OFAC Sanctions Burmese Group for Scam Ties
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Nov. 12 sanctioned the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a Burmese armed group, for supporting Myanmar-based cyber scam centers that target Americans with fraudulent investment schemes.
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OFAC also designated four of the DKBA’s senior leaders, as well as two entities, Trans Asia and Troth Star, and a Thai national. They're "linked to Chinese organized crime" and have worked with the DKBA and other armed groups to develop cyber scam centers.
The agency said the Tai Chang compound is known to house cyber scam operations and is located in DKBA-controlled territory. The DKBA provides security for the compound and is accused of participating in violence against forced-labor scam workers.
"For its participation in these scam operations, the DKBA receives funding that it uses to support its ongoing illicit activities," OFAC said. "The DKBA partners with Chinese organized crime on drug, human, arms, and wildlife trafficking, as well as money laundering."
The agency has announced several other rounds of designations this year against those involved in Southeast Asian cyber scams, including the Cambodia-based Prince Group and the Myanmar-based Karen National Army (see 2510140005, 2509080010 and 2505050008).
OFAC said it plans to work with a new multi-agency strike force that will use sanctions, seizures, criminal prosecutions and other tools to disrupt scam centers in Southeast Asia.