Associated Press | American AI models, internet infrastructure, and satellite communications are enabling international criminal networks to conduct scams at unprecedented speed and scale.
An investigation by the Associated Press and PBS FRONTLINE traces the technology supporting scam compounds in Myanmar, where trafficked workers are forced to impersonate romantic partners and defraud victims around the world.
The findings reveal the scale of these operations:
50,000 potential victims targeted by one worker in a single month, across at least 17 countries.
More than 100 people contacted simultaneously by a worker using AI-powered impersonation software.
Tens of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds linked to scam software built using AI models.
Approximately 20% of more than 200,000 internet connections analyzed at four Myanmar scam compounds passed through U.S.-registered providers.
The investigation shows how organized crime exploits technologies from companies including OpenAI, Google, SpaceX, AT&T, Oracle, and DigitalOcean to support criminal operations. AI-powered tools enable scammers to create convincing identities, communicate across languages, and automate interactions with potential victims.
Although AP found no evidence that these tech companies were themselves acting illegally, the reporting raises questions about whether existing safeguards and enforcement of terms of service are sufficient to prevent abuse.
The investigation also exposes the human toll on both sides of these operations, from victims who lose their life savings to trafficked workers subjected to coercion and violence.
At Operation Shamrock, we believe dismantling the global scam industry requires coordinated action across technology companies, financial institutions, law enforcement, and government. Disrupting the digital infrastructure these criminal networks depend on is essential to preventing harm before it occurs.
Read the investigation: Four Days to Make Victims Fall in Love: How Global Scammers Use US Tech to Fleece People
