The crypto world attracts scammers in hordes. People invest in crypto with high hopes of massive gains, and this lures in those who have little knowledge of the tech, making them the perfect target for scammers. Many of these scammers are jam-packed in the area known as the Golden Triangle: this is a region in South-east Asia covering parts of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. The scam centers are specifically located in an area known as the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (or GTSEZ for short). This zone is notorious for its controversies, one of and scam centers are just one of the many. So, what’s the Golden Triangle pig butchering crypto scam ? It’s a scam that deceives people from around the world with high-paying fake job offers, promising paid flights and visas, only to kidnap them upon arrival in the Golden Triangle. The victims are held captive in a compound controlled by organized crime groups and are eventually forced to scam others through various methods, such as romance and investment schemes.
Where Are Scam Centers Located In The Golden Triangle?
Pinpointing every single hotbed for crypto crimes is a challenging task. So, where are scam centers located in the Golden Triangle? All of them are in Southeast Asia: key hubs include the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) in Bokeo Province, Laos, the KK Park and Shwe Kokko in Myanmar’s Kayin State, and Sihanoukville in Cambodia. These locations are centered around busy junction points in the region, making them widely accessible for locals and tourists alike. Here are the most notorious hubs at a glance:
GTSEZ: Named after the historical Golden Triangle, which received its title due to producing most of the world’s heroin supply, GTSEZ doesn’t fall far from its namesake when it comes to criminal activities. It's centered around the Kings Romans Casino and is run by Chinese businessman Zhao Wei, who’s sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for his activities that allegedly cover crypto scams, human trafficking, and drug smuggling.
One of the hotbeds for crypto scams is the Kings Romans Casino in Laos
KK Park: Nestled on the Myanmar-Thailand border, this complex was originally designed and built for border trade activities. Today, it’s a center for criminal activities beyond imagination. It is run by the triad with the help of the local militia: workers here are forced to perform crypto scams and are tortured and threatened with death in case they fail to comply.
Shwe Kokko: Located not too far from KK Park, this town is basically the enlarged version of the border complex. Thanks to the limited reach of the Burmese government, Shwe Kokko is center for illegal gambling, human trafficking, extortion, and crypto crimes.
Sihanoukville: In 2019, Chinese investors flocked to the city, building over 100 casinos in a few years. The original intention was to create a new gambling hub in Sihanoukville, but “coincidentally”, the new investments lured in Chinese criminal gangs who now run extensive operations mostly focusing on online scams.
Golden Triangle Human Trafficking: The Workforce Behind Scam Centers
You might wonder who in their right mind goes to the Golden Triangle to participate in elaborate scams? Golden Triangle human trafficking is a Special Economic Zone in Laos, that is operated by presumably thousands of individuals who were either caught in or sold through human trafficking by criminal organizations, in which there are numerous chat center scam hubs used to run crypto scams on victims. And who runs the business? It really depends on the scam center or the larger crime hub, but our experts at PlasBit did some digging and it turns out most of them are the usual suspects:
Zhao Wei and the Kings Romans Group. Wei, a Chinese national, is also the owner of the Kings Romans Casino in the GTSEZ in Laos. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Zhao and his entire organization in 2018 for their involvement in drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and wildlife trafficking. Zhao maintains rock-solid ties with Laotian authorities, even receiving the “Third Class Development Medal” for developing the local infrastructure, suggesting that his position as the local kingpin stands firm.
She Zhijang and Yatai International. She Zhijang is a Chinese fugitive and the leader of the Yatai International Holdings Group. She’s casino project is single-handedly responsible for the rise of the Shwe Kokko crime operation hub: it is often criticized for its activities like crypto scams, human trafficking, and illegal gambling. Although Shwe Kokko is very much alive and functional, She has been detained since 2022 in Thailand with plans to extradite him to China.
Broken Tooth Koi and the 14K triad. Before you mistake them for a criminal syndicate from a Guy Ritchie movie, let’s just clarify that Broken Tooth Koi is a key figure in the Golden Triangle. A former leader of the Macau branch of the 14K triad and also a convict recently released after 14 years in prison, Koi has been busy in the crypto world, both with coin launches and operating crypto scam centers along the Burmese border.
Karen National Army and Karen National Union. These are, unfortunately, not congregations of upset middle-aged housewives. Split off from the main army of Myanmar, these organizations are mainly Karen Buddhist armies. They are allegedly lending a hand to kingpins to run their scam centers and other crime operations in Shwe Kokko and KK Park.
The Ming family. Another bunch of Chinese outlaws, the Mings operated in Myanmar’s Kokang region, mainly involved in large-scale online scams. After China issued arrest warrants against the family members, one of them committed suicide, and three others were caught in Cambodia and extradited to China.
It’s clear that criminals are drawn to the area because they can run their operations with some assistance from local authorities. But how do the workers get attracted to these scam centers, and why do they end up being forced to scam people around the globe?
- Fake ads are how it starts. Workers are promised high wages in customer service and tech support through ads on social media. These fake ads lure in hopeful candidates from all around Southeast Asia.
- Being indebted doesn’t help. Individuals who struggle to make ends meet or can’t pay off their debts often end up at scam centers. Most of these compounds are run by Chinese kingpins, and, sadly, their own workforce consists of fellow citizens who fall victim to human trafficking. Many join these scam centers because they are running away from the Chinese authorities.
- Global recruitment frenzy. There’s increasing evidence that scam centers lure in English-speaking African nationals because they can convince scam targets more easily.
- Lack of opportunity locally. Many workers are aware of the conditions of scam centers - they just don’t know any better. Poverty, unemployment, and political instability can push people to the brink: they take more risks and sign up for dodgy jobs that are not transparent about what the position entails.
What Are The Methods Used By The Golden Triangle Scam Centers To Steal Cryptocurrency?
If you run a scam center, you’re probably running more than just one scheme to steal money from people. So, what are the methods used by the Golden Triangle scam centers to steal cryptocurrency? The most common ones include romance scams, pig butchering scams, fake investment platforms, impersonation scams, e-commerce scams, and online gambling traps. It’s estimated that over $12.4 billion is stolen every year in crypto scams run from the Golden Triangle. Although one-third of all scams are pig butchering scams, here are the other common methods in more detail:
- Romance scams. The scammer builds trust with the victim after getting to know them on a dating site. After a while, they introduce the victim to crypto investments, showing fake profits. Once they bait the hook, the victim loses most, if not all, of their assets. Romance scams and pig butchering scams are at a heart of scam centers in the Golden Triangle. Workers are often trafficked here and then forced to build romantic relationships using scripts and fake profiles to emotionally manipulate victims.
Pig butchering scams leave victims drained financially and emotionally
- Fake investment platforms. The scammer lures in the victim with a professional-looking app that simulates real-life trading and crypto exchanges. The interface shows fake gains, encouraging the victim to invest even more money.
Voluntary or not, tech workers design apps and take care of fake customer chats in massive compounds, maintaining the image of a professional-looking scam platform. - Impersonation scams. This is when a scammer pretends to be a higher authority, e.g., a tax or customs office official. They bully the victim by saying that they have outstanding debts and need to pay up to avoid arrest. There are entire call center floors in scam compounds that specialize in impersonization scripts.
- E-commerce/parcel scams. We’ve probably all received a fake message saying that we have a package in our name - all we need to do is pay up to access it. Although these forms of scams are less frequent than the Golden Triangle pig butchering crypto scam, they also show how easy you can lose funds over an innocent-looking message. Those workers who are technically less skilled usually take care of these scams. These scams are very low effort and quick-return, promising a fruitful alternative for scammers who engage in longer scams like pig butchering.
- Gambling traps. There’s an army of fake gambling sites that hook you with early and unlikely wins just to keep you there and lose much more. This applies to crypto-based gambling operations as well. Is it a surprise that scam centers focusing on online gambling are very common around casinos in the Golden Triangle? These scams are often used as an entry level for victims, from which they are taken to deeper, more damaging ones.
Losing $1 Million: A Cautionary Tale About A Pig Butchering Scam
One-third of all crypto scams are Golden Triangle pig butchering crypto scams. This also means that some of the most horrifying stories are covering such schemes. We’re covering one of the biggest pig butchering scams at PlasBit in this piece. Erika DeMask, a widow from Lombard, Illinois, lost her entire life savings in a pig butchering scam. DeMask met a man who claimed to work on an oil rig. He soon confessed his love and sent a bouquet of flowers to the widow, further establishing trust with her. But things started to change soon. The mysterious lover started asking for money for various emergencies like equipment repairs, and promised that she’d double her investments. At first, these were relatively small sums of $20,000 and $35,000, but soon enough, one-off transfers reached as high as $300,000. After running out of her own money, DeMask used funds from her investment and accounts and even took out a home equity loan.
DeMask slowly but steadily drained her life savings as part of the pig butchering scam.
At least the bank raised alarm bells, right? Well, not quite. Fifth Third Bank didn’t see anything suspicious - they even wrote a letter claiming that there was nothing disturbing in any of the verifications used before transferring large chunks of money to the unknown lover.
A detailed, heartfelt, and matter-of-fact letter from DeMask’s bank, saying that they haven’t seen anything suspicious on their end
Expectedly, DeMask was left devastated, both financially and emotionally. She was forced to sell her house and most of her belongings, and now she only has $400 left, plus a bunch of money owed to her bank and the IRS due to the withdrawals and loans. The FBI and Interpol linked such scams to criminal networks run from Southeast Asia, with a high chance of DeMask being robbed by thieves operating out of the Golden Triangle.
“If you don’t take part in it, you get punished very bad” a scam center worker is often a victim themselves
How To Spot a Pig Butchering Scam In 5 Simple Steps
Golden Triangle pig butchering crypto scams are heartbreaking, both emotionally and financially. Here are the top 5 signs that you might be in a scammer’s crosshairs:
They are too good to be true. You get approached on social media, or you hook up with someone on a dating site who is way above your league. They are also super charming and very interested in you. The catch? They are unable to meet you in person because of various reasons (working at an oil rig, traveling around the globe, etc.).
They escalate quickly. When you hear “I love you” after 3 days of chatting, it should raise a red flag. Grandiose acts of romance combined with a sense of urgency are not a good sign.
They want you to invest. Usually in crypto, but sometimes in forex or precious metals. The point is, you barely processed the emotional depths of your newfound relationship, and you’re already being asked to make massive financial commitments.
They urge you to act. You aren’t allowed to process anything, as that would make you more careful. You’re pressed to invest ASAP.
They manipulate you. They will use your fresh relationship as a basis for emotional terror. “I thought you loved me”, and “I trust you, I hope you do, too” are the name of the game.
Captured By The Golden Triangle: A Case Study
We often forget that crypto scams like the Golden Triangle pig butchering crypto scam are run by people who are themselves victims. The following is a terrifying account of someone who was caught and forced to scam people around the globe. In July 2022, 30-year-old real estate agent Rachel Yoong responded to an appealing job posting on Facebook. The ad promised a much higher salary than what she was earning at the time, and after two interviews, she was flown to her new job’s location: a casino in Myanmar. Things went downhill quickly after that. Instead of starting her job at a shiny casino, she was taken by armed guards 700 miles to Laukkai, a city in the lawless region of Kokang near the Chinese border. Upon arrival, Rachel found herself in a ten-storey building, locked up with some 200 individuals. Detainees were forced to work 17 hours a day, operating online scams that involved posing as attractive women to deceive victims into sending money. Most workers were Chinese, Taiwanese, and Malaysian, and their victims were from the United States. If you failed to meet your quota of $1,000 (that is, $1,000 scammed from someone) in 3 days, it entailed severe punishments like beatings and electrocution. Rachel witnessed one detainee committing suicide and another two dying from their injuries.
In just 5 years, the KK Park has grown into one of the largest crypto scam centers in the world
Rachel realized that she had to work to stay alive: after being beaten multiple times, she soon became one of the most successful detainees. As you might expect, this meant that she scammed a lot of money from unsuspecting victims as part of the Golden Triangle pig butchering crypto scam. According to her, she scammed out a monthly average of $30,000, with one-off scams rising as high as $200,000. Once, she was even transferred to another scam center, which was raided by Chinese authorities. She had to stay, though: as she recounts, the Chinese ignored her simply because she’s Malaysian. After a mild heart attack, beatings, and multiple failed escape attempts, she was facing almost certain death. As she personally organized the last escape attempt, she knew her employer was going to find out about her involvement. To avoid punishment, she contacted some of her former coworkers and offered to work for them. Soon enough, she found herself working at a third scam center. However, security measures were subpar here, and she managed to contact the Malaysian Embassy. Shortly after, she was rescued: Rachel got away unscathed physically but with traumas haunting her for a lifetime.
Rescue Attempts And Raids In The Golden Triangle
As you can see, the criminal activities within the Golden Triangle are widely known and studied. And why can this zone still persist? We found at PlasBit that due to its status as a special economic zone, its legal status is unclear at best, and most governments in the region are powerless when it comes to pursuing any of the criminals there. Still, many countries have launched their own rescue mission to at least try to save their citizens from the grasp of their captors:
India has been fairly active in the region: as of today, their embassies in Laos and Cambodia have rescued a combined total of 1,773 citizens.
Myanmar rescue missions are quite frequent, too. With the help of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and the Thai army, around 260 individuals from more than 20 countries were rescued from scam centers.
Cambodia also joined forces with the Indian embassy to rescue over 360 people from Sihanoukville from being forced to work at scam centers.
Kenya has rescued 76 trafficking victims from Myanmar. Most of these individuals were forced into scam operations, facing severe conditions and threats, including forced labor and organ harvesting.
The Philippines also does its best to rescue its citizens. In 2024 alone, they saved almost 1,000 people from working at gambling complexes (POGOs).
Thailand wins the numbers game: in early 2025, they rescued over 7,000 individuals working at scam centers.
Avoid Pig Butchering Schemes
The moral of the story is simple. Pig butchering scams are super common as they take advantage of us both emotionally and financially. Watch out for the warning signs, and never-ever start randomly investing in anything without doing your research.
