Taiwan's government is warning citizens that scam work in Southeast Asia now carries far harsher punishment, bad news for anyone lured abroad by promises of easy money.

• Myanmar's new anti-scam law, in force since late July, punishes running scam centers, crypto scams, or trafficking people with 10 years to life in prison.
• The death penalty is possible if someone dies as a result, and it applies to foreigners too.
• Before this, offenders were usually just deported home with light penalties under immigration rules.
• Three Taiwanese arrested in Myanmar this month over phone-and-internet fraud rings are expected to face the tougher sentences.
• Thailand added fast deportation, permanent blacklisting, and reentry bans for foreigners convicted of visa overstays, illegal work, forged documents, or serious crimes.

Outlook: More arrests and long sentences are likely as Southeast Asian countries move together against the region's scam industry.