Myanmar police have shut down more than 2,300 SIM cards and 149 bank accounts linked to online fraud, according to Police Brigadier General Kyaw Lin, spokesperson for the Myanmar Police Force. He announced the figures at a press briefing held on December 14 at MRTV in Yangon, outlining the government’s nationwide crackdown on online scam operations.

Police Brigadier General Kyaw Lin said many scam-related social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Telegram and TikTok were created using fake or stolen identities, making it difficult to trace their real owners. To counter this, police have worked with the Ministry of Transport and Communications to block SIM cards connected to fraudulent activities, and with the Central Bank to freeze related bank accounts.

He urged victims of online scams to promptly file complaints at their local police stations, stressing that investigations can only proceed after a formal case is opened. Standard operating procedures are already in place to enable swift action, including blocking bank accounts and SIM cards. More complex cases involving large sums of money are handled by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Police Brigadier General Kyaw Lin added that while foreign nationals have been arrested in scam operations, Myanmar citizens involved are also being investigated. Legal action is taken against those directly involved in fraud, while others are assessed based on their actual roles.

The government is treating online fraud and illegal online gambling as a national security issue and is working with domestic forces and neighbouring countries to prevent such activities from taking root in Myanmar.