How the scams work
Authorities say the groups rely on a mix of fraudulent tactics to trick people into sending money. Common schemes include romance scams, in which criminals build fake online relationships to extract funds, and investment frauds that present convincing but false opportunities. Victims often believe they are dealing with legitimate businesses or partners, only to later discover that their savings have vanished.
Investigators also mentioned disturbing practices inside these scam compounds. Many operations reportedly force people, often trafficked across borders into working long hours under threats of violence. Survivors describe conditions that amount to modern-day slavery, with physical abuse used to maintain control.
Why sanctions were imposed
To disrupt these activities, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blacklisted nearly two dozen individuals and entities. Those sanctioned include property owners who rent out space for scam centers, energy suppliers that keep the compounds running, holding companies tied to armed groups in Myanmar, and organizers of money-laundering networks.
Once placed on the OFAC list, people and organizations lose access to any assets that fall under U.S. jurisdiction. They are also cut off from the American banking system and cannot transact in U.S. dollars. U.S. citizens and businesses are prohibited from dealing with them, and even non-U.S. companies typically avoid contact to prevent secondary penalties.
Scale of the problem
The Treasury noted that reported losses linked to Southeast Asian scams rose 66 percent in a single year, reflecting how quickly these operations are expanding. The scams have become highly sophisticated, with call centers staffed by English-speaking workers, slick websites, and carefully scripted methods for gaining trust. This combination makes them harder for individuals to detect and easier for the criminals to scale globally.
Implications for victims and prevention
Officials stress that the financial impact is only part of the damage. Beyond the billions stolen from households, thousands of people are trapped in the scam compounds themselves, unable to leave. The sanctions are designed to cut off the networks’ financial lifelines, but enforcement alone cannot stop every fraudulent attempt.
Experts urge the public to remain watchful. Requests for money from strangers met online, or platforms promising unusually high returns, should raise red flags. Before investing or transferring funds, individuals should verify companies through independent and official sources. Suspected fraud should be reported to authorities, both to protect oneself and to aid broader crackdowns on these networks.