Myanmar detains 106, including wanted Chinese national Su Fu Quan, in raid on scam network targeting China, Japan, Korea, India, Brazil and Colombia
Authorities say five groups ran a four-stage investment and romance fraud targeting Asia, and a separate fake-shopping fraud targeting Brazil and Colombia, from nine units in Thaketa Township. One detainee is described as a Chinese fugitive wanted by Beijing.
YANGON, Nov 15 - Myanmar security forces detained 106 people during a late-night raid on a residential condominium in Yangon, in what the government described as a crackdown on online fraud and gambling operations that harm people in the region and around the world.
The raid took place at about 22:45 on Nov 12 at Golden River Residence Condo in the Aung Kaung Kyaw Housing Estate on Nawarat Road, Ward 8, Thaketa Township, according to the official release dated Naypyidaw, Nov 13. The GPS coordinates for the raid location atYangon Golden River Click to open side panel for more information (also known as Golden River Residence Condo) in Thaketa Township, Yangon, are approximately:
- Latitude: 16.81° N (16° 48' 24" N)
- Longitude: 96.21° E (96° 12' 29" E)
Joint teams including security forces searched nine units: 110, 301, 302, 306, 307, 310, 505, 509 and 510.
Authorities said the condo was owned by Daw Myat Zin Oo of Pyin Oo Lwin and Chinese national Mr. Huo. The release does not accuse the owners of involvement in the alleged operation.
Detainees were Chinese Nationals - mostly illegal entrants
Those detained included 52 Chinese nationals, 8 Vietnamese nationals and 46 Myanmar nationals, authorities said.
The breakdown was:
- Chinese nationals: 48 men, 4 women
- Vietnamese nationals: 8 men
- Myanmar nationals: 31 men, 15 women
Authorities described the Chinese detainees as illegal entrants.
Among those arrested was Su Fu Quan, a Chinese national, authorities said.
The government said Su Fu Quan was on a list of 43 suspects for whom China's Ministry of Public Security and the Longjiang Public Security Bureau have offered a reward. Authorities said they acted after receiving information that he was present in Thaketa and running online fraud and gambling operations.
The official photo pack released with the notice shows Su Fu Quan handcuffed, alongside a Republic of Vanuatu passport (RV0189857)
in the name SU FUQUAN and a Chinese identification photo showing his name as 苏福全.
Authorities have not yet publicly detailed the specific charges against Su Fu Quan in Myanmar, or whether China has formally requested his extradition.
Equipment seized
During the searches, authorities said they seized computers, laptops, servers, mobile phones and other equipment.
- Desktop computers: 121
- Laptops: 5
- Server: 1
- Phones of various types: 190
- Wi-Fi devices: 7
- Routers: 2
- Myanmar passports: 5 books
- Chinese passports: 2 books
- KBZ bank books: 4
KBZ Bank is a major Myanmar bank. Photos released with the notice show detainees behind desks with multiple monitors and dozens of phones, and stacks of boxed all-in-one computers.
Modus Operandi and Groups
Interrogation found five groups, authorities said: Handu, Pairit, Athan, Tahai and Su Jin. Each group was led by a leader and a deputy leader, and each opened Kaqpo and Telegram accounts.
On Kaqpo, the groups formed Customer and Member Groups with targets living in China, Japan, Korea and India, authorities said. Communication was only in Chinese. Victims had to download the Kaqpo app via Chrome to open an account.
Method 1: Four-stage investment and romance fraud
Authorities described the main fraud in four stages:
Stage 1 - Contact. Customer Service staff sent photos of women as stickers, asked the victim which type of woman he preferred by age and marital status, asked for his township and location, then sent photos to entice him.
Stage 2 - First payment. Staff persuaded the victim to become a Member. They sent Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes and asked for 10 Chinese yuan. After payment, they sent a code to open a VIP account and connected the victim to the group leader's Kaqpo account. The leader and deputy promised to connect him with a woman, asked for personal details and his job, formed a group with the woman, and asked for a Member fee of 72 yuan. After confirming payment, they said he had earned 8 yuan profit and returned 80 yuan to him.
Stage 3 - Building trust. They offered higher returns: pay 201 yuan to get 223 yuan, pay 401 yuan to get 425 yuan, pay 601 yuan to get 662 yuan. They returned principal plus profit together to build trust.
Stage 4 - Large loss. When the victim became greedy and deposited a large amount, they stopped returning money and defrauded him, authorities said. The release says up to 48,000 yuan per victim was defrauded.
Method 2: Fake-shopping fraud targeting Brazil and Colombia
Authorities described a separate operation using three Telegram Groups, each with seven members.
The groups targeted people in Brazil and Colombia using fake shopping websites, www.amazonexotic.com and www. falabella.com, authorities said.
The process was:
- Like a product posted on those sites to get an initial 10,000 in local currency. To receive it, the victim had to provide a bank account, and the group deposited 10,000 into it.
- The victim was added to a Telegram Group, asked to Like three more times, and given another 13,000.
- The victim was upgraded to a VIP Telegram Group, persuaded to become a Member, and told that if he shopped he would get his purchase cost plus an extra 20 percent Member fee. If he became a Member again, they promised up to 60 percent extra Member fees. Authorities said the Member fees were then defrauded step by step.
Falabella is a major Latin American retailer whose brand is frequently spoofed in online fraud. Authorities have not yet published a full list of other domains allegedly used.
What happens next
The government said it treats the search, prevention and crackdown on online fraud and gambling as a national duty, and that it is working with neighbouring governments to identify and arrest offenders.
After necessary investigations, the detainees will face action in accordance with the law, and seized equipment will be handled according to procedures, the release said.
It was not immediately clear how many of the foreign nationals would face charges in Myanmar, be deported, or be transferred to their home countries. In past cases, foreign nationals detained in Myanmar scam operations have been handed over to their home authorities after initial investigations.
The operation has drawn public attention because Thaketa is in Myanmar's commercial capital, an area under tight security control. For years, large fraud compounds have operated in border areas such as Myawaddy, Shwe Kokko and Laukkai. The Yangon raid suggests authorities are now also targeting operations in city condominiums.
The Ministry of Cyber Affairs will update this report as official charges, court proceedings, or extradition requests are confirmed.