OFAC Sanctions Kok An and 28 Individuals for Southeast Asian Scam Centers
Summary
Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Cambodian senator Kok An and 28 individuals for allegedly operating scam centers that have defrauded U.S. citizens through romance scams and cryptocurrency investment fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force—comprising Justice, Treasury, and State Departments—also announced charges against two individuals in Burma, the seizure of a messaging app used to recruit trafficking victims, and the seizure of 503 fraudulent web domains. ABA President Rob Nichols stated that banks remain committed to supporting law enforcement and investing in fraud-prevention technology.
“The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control today sanctioned a Cambodian senator and 28 individuals for their alleged roles in running scam centers that defraud Americans.”
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What changed
OFAC designated Kok An and 28 individuals connected to Cambodian-based fraud operations under its sanctions authority. The Scam Center Strike Force coordinated the action, which included additional seizures of domains and a messaging app used to facilitate human trafficking and financial fraud. While the sanctions themselves are binding, the article serves as a news report for compliance awareness purposes.
Banks and financial institutions should note the connection between Southeast Asian scam centers and cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, as well as romance scam patterns that launder victim funds through the financial system. The ABA's stated commitment to customer protection technology suggests increased industry focus on fraud detection for these scheme types.
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Apr 24, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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April 23, 2026 Reading Time: 1 min read The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control today sanctioned a Cambodian senator and 28 individuals for their alleged roles in running scam centers that defraud Americans.
OFAC said that Kok An controls a network of scam centers in the Southeast Asian country that have stolen millions of dollars from U.S. citizens through romance scams and other illicit means. The scam centers operate out of casinos and office parks retrofitted for fraudulent activity, launder victims’ funds and commit human rights abuses with impunity, according to the agency.
The new sanctions were coordinated with the Scam Center Strike Force, a joint law enforcement initiative. The strike force also announced charges against two individuals running a scam compound in Burma and attempting to start a scam compound in Cambodia, the seizure of a social media messaging app used to recruit human trafficking victims to a scam compound in Cambodia, and the seizure of 503 fraudulent web domains used to perpetuate cryptocurrency investment fraud.
In a statement, American Bankers Association President and CEO Rob Nichols thanked the task force for cracking down on Southeast Asian criminal organizations.
“The actions of the Justice, Treasury and State Departments send a strong message that these criminal enterprises cannot escape the reach of U.S. law enforcement, and they will pay a price for their crimes against our citizens,” Nichols said. “The banking industry remains committed to supporting the administration and law enforcement in these efforts, and banks of all sizes will also continue to invest in technology, public awareness campaigns and other tools to protect our customers.”
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