U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan has called on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to take action against criminal groups in Southeast Asia using Starlink internet to run scams that target Americans.
In a letter sent on July 28, Hassan cited reports showing that Starlink’s satellite internet is being used by transnational scam networks in countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. These groups operate “scam compounds” and have stolen billions of dollars through fake romance and investment schemes. Many of these operations also involve forced labor.
A Wired investigation found 412 Starlink devices in just eight scam compounds in Myanmar, with over 40,000 logins. Thai police have also seized 130 devices used for similar scams.
Senator Hassan said Starlink’s portability and lack of reliance on local telecom companies make it the perfect tool for these criminals, even though SpaceX’s terms of service allow it to cut off fraudulent users.
Thailand has tried to stop these operations by cutting electricity and internet access near its borders, but Starlink’s satellites make that effort difficult.
The senator asked SpaceX to respond by August 18 with answers about:
- How many devices linked to scams have been investigated or shut down
- Whether any security gaps have been identified
- How much revenue Starlink has earned from scam-linked usage
SpaceX has not publicly responded yet.
