"Southeast Asian governments and businesses have been rocked by a renewed focus on the region's notorious scam centers, compounds where workers-often themselves victims of human trafficking-try to defraud individuals in wealthier economies like Singapore and Hong Kong. In mid-October, the U.S. and UK slapped sanctions targeting individuals and entities within the Cambodia-based Prince Group, which officials accused of being linked to transnational cybercrime."
"Nearby Singapore later seized just over $115 million worth of assets tied to the Group. (The Prince Group this week said it "categorically rejects" any allegations that it or its chairman Chen Zhi engaged in any unlawful activity.) South Korea also launched emergency measures last month to rescue its kidnapped nationals in Cambodia after one Korean tourist was found murdered near a scam compound."
"And on Oct. 22, Thailand Deputy Finance Minister Vorapak Tanyawong resigned after just a month on the job following accusations linking him to Cambodian scam center networks. (Vorapak has denied the allegations) On Thursday, the U.S. announced that it will start a new "Scam Center Strike Force" to target cybercriminals based in Southeast Asia, with U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro dubbing it "a national security problem and a homeland security problem.""
Southeast Asian scam centers imprison and exploit workers, often victims of human trafficking, who are forced to defraud people in wealthier economies. The U.S. and UK imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the Cambodia-based Prince Group, and Singapore seized just over $115 million in assets tied to the group; the Prince Group denied unlawful activity. South Korea launched emergency measures to rescue kidnapped nationals after a South Korean tourist was murdered near a scam compound. Thailand’s deputy finance minister resigned amid accusations of links to Cambodian scam networks. The U.S. announced a Scam Center Strike Force. Hundreds of thousands remain trapped, many lured by false job ads.
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