Taiwanese Nationals Cautioned About New Anti-Scam Laws in Myanmar and Thailand

Taipei: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday warned Taiwanese nationals against engaging in illicit activities overseas as new laws have taken effect in Myanmar and Thailand to curb fraud by foreign nationals. MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuangwei said Myanmar enacted its "Anti-Online Scam Law" on July 31 to combat the rapid rise of cyber-scam operations and human trafficking in the country. According to Focus Taiwan, the new law in Myanmar imposes severe penalties for those convicted of operating scam centers, running cryptocurrency scams, recruiting workers, or trafficking people into scam operations, irrespective of their nationality. Sentences range from 10 years to life imprisonment, with the possibility of the death penalty for severe offenses resulting in death. Previously, offenders were usually deported and subjected to more lenient penalties under Myanmar's immigration laws. Hsiao revealed that three Taiwanese nationals were recently arrested in Myanmar for their involvement in telecommunic ations fraud rings and are expected to face stringent sentences under this new legislation. In Thailand, new deportation regulations were implemented in late August, outlining the procedures for deporting foreign nationals convicted of specific crimes after serving their sentences. These crimes include overstaying a visa, unlawful business operations, using or producing forged documents, or any offense carrying a prison sentence exceeding five years. Convicted individuals face immediate deportation, permanent blacklisting, and bans on reentering Thailand. According to the spokesperson, the regulations in both Southeast Asian countries highlight a regional consensus and determination to tackle telecommunications fraud. Hsiao urged Taiwanese nationals not to be tempted by promises of high pay or free overseas trips into engaging in illicit activities abroad, emphasizing the risk of prosecution under local laws. Southeast Asia has increasingly become a hub for global telecommunications fraud operations. Accor ding to MOFA, between 2022 and January 2025, it assisted 1,533 Taiwanese nationals caught involuntarily or voluntarily in telecommunications fraud rings in the region, facilitating their return to Taiwan. This figure includes 748 individuals in Cambodia, 371 in Thailand, 365 in Myanmar, and 49 in Laos.