Starlink suspends service to fraud centers in Myanmar amid congressional investigation

Starlink satellite internet It has become a popular choice for people who do not have access to traditional internet such as cable or… Fiber. It has also been a major tool for Southeast Asian crime syndicates seeking to deceive Americans.

SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, recently cut off access to 2,500 Starlink satellites used in notorious fraud centers in Myanmar, the company said on October 21.

The news comes a week after A.J Report by Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse revealed that the company led by Musk is currently under investigation by the Joint Economic Committee of Congress for its role in fraudulent centers.

“On the rare occasions we identify a violation, we take appropriate action, including working with law enforcement agencies around the world,” said Lauren Dreyer, vice president of Starlink commercial operations at SpaceX. In a post on X.

According to the Treasury DepartmentAmericans lost more than $10 billion in 2024 due to scams in Southeast Asia. Famous for romance scams Known as “pig slaughter”. by some estimates, These unions receive up to $64 billion annually.

“Fraud factories in the border region are usually run by Chinese criminal gangs, and often supervised by Myanmar militias who enjoy the tacit support of the Myanmar junta in exchange for ensuring security,” the AFP article said.

In February, a massive Chinese-led crackdown led to the release of up to 7,000 rogue workers, whom AFP suspects were prisoners, from Myanmar compounds. Meanwhile Thailand Cut off electricity and internet services Operating fraud centers in neighboring Myanmar. Soon after, scam centers used thousands of Starlink satellites to fill the void.

According to the Asian Regional Internet RegistryAPNIC, Starlink did not have enough traffic in Myanmar to even place on the list of ISPs in the country before February. But after Thailand cut other services, it quickly rose to the top. APNIC data shows it was the country’s most used internet provider on a daily basis from July 3 through October 1.

This appears to have caught the attention of Congress. The Joint Economic Commission opened an investigation into the use of Starlink in fraud centers in Myanmar in July, AFP reported.

“SpaceX has a responsibility to acknowledge any role Starlink played in facilitating outbound fraud from Southeast Asia, and prevent these criminals from using the service to target Americans,” said Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. In a statement.

Although Starlink is not officially licensed in Myanmar, the service is enabled virtually worldwide, says satellite industry consultant Tim Farrar. But where it is active is a geopolitical gray area.

“Starlink has resisted attempts by governments such as Iran, which has complained to the ITU seeking to shut down the service, and in this case SpaceX has received active encouragement from the US government to provide service to dissidents using terminals smuggled into the country,” Farrar told CNET in an email.

SpaceX did not respond to CNET’s request for comment.

How to protect yourself from scams

Be wary of unwanted emails, text messages, or social media messages. Pig slaughter operations work by building trust with the target over weeks or even months. If someone reaches out to someone who says they’re abroad or can’t meet in person, proceed with caution.

Never send money to someone you don’t know in real life. No matter the reason they give, always treat anyone asking you for money online with skepticism. Scammers may also ask for your phone key Cryptocurrency wallet.

Find the person you are talking to. Anyone you meet online likely has some sort of online presence. Check their social media profiles to make sure they don’t smell fishy. You can also do Reverse image search From any pictures they provide to see if they are checking out.

As always, follow cybersecurity best practices. Take a moment to make sure you have Passwords In its place, use Two-factor authentication And make sure your Antivirus software, Operating systems and apps All up to date.

Report any crimes immediately. If you believe you have been scammed, report it immediately to Federal Trade Commission and The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3.