2025-11-12 (disclosed) · US

US Scam Center Strike Force targets Southeast Asian scam centres, 2025

Charged. These are allegations until proven in court.

The US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, DOJ's Criminal Division, the FBI and the Secret Service launched the Scam Center Strike Force in November 2025 against Southeast Asian scam centres running crypto investment fraud on Americans, who the Secret Service says lose about $10 billion a year to such scams. At launch it had seized and forfeited $401,657,274.33 in cryptocurrency, seized websites used by the Tai Chang compound in Burma and sought warrants for the compound's satellite internet terminals. In April 2026 DOJ charged two Chinese nationals, Huang Xingshan and Jiang Wen Jie, with wire fraud conspiracy, alleging they managed the Shunda scam compound in Burma, and announced the seizure of 503 fake investment websites.

$401.7M (seized; Cryptocurrency the Secret Service said the Strike Force had seized and forfeited by its launch ($401,657,274.33). Not added in: forfeiture proceedings filed at launch for a further $80 million, and the more than $700 million DOJ said had been restrained by April 2026.)

Timeline

1. 2025-11-12 The Strike Force is announced, with $401.7 million in cryptocurrency seized and forfeited and forfeiture proceedings filed for $80 million more.
2. 2025-11-12 Treasury designates the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and related entities in the same coordinated action.
3. 2026-04-23 DOJ announces charges against Huang Xingshan and Jiang Wen Jie over the Shunda compound, the seizure of 503 fake investment websites and a Telegram recruiting channel, and more than $700 million in cryptocurrency restrained.

Lessons

• Report crypto investment fraud to IC3 quickly, with wallet addresses and transaction IDs, because seizures depend on tracing funds before they move.
• Crypto platforms should act fast on freeze requests: DOJ says part of the restrained total came through voluntary action by cryptocurrency providers.
• Treat any investment website introduced by an online contact as suspect; the Strike Force has seized hundreds of fake ones.

Scam types: Pig butchering

Sources

1. US Secret Service: New Scam Center Strike Force battles Southeast Asian crypto investment fraud targeting Americans (Law enforcement, primary, accessed 2026-09-24)
2. DOJ Office of Public Affairs: Scam Center Strike Force takes major actions against Southeast Asian scam centers targeting Americans (Law enforcement, primary, accessed 2026-09-24)