The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned 19 entities in Burma and Cambodia for their involvement in cyber scams that defrauded Americans of over $10 billion in 2024, marking a 66% increase from the previous year. These operations, often described as 'pig butchering' scams, utilize trafficked workers forced to run fake investment platforms and romance schemes. The Treasury's sanctions specifically target networks linked to the Shwe Kokko area in Burma and former casinos in Cambodia, which have transitioned to fraud centers. Key figures involved include Chinese nationals with extensive criminal backgrounds. The sanctions aim to disrupt these networks, although experts note that the entities can often rebrand to evade enforcement, emphasizing the need for continuous pressure against these operations.

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