As As scammers in Southeast Asia continue to rake in billions of dollars in money stolen from victims around the world, United States law enforcement aims to cut off scammers at the source by issuing seizure warrants for Starlink satellite internet terminals that provide connectivity to cybercriminals. Two US warrants and affidavits seen by WIRED detail how Starlink devices are allegedly being used by cybercriminals running scams in Myanmar.
American Magistrate Judge G. A warrant issued by Michael Harvey on Wednesday allowed the seizure of nine Starlink terminals and two Starlink accounts allegedly used at scam premises in Pyathonzu near Three Pagodas Pass on the Myanmar-Thai border. A linked affidavit written by FBI investigators claims Starlink devices and accounts played a “substantial role” in an alleged money laundering and wire fraud operation targeting US citizens — adding that Starlink parent company SpaceX should “disable service” to the devices. It has also been claimed that at least 26 Starlink dishes were found on the roofs of several buildings in the Three Pagodas Pass area, which became the center of several scandals.
The second warrant and affidavit – which was not issued to Starlink, but focused on seizing websites used in the scam – also claims “at least” 79 Starlink dishes appear on the roofs of buildings in the notorious Tai Chang complex in Myanmar, which US officials say is controlled by the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, an armed group in Myanmar that was sanctioned by the US government this week. Was. The warrant was issued on Monday by US Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh signed.
Both sets of legal documents cite a WIRED investigation earlier this year, which revealed that scammers in Myanmar are using Starlink to compound Internet access. Starlink, owned and operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is a high-speed satellite internet service available in more than 150 countries around the world.
The action comes as part of a new US law enforcement initiative known as the District of Columbia Scam Center Strike Force, which was announced on Wednesday by the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Secret Service. The effort aims to combat cryptocurrency scams targeting Americans, particularly fraud that stems from the ecosystem of systematic scams that has developed in several Southeast Asian countries and is often linked to Chinese organized crime. The “strike force” is already operational and the Justice Department says it has seized nearly $400 million in cryptocurrency stolen in the scams so far.
“The Justice Department will not stand by while Chinese organized crime victimizes Americans and devastates American citizens’ hard-earned money,” Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said at a news conference. “We have seized websites being used by these compounds in Southeast Asia to victimize Americans. We are seeking warrants to look at the satellite terminals and accounts the criminals are using to connect to the Internet.”