The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a powerful Cambodian senator and 28 entities associated with him Thursday, claiming he is at the center of a massive crypto scam operation.
His casinos, and those of his associates, have been used to launder proceeds from these scam centers, OFAC said. In the scam centers, trafficking victims are forced to reach out to unsuspecting individuals around the world—including Americans—pose as potential romantic interests, and convince targets to send money to fake crypto trading platforms.
“Treasury will continue to target fraudsters and scam centers that steal billions of dollars from hardworking Americans, no matter where they operate or how well-connected they are,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement Thursday.
The individuals and entities sanctioned today include several casinos, casino operators, banks, and investment firms with ties to Kok An’s alleged crypto scam network.
Alongside the OFAC sanctions targeting Kok An and his associates, the Strike Force today announced charges against two individuals accused of running a crypto scam operation in Burma, and attempting to open another in Cambodia.
The Strike Force said Thursday it is currently focused on targeting actors in southeast Asia, a hotbed of crypto scams—particularly in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos.
