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U.S. Launches Major Crackdown on Southeast Asian Scams

12/2/2025

Center

U.S. Targets Online Scams

On October 14, the U.S. government launched an operation against online scams in Southeast Asia and sanctioned 146 individuals tied to Cambodia's Prince Holding Group.
U.S. prosecutors charged the group's chairman, Chen Zhi, with wire fraud and money laundering.
United Kingdom (UK) froze assets linked to the group, including properties worth over £100 million.
Nearly $15 billion in bitcoin was seized.

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Scam Centres Exploit

A global online fraud industry worth billions is linked to scam centres in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos.
These centres operate in lawless border areas and have surged since Myanmar's 2021 junta takeover.
Experts say hundreds of thousands are trafficked and forced to work, enduring severe abuse.
Governments claim crackdowns, but experts say actions are superficial and the network is embedded in local economies and politics, fueling concerns about 'scam states'.

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U.S. Targets Online Scams

On October 14, the U.S. government launched an operation against online scams in Southeast Asia and sanctioned 146 individuals tied to Cambodia's Prince Holding Group.
U.S. prosecutors charged the group's chairman, Chen Zhi, with wire fraud and money laundering.
United Kingdom (UK) froze assets linked to the group, including properties worth over £100 million.
Nearly $15 billion in bitcoin was seized.

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