SpaceX has deactivated more than 2,500 Starlink satellite internet terminals. These were operating inside scam compounds in Myanmar. The move comes after reports revealed that the technology had become a vital communication tool for criminal networks running large-scale online fraud in the region.
Lauren Dreyer, SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink Business Operations, confirmed the action in a post on X. She noted that the company had “disabled over 2,500 Starlink kits in the vicinity of suspected scam centers.” However, she did not specify when the shutdown took place.
The decision followed an AFP investigation. It uncovered extensive Starlink use across sprawling scam compounds near Myanmar’s border. These sites are often linked to romance, investment, and cryptocurrency scams. They have flourished amid the country’s ongoing turmoil since the 2021 military coup.
When Thailand imposed a cross-border internet and power blockade earlier this year, many of these centers reportedly switched to Starlink’s satellite service to restore connectivity. They installed clusters of the small, dish-shaped receivers on rooftops. This allowed operations to continue despite government crackdowns.
Recently, Myanmar’s military said it raided KK Park — one of the country’s most infamous scam hubs — and seized 30 Starlink devices. Yet, AFP’s findings suggest that thousands of terminals were active at the site, far exceeding the number confiscated.
An AFP reporter observed over 1,000 people leaving the area after the raid. They were traveling by foot and in pickup trucks. One worker, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the military had arrived earlier that day with multiple vehicles and continued to conduct searches.
Authorities across the region continue to struggle against a growing web of transnational scam operations along the Myanmar–Thailand border. These networks have been tied to human trafficking, forced labor, and large-scale digital fraud targeting victims across Asia and beyond.
