presence in the compounds has increased.
Dad lured to Bitcoin ATM by scammer claiming to be son
ABC7 - KGO | The voice on the phone sounded like his son. He’d been arrested. An attorney directed him to pay a $15,000 bail at a nearby Bitcoin ATM. But it was a scam.
How scammers use crypto ATMs to launder millions from victims
CBC News | An investigation of the crypto ATM industry in Canada showed that the machines have become the main way scammers get money from fraud victims in Canada.
Scams in the Age of AI and How to Avoid Them
KALW Public Radio digs into the reality of scams in the age of AI with an interview with AARP’s Amy Nofziger and Operation Shamrock’s Founder Erin West.
‘I can’t meet, I’m on an oil rig’: Romance Fraud Warning Signs
The Guardian | People seeking connection have long been the target of criminals. But romance fraud is increasing, especially among older adults. Learn about the warning signs.
Scammers spoof FBI website for cybercrime complaints
KHOU | The FBI is warning about fake websites designed to mimic the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The sites are designed to trick people into entering personal and banking details.
Mass arrests for sextortion and romance scams across Africa
BBC | An Interpol operation has arrested 250 suspected cyber scammers across 14 African countries who used romance scams and sextortion to steal nearly $2.8 million from over 1,400 people.
Banks that Identify Fraudsters Increase Customer Loyalty
University of Notre Dame | When banks can provide details about fraudulent activity, customers are more likely to stay. In fact, 62% fewer leave compared with those who hadn’t experienced fraud.
Scammers Are Driving around Blasting 100K Texts per Hour
Futurism | Scammers are using SMS blasters to increase their phishing game. They move around with the portable devices, sending thousands of messages with dangerous links to nearby phones.
Abducted in Thailand and Forced to Scam
Reuters uses illustrations to tell the story of Oly, an IT consultant who flew from Ethiopia to Thailand to meet a friend for a few days. He was trapped in Southeast Asia for five months.
I’ve Written About Loads of Scams. This One Almost Got Me.
The New York Times | A person called a reporter, asking for him by name. The caller ID said “Chase Bank.” The scammer had a ready answer for every question the reporter asked. It almost worked.
Researchers Used AI to Create a Phishing Scam
Reuters | Reuters asked AI chatbots to draft e-mail messages for a phishing scam targeting older people. The results show how scammers can use AI to conduct fraud.
How pig butchering scammers are getting away with it
IT Brew | Experts say the US government isn’t doing enough to fight scams. The FBI has prevented $400 million in crypto fraud to date in 2025, yet US scam victims lost over $5 billion in 2023.
Scamland Myanmar: How Conflict and Crime Built a Global Fraud Industry
ASPI | In a new report, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute outlines what’s happening as Myanmar becomes a haven for transnational organized crime groups.
Where Is Christopher, from Netflix’s “Love Con Revenge” Now?
Cosmopolitan | After the investigation by Brianne and Cecilie, the romance scammer is in federal custody, facing charges filed by Operation Shamrock’s Erin West.
Growing Myanmar scam centers may hold 100,000 trafficked people
The Guardian | Operated by crime syndicates and fostered by the military junta, the number of massive scam complexes on the Thai-Myanmar border has doubled since 2021.