ARTICLE
23 April 2026

Scam Center Strike Force Targets Southeast Asian Scam Centers

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Ballard Spahr LLP

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On April 23, 2026, the Department of Justice announced charges against two Chinese Nationals, Huang Xing Shan and Jiang Wen Jie, for wire fraud, the seizure of $700 million in Cryptocurrency and the seizure...
Cambodia Government, Public Sector
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On April 23, 2026, the Department of Justice announced charges against two Chinese Nationals, Huang Xing Shan and Jiang Wen Jie, for wire fraud, the seizure of $700 million in Cryptocurrency and the seizure of a Telegram Channel and 503 websites as part of the Department’s effort to combat foreign fraud schemes that target American citizens.

Huang and Jiang oversaw a cryptocurrency investment fraud operation at the Shunda compound in Burma. The Shunda compound is known to have operated from January 2025 to November 2025 and used scam websites and mobile applications designed to mimic legitimate investment platforms to convince its victims into draining their savings. 

The workers at the compound were trafficked individuals. Huang was a manager at the compound who reportedly used violence against the workers. Jiang was a supervisor who managed the workers’ efforts to defraud Americans. The Shunda Compound was eventually seized by law enforcement, causing Huang and Jiang to attempt to replicate their scheme at a different compound in Cambodia. In 2026, Huang and Jiang attempted to return to Burma but were arrested by Thai Law Enforcement for immigration violations. Their cases are currently being investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office with assistance from Thai authorities. The Complaint filed against Jiang Wen Jie can be found here. The Complaint filed against Huang Xing Shan can be found here.

The Scam Center Strike Force, which combines the powers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams, also announced the seizure of a Telegram Channel used to recruit workers.

The Telegram Channel had more than 6,0000 followers and was used to convince workers to travel to Cambodia with promises of high-paying employment. Once the workers arrived, they were held against their will and forced to participate in the fraud scheme. The workers specifically targeted Americans, imitating U.S. bank customer service agents and US law enforcement to convince victims to provide their bank account information. The Telegram seizure case is being investigated by FBI’s Miami Field Office, U.S. Secret Service Headquarters, and investigators at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The Strike Force also announced that JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, and Meta voluntarily took internal investigative measures to combat the fraud operating on their systems and occurring under their names.

Additionally, 503 dot-com web domains were seized. The domains were disguised as legitimate investment platforms. Victims reported to law enforcement that these platforms were causing them to unknowingly deposit cryptocurrency funds and view supposed “returns” on what they believed were legitimate investments. In reality, the scammers received the investments and the returns. Now, when an individual visits these sites, they are informed the sites have been seized by law enforcement.

The Strike Force also announced that more than $701,962,392.15 in cryptocurrency has been identified as allegedly involved in laundering of funds stolen from victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud. The Strike Force aims to return the funds to victims.

In coordinated actions, the US Department of Treasury announced sanctions against individuals and entities perpetrating cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes against Americans using forced labor and violence in Cambodia, and Department of State announced an award of up to $10 million for anyone with information concerning the Tai Chang scam centers.

These actions are line with President’s Trump’s Executive Order Combating Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens. Fighting fraud continues to be a top priority of this Administration’s Justice and State Departments.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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