Shun Sae Mai used to be best known as a stronghold for the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA). But lately, as crackdowns hit cyber-scam operations in Myawaddy and Kyauktaga, wave after wave of scam operators have been packing up and moving into the area.
Local sources say syndicate bosses are shelling out eye-watering sums to rent luxury mansions owned by DKBA officials, with annual rents reaching 300,000 to 400,000 Thai baht. Surrounding vacant plots are also being snapped up to build brand-new scam compounds, turning the quiet area into a hive of activity.
Since late August, these scam syndicates have gone on a massive recruitment drive across Telegram. There appear to be no hiring caps, with operations looking to pull in hundreds of workers at a time. The entry requirements are surprisingly strict, though—candidates must have prior experience and are required to undergo blood tests. The hiring sprees span several locations, including Waw Mi The, Jixiang Bridge, Shun Sae Mai, and Dong Ni.
When reporters reached out to DKBA leadership to verify the reports, top officials went completely off the grid and refused to comment. The region remains under an intense international spotlight, especially after the US government previously posted a $10 million bounty targeting cyber-scam networks operating in the nearby Kyauktha area.
