Myanmar, Cambodia scam hubs subjected to US sanctions

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control has imposed sanctions on several organizations and individuals behind cyber scam operations in Myanmar and Cambodia, which have stolen over $10 million from U.S. victims, reports The Record, a news site by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future. Myanmar had its Karen National Army which has taken over the country's Karen State and profited from cyber scam centers that also involved human trafficking primarily targeted by the punitive action, with sanctions foisted on nine people and firms involved in the Shwe Kokko hub, including KNA leader Saw Chit Thu. On the other hand, Cambodia also had four individuals and six companies engaged in cyber scams involving forced labor, most of which are in the beach city of Sihanoukville, sanctioned by the Treasury Department. "Southeast Asia's cyber scam industry not only threatens the well-being and financial security of Americans, but also subjects thousands of people to modern slavery," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley.