The United States has imposed sanctions on five individuals and three entities based in Burma and Thailand, citing their involvement in forced labor compounds used to operate online investment scams. The announcement was made by Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson, on November 12, 2025.
U.S. authorities estimate that Americans lost at least $10 billion in 2024 to online scam operations originating from Southeast Asia. This figure marks a 66 percent increase compared to the previous year. Officials report that criminal syndicates in the region are increasingly targeting Americans through online platforms, posing risks to economic security.
The new sanctions align with the formation of the Scam Center Strike Force, an initiative announced by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Secret Service. The task force aims to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute scam centers and their leaders operating primarily in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos.
“These actions support today’s announcement by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Secret Service of the Scam Center Strike Force, dedicated to investigating, disrupting, and prosecuting scam centers and their leaders, with a focus on Burma, Cambodia, and Laos,” Pigott stated. “The United States will continue to use all available tools to protect Americans from scams operating across the region and around the world.”
The measures were enacted under Executive Orders 13694 (as amended) and 14014. Additional details about these sanctions are available in a press release from the Department of the Treasury.