The “Star Chain” was abused by the electric fraud park?
An influential bipartisan committee in the U.S. Congress is investigating whether Elon Musk's "Starlink" and Starlink used by a re-emerging electronic fraud group in the Myawaddy region on the Thai-Myanmar border are connected, The Guardian reported today.
Starlink is allegedly becoming the largest Internet service provider in Myanmar, so a U.S. Congressional Committee is investigating whether it is providing Internet access to e-fraud centers.
An influential bipartisan committee in the U.S. Congress has said an investigation has been launched into the alleged fraudulent gang that allegedly scammed billions of people around the world through the Starlink service.
Since February this year, after Thailand cut off electricity, Internet and fuel supply to five border areas, including Thunvathi, Myanmar's casinos and scam parks in parts of the country have been powered by generators, solar panels, and the use of "Starchain" satellite connectivity networks.
According to data from the Asia Pacific Network Registry Center (APNIC), no traces of StarChain networks were seen during the February strike operation, but since July 3, StarChain antennas have been seen on the roof. Following, according to Reuters, U.S. Democratic Senator Hassan wrote a letter on July 28 urging SpaceX CEO Musk to stop multinational crime groups in Southeast Asia from using StarLink Internet access services fraud.
While most people may have noticed a surge in the number of fraudulent text messages, phone calls and emails they receive, they may not be aware that transnational criminals on the other side of the planet may be using star-chain internet access to conduct fraud.
Musk has not responded yet.
It is said that although China, Myanmar and Thailand promised in February this year to severely crack down on organizations and fraud groups that provide them with asylum, in fact, these fraud groups have not been eradicated so far.
The U.S. Treasury said Americans were one of the main targets of Southeast Asian fraudsters, with losses estimated at $10 billion, up 66 percent over the past 12 months.
A UN report in 2023 estimated that as many as 120,000 people in Myanmar could be forced into “cyber fraud.”
Satellite images and drone footage taken from AFP show new buildings are rapidly emerging in the heavily guarded complex near the Thai-Myanmar border town of Myowadi, some equipped with star chain receivers.
Planet Labs PBC's satellite image analysis found that between March and September, dozens of buildings were under construction or renovation within KK Park, the largest electronic fraud park.