The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Saw Chit Thu, a Myanmar warlord, and the Karen National Army due to their involvement in large-scale cyber fraud and human trafficking. This follows the discovery that many scam texts targeting Americans originate from these groups. Victims have lost approximately $3.5 billion to such scams in 2023 alone.
In recent developments, a troubling wave of scam texts targeting Americans has been traced back to a Myanmar warlord and his militia. The U.S. Treasury Department reported on May 5 that Saw Chit Thu, leader of the Karen National Army (KNA), and his sons have been implicated in vast cyber fraud and human trafficking schemes. This alarming revelation has prompted sanctions against them, shedding light on the source of many deceptive cryptocurrency texts seen across the nation.
The KNA, which operates in Myanmar’s Kayin State, is engaged in extensive scams that reportedly netted about $3.5 billion from victims just in 2023. According to the U.S. Treasury, the militia controls a so-called “Special Economic Zone” near the Thai border. Within this area, they have allegedly leased land to various organised crime syndicates, working in tandem to operate facilities where trafficked individuals are coerced into committing online fraud.
The scam operations primarily revolve around cryptocurrency schemes. Reports indicate that victims are lured in by promises of extravagant lifestyles and are persuaded to invest in fake cryptocurrency and trading platforms. As the scammers create an illusion of substantial gains, victims are encouraged to invest more, ultimately leading to their financial destruction when the cons go dark with all their cash.
The sanctions imposed by the U.S. not only seek to freeze any assets related to Saw Chit Thu and his family on American soil but also prevent American entities from engaging in any business dealings with them. Notably, these actions follow similar sanctions previously enacted by the U.K. and European Union against the same individuals.
Furthermore, on the heels of these announcements, the U.S. Treasury has revealed intentions to target a network in Cambodia. This group is alleged to be laundering funds for North Korean cybercriminals and is also linked to other forms of fraud proliferating throughout Southeast Asia, including the notorious “pig-butchering” scams, which are all too familiar in the region.
As this battle against cybercrime intensifies, the call for public awareness and vigilance has never been more urgent. If readers have faced similar scams or know of security breaches that have affected them or one of their communities, they are encouraged to reach out via email or through a dedicated form that has been established for sharing these critical narratives.
