In the context of continuous high-pressure crackdowns by judicial authorities in countries such as China, Thailand, and Myanmar, some individuals still choose to go to Myanmar to engage in telecommunications fraud. This phenomenon is the result of multiple complex factors.

I. Economic Interest Driven: High Salary Temptation and Survival Pressure

1. Deceptive Recruitment and "Get Rich Quick" Promises

Fraud gangs attract job seekers through social media and acquaintances, using "high-paying jobs" and "low entry barriers" as bait. For example, promising a monthly salary of tens of thousands of yuan for "customer service" or "technical" jobs, which are actually easy, but in reality, forcing victims to participate in fraudulent activities. Some individuals, due to economic difficulties or dissatisfaction with their income, take risks and accept such "opportunities".

Victim James from Kenya was lured to Myanmar to engage in cryptocurrency fraud and was abused after refusal; in similar cases, many victims, due to debt or unemployment, find themselves in difficult situations and are forced to accept the conditions of the fraud gangs.

2. The Huge Profits Supporting the Criminal Industry Chain

It is estimated that the annual fraud amount of the Myanmar telecom fraud industry reaches tens to hundreds of billions of RMB, forming a huge interest chain. Even facing crackdowns, some participants still believe in "high risk, high return", especially the lower-level members who obtain a share by completing fraud tasks.

II. Myanmar's Special Environment: A Breeding Ground for Crime and a Vacuum of Law Enforcement

1. Political Chaos and Local Armed Factions

After the military coup in Myanmar in 2021, the country has been in prolonged conflict, and areas controlled by local armed forces (such as Dare and Myawaddy) have become "safe havens" for criminal groups. These areas lack effective government oversight, and criminal activities (such as telecom fraud and drugs) form a community of interests with local forces, even receiving armed protection.

Just in the Myawaddy area on the Myanmar-Thailand border, there are hundreds of scam parks, with over 100,000 people engaging in telecom fraud daily.

2. Difficulties in Cross-border Law Enforcement

Some areas in Myanmar have ambiguous sovereignty, and cross-border arrests rely on international cooperation, while local armed forces and criminal groups often obstruct law enforcement. For example, Chinese police need to coordinate through diplomatic channels with the Myanmar military government to extradite suspects, a process that is time-consuming and uncertain.

III. The Adaptability and Mobility of Criminal Networks

1. Relocation of Bases and Technological Updates

Under high-pressure crackdowns, telecom fraud gangs adopt flexible strategies. For example, after Thailand cut off electricity to Myawaddy in Myanmar, criminal groups quickly moved their equipment to Poipet in Cambodia and used weak links along the borders of Laos and Thailand to rebuild their bases. This "hit-and-run" model makes it difficult to sustain the effects of crackdowns.

2. The Concealment of Money Laundering Channels

Fraud funds are laundered through overseas legitimate financial systems, involving virtual currencies, cross-border trade, etc. China's lack of control over the circulation of RMB abroad makes it difficult to track and freeze funds, allowing criminal profits to be retained.

IV. Individual Cognitive Biases and Weak Legal Awareness

1. Wishful Thinking and Excuses for Crime

Some participants have a "law does not blame the public" or "passive participation" mentality. For example, claiming to have been "deceived into going to Myanmar" or "forced to engage in fraud" in an attempt to evade legal sanctions. In reality, most people are aware of the criminal nature but choose to take risks for profit.

Investigations show that 95% of participants in North Myanmar telecom fraud voluntarily joined, with only a few truly coerced.

2. Limitations of Anti-Fraud Propaganda

Although China has launched the National Anti-Fraud Center App and warning SMS measures, some groups (such as low-income individuals and teenagers) are still easily tempted. Fraud gangs design scripts targeting different demographics, such as using "overseas employment" or "transnational romance" as a guise, lowering the vigilance of victims.

V. Social Economic Structure and Regional Imbalances

1. Domestic Employment Pressure and Wealth Gap

In some underdeveloped areas, job opportunities are scarce, and young people face the dilemma of "low education, low skills", making the "high income" offered by telecom fraud gangs attractive. For example, some individuals in the border areas of Yunnan participate in smuggling and criminal activities due to livelihood issues.

2. Path Dependence of the Gray Industry

In some areas of Myanmar, telecom fraud has become a pillar industry, attracting a large amount of foreign investment (such as park construction, equipment procurement). Local residents even regard telecom fraud as a "means of livelihood", forming a vicious cycle.

Challenges and Solutions for Governance

1. Strengthen Source Governance

Improve employment support policies, targeting high-risk groups for precise anti-fraud education.

2. Deepen International Cooperation

Promote joint law enforcement with ASEAN countries, establish cross-border fund tracking mechanisms, and weaken the economic foundation of criminal networks.

3. Technology Empowered Enforcement

Use blockchain, AI, and other technologies to monitor abnormal fund flows, enhancing the efficiency of identifying money laundering activities.

4. Legal Deterrence Combined with Soft Persuasion

Increase the criminal penalties for organizational leaders, while offering leniency policies for lower-level participants to surrender, dividing criminal groups.

Conclusion

The stubbornness of the Myanmar telecom fraud issue is fundamentally a product of economic imbalance, governance loopholes, and human greed under the backdrop of globalization. Only through multi-dimensional governance, international cooperation, and balanced socio-economic development can this criminal ecosystem be fundamentally dismantled.