Senator Urges SpaceX to Combat Southeast Asian Scam Networks

Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan has urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to take action against transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Asia allegedly using Starlink satellite internet to defraud Americans. Citing reports of scam compounds in countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, Hassan emphasized the scale of fraud facilitated by this connectivity.

The U.S. Treasury Department indicates that these criminal networks have swindled billions from Americans. Hassan wrote in a letter that SpaceX must take responsibility by blocking such criminal activities. The urgency comes as these scams are increasingly seen in fraudulent texts, calls, and emails targeting Americans globally.

Efforts to disrupt these scams include measures by Thailand, which has cut essential supplies to border areas where scams thrive. The situation has drawn international concern, especially following the high-profile abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing. The United States Institute of Peace notes the involvement of criminal groups predominantly from China.

(With inputs from agencies.)