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Happy Sunday, its February 2, We appreciate your support of all of our newsletters published under the Mencari banner, and we welcome any recommendations for enhancements. This is the most recent news that you should read.
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🔥Myanmar's Border Scam Empire Expands South, Generating Billions in Illegal Profits
Myanmar's cybercrime operations, centered in the border town of Myawaddy, have evolved into what officials are calling a "global capital" of scams, with an estimated 300,000 scammers operating from at least 40 major compounds. These operations, which have generated losses between $18 billion and $37 billion across East and Southeast Asia in 2023 alone, are now expanding southward along the Thai border, according to authorities who spoke with VOA.
The sophisticated criminal networks, primarily run by Chinese operators, are exploiting a complex web of cross-border interests involving ethnic armed groups and Myanmar's military junta. The scammers conduct elaborate romance and investment schemes, targeting victims worldwide through online platforms and cold calls. Many of the workers in these compounds were initially trafficked after being promised legitimate jobs in Thailand, though recent reports suggest a shift toward recruiting people who are knowingly entering the illegal industry. (More)
🚀Pakistan's Digital Fraud Crisis: 91% of Consumers at Risk of Scams
Online scams have become a critical issue in Pakistan, with consumers losing over PKR 10 billion in 2024 alone. A Visa study reveals that 91% of Pakistani consumers are vulnerable to scams, with 52% having fallen victim at least once—significantly higher than global averages.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched a comprehensive anti-fraud initiative to combat this growing threat, focusing on public education and strengthening digital payment security. The campaign utilizes multiple channels to reach citizens, providing practical advice and real-life examples of common scam tactics.
Financial inclusion organization Karandaaz has partnered with SBP to enhance these efforts, developing localized awareness campaigns and exploring technological solutions like AI and blockchain. The initiative aims to build a central anti-fraud system involving multiple stakeholders, including NADRA, PTA, and law enforcement agencies, to create a more secure digital financial ecosystem. (More)
🚨Inside Dubai's Desert Scam Centers: Ex-Worker Reveals Romance Fraud Operation
A 21-year-old Syrian refugee, known as "Beard," has exposed the inner workings of a massive romance scam operation in Dubai, where he and over 1,000 others were effectively held captive in desert office buildings. After responding to what he thought was an advertising job, he found himself forced to impersonate women in sophisticated "pig butchering" romance scams targeting victims worldwide.
The operation, run exclusively by Chinese managers, employed foreign workers from Africa, India, and the Middle East, paying them $800 monthly while restricting their movement. Workers lived on-site, working 12-hour night shifts, using scripts to convince victims to invest in cryptocurrency schemes. The scam centers even employed a multilingual woman to conduct brief video calls with suspicious victims. (More)
AI WRAP-UP
Tülu 3 405B Launch: First Open Post-Training Model to Match GPT-4o.AI2 has launched Tülu 3 405B, their largest open-source language model using novel Reinforcement Learning from Verifiable Rewards (RLVR) training, achieving competitive performance with GPT-4o and surpassing DeepSeek v3 on key benchmarks.
Google Launches 'Ask for Me' AI Calling Service for Business Inquiries . Google has introduced an experimental "Ask for Me" feature that uses AI to call businesses on users' behalf to gather pricing and availability information, currently available for nail salons and car mechanics through Search Labs.
Oracle Launches AI Agents for Manufacturing Supply Chain Management. Oracle has introduced new AI agents for manufacturing and supply chain management through its Cloud platform, following its involvement in the $500 billion Stargate Project with OpenAI and SoftBank, as the company competes with tech giants in the growing AI agent market.
Cybersec Rundown
Medusa Ransomware Group Targets ARDEX Australia: Confidential Data at Risk. ARDEX Australia, a construction materials company, is facing a ransomware attack where hackers have stolen confidential business and employee data, demanding $300,000 for either the data's release or deletion, with a 22-day countdown before public release.
Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Market to Hit $562.72 Billion by 2032, Reports HTF. The global Critical National Infrastructure cybersecurity market is projected to grow significantly from $172.24B to $562.72B by 2032, driven by increasing cyber threats and government regulations, with major players like Palo Alto Networks and IBM Security leading the industry.
FBI Seizes 5 Major Hacking Forums in Global Operation Talent Crackdown.In a coordinated international effort led by the FBI and supported by AFP and Europol, authorities have seized control of five major hacking forums that were used for trading cybercrime tools and stolen data, displaying law enforcement seizure notices on their domains.
Crypto Insider
ECB's Lagarde Firmly Rejects Bitcoin as Central Bank Reserve Asset. ECB President Christine Lagarde has definitively rejected the possibility of including Bitcoin in European central bank reserves, citing concerns about its volatility and lack of central control, despite the cryptocurrency reaching $100,208 and a Czech central banker's proposal to include it in national reserves.
Solana Revenue Surpasses Ethereum for First Time, Hits $119M in September 2025. Solana blockchain is experiencing significant growth in early 2025, with $6 billion in USDC minted on the network, surpassing Ethereum in monthly revenue ($119M vs $107M), and leading the NFT market with 38% market share, despite broader market uncertainties.
Crypto Influencer's $GANG Token: 253x Return in 40 Minutes Sparks Scam Allegation. A cryptocurrency influencer, MrPunk.Eth, launched a token called $GANG that crashed 96% after its creator and insiders allegedly cashed out millions, leaving retail investors with massive losses and raising questions about influencer-led crypto projects.
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