How Scams Work in Northern Myanmar: May the World Be Free of Fraud

A call from an unknown number could make half a lifetime’s savings vanish in an instant; a text saying you’ve won a prize might be a carefully woven trap. From bank customer service reps to company executives, online loan agents to friends met on dating platforms, scammers are disguised as people from every walk of life.

A retired teacher, a company accountant, a recent graduate, an elderly person living alone… People of different backgrounds encounter similar “accidents” in their everyday lives. Some panic, some are filled with regret, and some fight back. As Officer Zhou and anti-fraud volunteer Lin Xiao investigate, the truth behind one scam after another is gradually exposed, and an even larger fraud network begins to emerge.

This is not only a practical guide to preventing fraud, but also a realistic story about human nature, choices, and redemption. When a scam comes your way, how will you respond?