UK and US Sanction Scam Network in Southeast Asia

WASHINGTON/LONDON — In a historic crackdown, the United States and the United Kingdom announced on October 14, 2025, extensive sanctions against a network of scam centers operating across Southeast Asia. These operations have exploited victims worldwide, including in the UK, extracting significant financial losses through fraudulent online schemes.

The coordinated actions target the Prince Group and its leader Chen Zhi, charged with orchestrating a global fraud operation that reportedly uses trafficked workers forced into committing scams under threat of violence. This initiative marks the largest coordinated action to combat such networks by both nations.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated, “The masterminds behind these horrific scam centers are ruining the lives of vulnerable people and buying up London homes to store their money. Together with our US allies, we are taking decisive action to combat this growing transnational threat.”

As part of the sanctions, a £12 million mansion in North London, owned by the network, has been frozen. The property features ten bedrooms, a cinema, a gym, and a pool. Additionally, a £100 million office building in the City of London and several luxury flats have also faced asset freezes.

According to officials, scam centers lured individuals with fake job ads, often leading them to disused casinos or compounds where they were forced into online fraud. The schemes frequently involve creating fake romantic relationships to persuade targets into investing large sums in deceptive cryptocurrency ventures.

Fraud Minister Lord Hanson condemned the operations, saying, “Fraudsters prey on the most vulnerable by stealing life savings, ruining trust, and devastating lives. We will not tolerate this.”

The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) simultaneously issued sanctions against 146 individuals and entities connected to the Prince Group, blocking their assets within the U.S. financial system. This includes specific cryptocurrency addresses linked to the criminal operations.

Experts estimate that at least USD 53 billion in cryptocurrency has been sent to fraud-related accounts since 2023. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted, “The rise in online fraud has devastated countless Americans.”

This operation sends a clear message: the U.K. and U.S. are united in their commitment to dismantling networks that exploit individuals for financial gain. Further sanctions and actions are anticipated as part of an ongoing global effort to combat these crimes.