CHINA-MYANMAR: CHINESE NATIONALS WHO CROSSED INTO MYANMAR ILLEGALLY AND ARE WORKING IN BORDER TOWNS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO RETURN
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Caixin (September 10) reported that in mid-May local authorities in towns and cities across China
issued notices urging their citizens living in the border regions of Myanmar to return by June 30,
2022. Many of them, working in places like Muse, Kokang, Mongla and Wa State, crossed the
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border illegally, often to engage in scams such as telephone and online fraud. In exchange, the
state is offering leniency, as long as the migrants return by certain deadlines. According to China's
Ministry of Public Security, Chinese scammers, working in gangs to fool unsuspecting phone users
back home into handing over their personal details, have become adept at theft. In 2019, a total of
2,553 suspects were extradited to China for their alleged involvement in telecom fraud. Fraud cases
originating in northern Myanmar accounted for 50% to 60% of total cases in China.
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