- The scam groups sanctioned by the US Treasury in Burma and Cambodia linked to $ 10 billion in fraud and trafficking in human beings
- Targets include KNA affiliates, owners, energy suppliers and money laundering networks
- The sanctions freezed assets, block American financial access and trigger global commercial restrictions
The US Treasury Department sanctioned several scam organizations that defrauded US citizens of $ 10 billion last year, only.
In an announcement published on September 8, it was said that the groups had organized several major operations in Southeast Asia, mainly in Burma and Cambodia.
Not only did they deceive people through various romantic scams and false investment opportunities, but they are also engaged in forced work, trafficking in human beings and physical violence.
Two dozen targets
The funds lost against these scams increased by 66% in annual shift, said the United States government, stressing the importance of the sanctions imposed.
“The Cyber-Arnaquer industry in Southeast Asia does not only threaten the well-being and financial security of the Americans, but also subjects thousands of people to modern slavery,” said under-secretary of the Treasury of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. H. Hurley.
“In 2024, the Americans without distrust lost more than $ 10 billion due to the scams based in Southeast Asia and under the president of President Trump and the secretary Bessent, the Treasury will deploy the total weight of his tools to combat the organized financial crime and protect the Americans against the significant damage that these scams can cause.”
Nine targets affiliated with the National Army of Karen (KNA) in Burma are now sanctioned by the Treasury Bureau for Foreign Active Control (OFAC), as well as 10 targets located in Cambodia.
The complete list can be found on this link. In short, they include individuals controlling the property who hosts scam centers, various KNA officials and portfolio companies, energy suppliers who feed different scam centers, founders of money laundering operations, real estate companies, etc.
Being placed on the OFAC black list means that individuals and entities have their assets under the frozen American jurisdiction and cannot access American banks, have accounts in dollars or move money via the American financial system.
It also means that American citizens, companies and organizations are not allowed to do business with individuals and entities sanctioned, and in some cases, this could mean visa refusals and an international surveillance list.
Many non -American banks and companies also avoid sanctioned people, even if they are not legally linked, as treating them can trigger penalties or loss of access to the American market.
Via Bleeping Compompute
