Myanmar parliament clears anti-scam bill targeting crypto fraud and scam compounds

Parliamentary approval, but final text still pending

The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approved the bill after reconciling amendments passed by Myanmar’s lower and upper chambers. Based on the bill’s May draft and comments from lawmakers who reviewed the final version, offences tied to crypto scams and scam-centre operations could carry prison terms ranging from 10 years to life.

Publicly available records had not yet shown the final amended law, a notice of presidential assent or a commencement date as of July 29. That means the reported punishments and enforcement framework still rest on the earlier draft and legislative commentary rather than a published final statute.

What the bill is designed to cover

The legislation is aimed at a broad set of activities linked to online fraud. According to the source text, it covers digital-currency fraud, online scam centres, forced scam labour and the financial infrastructure used by fraud networks.

The bill would also create a wider institutional framework to support enforcement. It establishes a central committee, regional bodies and an Anti-Scam Centre. Those entities would be empowered to coordinate across agencies and, where needed, work with foreign governments.

Wide powers over accounts, data and equipment

Under the draft framework described in the source article, the law would enable information sharing among banks, telecom providers and state agencies. It also sets out procedures to freeze suspicious accounts and confiscate proceeds or equipment believed to be connected to scam operations.

Because many fraud networks move money and digital assets across borders, international coordination is expected to be a central part of implementation. The source article notes that victims, workers, operators, payment routes and crypto activity often span multiple jurisdictions, making cooperation beyond Myanmar important for enforcement.

Concerns over oversight and civil liberties

The proposal has also drawn criticism. Human Rights Myanmar described it as a “repressive security instrument” and raised concerns about surveillance powers, account freezes, website blocking, the use of capital punishment and the absence of independent oversight.

Those objections remain difficult to evaluate in full because the final law and implementing rules have not yet been published. Until that happens, it is unclear how closely the enacted version matches the May draft or whether any safeguards were added during the amendment process.

The bill comes as Myanmar’s scam-centre sector remains active despite earlier enforcement efforts. Satellite analysis identified at least 25 suspected scam sites around Myawaddy in early 2026, while investigations cited in the source article suggested that raids had not fully dismantled the networks, which may have shifted into relocations and smaller operations. The next stage will be publication of the amended law, confirmation of presidential assent, and disclosure of when the rules take effect and which authorities will be responsible for enforcement.