Chinese scam operations relocate from Myanmar border town after crackdown

PAYATHONZU, Feb 13 (TNA) – Chinese criminal groups operating online scams and call centers have begun relocating from the Myanmar border town of Payathonzu following the disruption of electricity and telecommunications services, reportedly due to pressure from Thai authorities.

Payathonzu, located across the border from Thailand’s Sangkhlaburi district, Kanchanaburi, has become a hub for illicit activities run by Chinese gangs.

Since February 5, the Thai authorities have cut off electricity and phone signals, and are putting pressure on these groups to leave the area.

Many businesses in Payathonzu that served as fronts for these operations, such as restaurants, hair salons, and internet cafes, have closed down, and Chinese nationals who once thronged the town’s market are no longer visible.

Earlier this month, the Karen Democratic Buddhist Army (DKBA), a local armed group that controls the Payathonzu area, issued a statement ordering all Chinese businesses involved in online scams to leave by Feb. 28.

More than 50,000 residents have been affected by the disruption of electricity and internet services.

Thai News Agency reporters visited Payathonzu and found several buildings that had been used as scam call centers. Local residents who had rented their properties to the Chinese gangs said they had received monthly payments ranging from 200,000 to 800,000 baht ($6,000 to $24,000).

The Chinese tenants typically signed six-month leases and stayed for more than a year, the residents said. They converted the buildings into living quarters and offices, and hired guards to provide security. The landlords were not allowed to enter the premises, and were unaware of the full extent of the operations.

“There were 200 to 300 Chinese people living in each building. They had their own cooks and security guards,” one resident said.

The Chinese gangs have now removed all their equipment from the buildings, including computers, telephones, and air conditioners. They are believed to have moved to a new location about 10 kilometers from Payathonzu. -819 (TNA)