TOKYO/YANGON/BANGKOK -- The number of scam centers in eastern Myanmar is rapidly expanding. Even after a large-scale crackdown in February, construction has continued -- underscoring that criminal hubs have not been eradicated. Nikkei analyzed satellite imagery and eyewitness testimony to reveal the scale and persistence of the crisis.
See the full visual investigation here.
"Inside, that one is like a prison."
A man from South Asia who says he was held for six months at KK Park -- one of the largest scam centers -- recounts his experience. He was forced to engage in romance scams, tricking victims into paying money by making them believe they were in a romantic relationship. He lived with seven others in a cramped room and worked 16 hours a day.
Violence was commonplace. According to the South Asian man's testimony, a supervisor struck him with a boot. He said another worker was dragged to a torture room and beaten so severely he could no longer stand.
Other criminal compounds have emerged along the Myanmar-Thailand border. By cross-referencing satellite photos with official records and interviewing experts, Nikkei identified suspected scam bases in and around Myawaddy, Kayin state.
