WASHINGTON (Chatnewstv.com) — The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on five individuals and three entities in Burma and Thailand, citing their involvement in forced labor compounds used to carry out fraudulent online investment scams.
The action targets organizations linked to Southeast Asia-based online scam operations, which the U.S. government estimates cost Americans at least $10 billion in 2024. That figure represents a 66% increase from the prior year.
Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State, issued a statement saying the sanctions address criminal syndicates that have “increasingly exploited Americans online, threatening American prosperity.”
The announcement coincides with the launch of the new Scam Center Strike Force by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service. The task force is dedicated to investigating, disrupting, and prosecuting the leaders of these scam centers, with a focus on operations in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos.
“The United States will continue to use all available tools to protect Americans from scams operating across the region and around the world,” the State Department said.
The sanctions were executed under Executive Order (E.O.) 13694 and E.O 14014.
