FBI San Diego Investigation Targets Tai Chang Scam Network; Malicious Domain Seized and State Department Announces Up to $10 Million Reward

SAN DIEGO – Federal authorities have announced coordinated enforcement actions targeting a large-scale cryptocurrency investment fraud network operating out of Southeast Asia, including the seizure of a malicious domain and the issuance of a U.S. Department of State reward of up to $10 million for information related to the operation.

The actions stem from an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s San Diego Field Office, in coordination with the FBI Legal Attaché in Bangkok, into the Tai Chang Scam Enterprise, a network of scam compounds located in and around Kyaukhat, Burma. These compounds have been identified as central hubs for cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes targeting victims in the United States.

As part of the operation, federal authorities seized a malicious web domain used by the network to impersonate a legitimate investment platform. Investigators determined that the site was designed to deceive victims into downloading fraudulent applications, which were then used to capture funds and redirect them into accounts controlled by the criminal enterprise. The domain was actively used as an entry point for victims in ongoing fraud campaigns.

The enforcement action was conducted under the Scam Center Strike Force, a multi-agency initiative led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia focused on dismantling organized fraud networks engaged in cryptocurrency investment schemes, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and large-scale money laundering.

Federal prosecutors have also filed seizure complaints tied to cryptocurrency assets linked to the operation. One action associated with the FBI San Diego investigation seeks the forfeiture of approximately $30 million in cryptocurrency, while broader Strike Force efforts have resulted in the restraint of more than $700 million in digital assets connected to fraud-related laundering activities.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury previously designated entities associated with the Tai Chang network—including the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and Trans Asia International Holding Group Thailand Company Limited—as specially designated nationals due to links to organized criminal activity and the development of scam centers across Southeast Asia. These designations impose financial restrictions and block access to U.S.-linked financial systems.

In a parallel action, the U.S. Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification, disruption, or financial recovery of assets tied to the Tai Chang scam operations. The reward underscores the scale of the threat and the priority placed on dismantling transnational fraud networks targeting American victims.

Investigators have identified the broader operational model used by these networks as cyber-enabled cryptocurrency investment fraud, commonly referred to within criminal circles as “pig butchering.” These schemes involve prolonged victim engagement, during which individuals are manipulated into making repeated financial transfers into fraudulent investment platforms that simulate legitimate returns. All funds are ultimately diverted to accounts controlled by the perpetrators.

Data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) indicates that cryptocurrency investment fraud represents the largest category of reported financial crime affecting Americans. Reported losses increased from $3.96 billion in 2023 to $5.8 billion in 2024, and exceeded $7.2 billion in 2025, reflecting continued expansion of these operations. Authorities assess that actual losses are significantly higher due to underreporting.

Further intelligence indicates that many of these operations are conducted from industrial-scale scam compounds located along the Burma–Thailand border and in Cambodia. Criminal networks frequently employ coercion tactics, including trafficking individuals under false employment pretenses and forcing them to participate in fraud operations under threat of violence. Documented conditions within these compounds include physical abuse, confinement, and severe coercion.

The Scam Center Strike Force, established in November 2025, operates as a coordinated federal response involving the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Department of Justice Criminal Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service, with additional support from multiple U.S. Attorney’s Offices and federal agencies. The initiative is aligned with federal directives prioritizing the disruption of foreign-backed fraud operations targeting U.S. citizens.

The investigation into the Tai Chang network remains active and ongoing, with continued efforts focused on identifying responsible individuals, disrupting infrastructure, and recovering stolen assets.

Individuals who believe they have been victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud are encouraged to file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Those with information related to the Tai Chang scam operations may contact federal authorities through designated FBI reporting channels.

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