Scam syndicates along the Thai-Myanmar border are changing their playbook. Instead of packing into massive, high-profile compounds, they are scattering into remote mountain villages across Karen State. Word on the ground is that Shijiate village, sitting beneath the Dawna Range, has become one of their newest hideouts.
Local officials say the move came after heavy crackdowns on major scam parks pushed these groups to relocate into territory run by the Karen National Army. The activity has even drawn international heat, leading the US to slap sanctions on a senior commander in the area.
Local media reports show these gangs are still actively recruiting, using innocent-sounding covers like "US chat support" jobs to run scams targeting victims across both the United States and Canada. Meanwhile, locals say it is not just remote villages—some operators are quietly running their schemes right out of downtown hotel rooms to keep a low profile.
