Key facts
- Global scammers are exploiting U.S. AI technology to target victims worldwide.
- An investigation analyzed device connections from scam compounds in Myanmar linked to sanctioned entities.
- The Karen National Army (KNA) and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) have been sanctioned for their roles in facilitating cyberscams.
- New scam compounds in Myanmar have been identified, with some utilizing Starlink IP addresses.
Global scammers are increasingly exploiting U.S. artificial intelligence technology to target victims worldwide, according to an investigation by The Associated Press and "FRONTLINE." The investigation uncovered instances of romantic scams created by impersonating individuals using AI.
The methodology involved analyzing tens of thousands of leaked scam center files, videos, and photos. This included an examination of over 200,000 device connections from four scam compounds in Myanmar, which have been linked to entities sanctioned by the U.S. government. The data, obtained by the International Justice Mission and shared with the AP, logs devices' geographic coordinates and IP addresses, allowing for the identification of internet traffic origins and hosting companies.
Risk indicators from Scamalytics, including blacklists and its own risk score, were used to enrich the data. However, the dataset captures only geolocation-enabled devices, suggesting the actual internet infrastructure is larger than recorded. Spur Intelligence Corporation identified instances of ad fraud within the data, which were subsequently removed by the AP.
Telecommunications companies and internet service providers play a role by connecting scammers to the internet, hosting fraudulent platforms, and masking locations through VPNs or proxy networks. Devices were geolocated to compounds including Tai Chang, Deko Park, KK Park, and a new compound near Hpakalu, Myanmar.
KK Park operates under the protection of the Karen National Army (KNA), an armed militia affiliated with the Myanmar military. The U.S. Treasury designated the KNA as a transnational criminal organization in May 2025 for its role in facilitating cyberscams and human trafficking. The KNA has profited from scam operations by leasing land to criminal syndicates. Following a demolition campaign against KK Park in October 2025, scammers dispersed, with some moving to the emerging site in Hpakalu.
Deko Park and Tai Chang are in territory controlled by the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), which was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in November 2025 for supporting cyberscam centers. Rescued trafficking victims have reported torture and beatings by DKBA soldiers at the Tai Chang compound.
Additionally, the International Justice Mission identified 25 new scam compounds in Myanmar that have appeared or grown since the crackdown in October 2025. Analysis of device activity at these sites between March and June 2026 revealed that at least 13 used Starlink IP addresses.