SpaceX blocks thousands of Starlink accounts over fraud schemes, details revealed
US entrepreneur, investor, and billionaire Elon Musk (Photo: Getty Images)
Elon Musk’s company SpaceX has blocked over 2,500 Starlink terminals that were being used by cybercrime syndicates in Myanmar, reports CNN.
“On the rare occasion we identify a violation, we take appropriate action, including working with law enforcement agencies around the world. In Myanmar, for example, SpaceX proactively identified and disabled over 2,500 Starlink Kits in the vicinity of suspected ‘scam centers’,” said Lauren Dreyer, SpaceX Vice President of Starlink Business Operations, in a post on X.
According to company representatives, the goal of this move is to stop the illegal use of the satellite internet network for large-scale fraud schemes, including those operating along the Myanmar-Thailand border.
Indeed, after the 2021 military coup, Myanmar plunged into a civil war. Due to the chaos and lack of government control, the region has become a hub for cybercrime. Fraud groups exploit the political disorder and corruption, establishing their bases literally along the border with Thailand.
Recent joint operations by Thailand, the US, and China have already led to the release of thousands of people from these centers, but experts emphasize that the scale of the problem remains enormous.
How fraudsters used Starlink
Investigations have shown that Starlink satellite antennas were actively used in so-called “scam parks” - complexes where thousands of people, often victims of human trafficking, were held against their will and forced to take part in online scams.
According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, there are about 30 large centers along the Thailand–Myanmar border generating billions of dollars by defrauding investors and users worldwide.
One of the most well-known facilities is KK Park in the town of Myawaddy, Karen State. Photos from the site show modern buildings, neat lawns, and advertising billboards - everything looks like a business park. But in reality, it is a fortified camp where people are held and forced to work in fraud schemes.
During a recent raid, Myanmar’s military discovered over 2,000 workers there and dozens of Starlink equipment kits.
International community reaction
The US has expressed concern for over a year that Starlink is being used for criminal activity in the region. The US Congress even launched an investigation into the company’s possible involvement in fraud networks.
Experts say that while blocking the terminals is an important step, the problem is much broader.
Jason Tower, an analyst with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, said that many people remained in captivity and that the fraud schemes continued to operate under the protection of local forces.
Ukraine has launched a beta test of the unique Starlink Direct to Cell technology, which will allow Ukrainians to stay connected even in hard-to-reach areas.
Incidentally, among SpaceX’s shareholders, a Russian oligarch was identified.
