In a shocking investigation, Hannah Beech, a correspondent for The New York Times, managed to gain rare access inside one of Myanmar’s secretive cyberscam centers—a place where digital scammers, many of them Chinese nationals, are orchestrating global fraud operations in the middle of a chaotic war zone.

These centers, often located in conflict-torn border regions, are fortified compounds that blend high-tech crime with human exploitation. Within their walls, hundreds of workers—some lured under false pretenses—operate fake investment sites, romance scams, and social engineering schemes aimed primarily at Americans and other global targets. Many victims lose life savings, while others are drawn into emotional deceptions that leave long-lasting scars.

Beech’s visit revealed the strange duality of life in these complexes: luxurious offices with rows of computers and digital dashboards surrounded by poverty-stricken villages destroyed by war. The global criminal networks behind these centers reportedly generate billions in illegal profits annually, taking advantage of Myanmar’s political vacuum since the 2021 military coup. Corrupt militias, Chinese triads, and local warlords all benefit from this new form of “digital slavery.”

But Myanmar’s cyberscam saga is not just an Asian story—it resonates deeply with Africa’s evolving digital landscape. From West African romance scams to phishing rings in East Africa and SIM-swap fraud in Southern Africa, the parallels are clear. Both regions grapple with how fragile governance, weak cyber policing, and youthful unemployment can make fertile ground for cybercrime networks.

Experts warn that Africa could face a similar crisis if stronger digital laws, ethical tech education, and regional cybersecurity cooperation aren’t prioritized. As Myanmar’s experience shows, when poverty meets sophisticated technology, crime can easily become industrialized—and cross borders in seconds.

The lesson for Africans is urgent: digital inclusion must go hand in hand with digital responsibility. While technology continues to empower millions across the continent, cybercrime threatens to erode trust, scare investors, and exploit the very connectivity that drives Africa’s digital renaissance.

Africa must therefore take note of what’s unfolding in Asia’s dark web frontier—and act before such hubs emerge closer to home.

@nytimes

Our reporter, Hannah Beech, gained rare access to one of Myanmar’s notorious cyberscam centers to see how Chinese criminals have been targeting Americans from the middle of a war zone. Video by Hannah Beech and Daniel Fetherston. #myanmar china #scam #scams

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