Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) has called on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to take immediate action to prevent transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Asia from using Starlink internet services to perpetrate fraud targeting Americans, as reported by Newsmax.
In a letter sent to Musk on Monday, Hassan cited reports indicating that criminal syndicates operating out of countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos have used Starlink to support scam operations.
These so-called “scam compounds” are used to defraud Americans out of billions of dollars, according to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
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“Scam networks in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, however, have apparently continued to use Starlink despite service rules permitting SpaceX to terminate access for fraudulent activity,” Hassan wrote in the letter, as reported by Reuters.
You’ve probably noticed an increasing number of scam texts, calls, and emails, but you may not know that criminals may be using Starlink to perpetrate these scams. @SpaceX has a responsibility to block these criminals from using Starlink to target Americans. pic.twitter.com/hSJ9645LSZ
— Sen. Maggie Hassan (@SenatorHassan) July 28, 2025
“SpaceX has a responsibility to block criminals from using the service to target Americans.”
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SpaceX has not yet issued a response to the senator’s request.
The scam operations have become a growing international concern. According to the United Nations, criminal networks have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people into forced labor in scam centers across Southeast Asia.
Many of these are located near the Thai-Myanmar border, where victims are coerced into conducting illegal online scams.
Hassan highlighted that these networks are behind a spike in fraudulent communications received by Americans.
“While most people have probably noticed the increasing number of scam texts, calls, and emails they’re receiving, they may not know that transnational criminals halfway across the world may be perpetrating these scams by using Starlink internet access,” she said.
She then posted: “Hi Elon Musk. Reports say scam compounds in Southeast Asia are using Starlink to target Americans. What steps are you taking to shut this down?”
Hi @elonmusk. Reports say scam compounds in Southeast Asia are using Starlink to target Americans. What steps are you taking to shut this down? https://t.co/Xb3DEyWHLi
— Sen. Maggie Hassan (@SenatorHassan) July 28, 2025
Thailand has taken steps to disrupt operations near its border with Myanmar. Since February, Thai authorities have cut electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to five border zones, including the area of Myawaddy, in an attempt to shut down the scam compounds.
International pressure has mounted following high-profile incidents tied to the criminal networks. In one case, Chinese actor Wang Xing was abducted after arriving in Thailand in January. He was later rescued by Thai police after being located across the border in Myanmar.
The United States Institute of Peace reports that several of the scam centers operating in the region are managed by networks with origins in China.
These centers continue to pose regional security challenges and have increasingly drawn scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers concerned about their ability to reach American victims through advanced satellite communication systems.
Senator Hassan’s letter calls for SpaceX to enforce its existing policies and terminate access to Starlink services for any parties engaged in criminal activity.
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