The U.S. Department of Justice seizes domain names of Myanmar crypto scam rings as Southeast Asia cross-border crackdown escalates

This week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) seized the domain tickmilleas.com, which was linked to a major cryptocurrency scam operation in Myanmar, indicating that the U.S. and international regulatory agencies are intensifying their crackdown on Southeast Asian cross-border scam networks. The website was operated by the Tai Chang (also known as Casino Kosai) group based in Laukkai, disguising itself as a legitimate trading platform to lure victims into depositing cryptocurrency and displaying fake profits.

The DOJ noted that although the domain was only registered in November 2025, the FBI has already confirmed that several victims lost their investments through this site in the past month. The scam syndicate often approaches victims proactively through social media, dating apps, and instant messaging platforms, establishing virtual intimate relationships before inducing them to invest in crypto through fraudulent platforms.

Almost simultaneously with this seizure, a Cambodian financial group under U.S. and U.K. sanctions was forced to close its Phnom Penh branch and freeze withdrawals, further highlighting regulatory pressure. Due to links with Chinese organized crime groups, multiple scam operations in Myanmar and Cambodia have been identified as helping to establish regional scam networks.

After law enforcement agencies notified tech platforms, Google and Apple removed related apps, and Meta also shut down more than 2,000 associated accounts. The DOJ stated that last year, the U.S. reported over 41,000 crypto investment scams, with total losses reaching $5.8 billion, making scam hubs a major source of global crypto crime.

Recently, prosecutors have seized several domains linked to the Tai Chang group, signaling that the U.S. is working with allies to continually expand enforcement actions. Meanwhile, an Interpol report shows that many victims are lured overseas with promises of “high-paying jobs” and then coerced into participating in cybercrimes such as voice phishing, romance scams, and crypto fraud.

As companies like the Huione Group, involved in billions of dollars in illicit funds, face sanctions and are excluded from the global banking system, Southeast Asia’s crypto scam ecosystem is undergoing a comprehensive crackdown. The U.S. and its international partners are employing technical reviews, domain seizures, and financial sanctions to try to sever the operational chains of cross-border crypto scams.