Myanmar's scam centres turned to attack Europe and the United States with AI translation

Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

After the power outage in Myanmar's fraud park, scammers turned to attack Europe and the United States with AI translation

Editor : Lu Yongxin / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2025/02/07/a103956701.html / Image : On 11 April 2024, the whole view of Myawaddy Town in Myanmar from the Thai side of Mae Sot County. Schematic diagram. (Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty Images)

In order to crack down on scam centres and revive tourism, Thailand cut off power supply to some areas on the Myanmar border. However, it is reported that these areas are equipped with diesel generators and are still operating normally. It is also reported that they have transferred the targets of fraud from China to Europe and the United States and used AI-based translation methods. In addition, the power outage has affected local residents and fuel prices have risen sharply.

According to the Central News Agency, in order to restore the confidence of Chinese tourists to Thailand and show sincerity, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is visiting China from 5 to 8 February. On the day she set off, the Thai authorities cut off power, oil and internet access in Myawaddy, Tachileik and Payathonzu, Myanmar, near the Thai border, to crack down on fraud parks.

Hong Kong media Ming Pao quoted Chinese and Thai media reports, saying that on the first night after the power outage, there were still sporadic lights in the above-mentioned areas, accompanied by the roar of diesel generators, and some high-rise buildings were operating as usual. Some parks are expected to switch to Laos for power supply within one or two days.

China Business News reported on the 7th that there are sources that the Thai-Myanmar border has prepared 10,000 liters of diesel in advance to ensure power generation, which can generate more than 30,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. The network also has Starlink as a backup, and it is very difficult to eradicate the telecom scam gangs.

The report also pointed out that under the strong anti-telecom fraud work of the relevant authorities, the scam gangs on the Thai-Myanmar border are reported to be focusing its work on European and American countries and using translation software to commit fraud.

When inspecting the relevant work on the 6th, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said that power outages, Internet outages and oil outages will help combat cross-border crimes and are an important basis for maintaining national security. He instructed the Tak Electricity Company and the National Broadcasting and Communications Commission (NBTC) to pay close attention to the relevant situation.

Reuters quoted residents of Payasongru as saying that the local scam centre has its own electricity and Internet, but local residents are affected. Thai public television quoted residents of Mywaddy as saying that hospitals and schools were the most severely affected by the power outage, and gas stations controlled fuel sales, causing prices to rise sharply. It is expected that more affected people will flow from Mywaddy to Mae Sot, Thailand. Local human rights organizations urged the Thai authorities to help.