Original: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-us-take-joint-action-to-disrupt-major-online-fraud-network
The following content is an unchanged translation of the original:
The UK and US governments today (October 14) jointly sanctioned a criminal network operating illegal scam centers in Southeast Asia.
Issuing Agency:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Home Office
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper
Minister for Fraud Prevention Lord Hanson of Flint
Release Date: October 14, 2025
A transnational network operating illegal scam centers, which has long defrauded global victims of substantial amounts of money and subjected trafficked labor to torture, has now been formally sanctioned by the UK and US governments.
Across Southeast Asia, these scam centers employ highly sophisticated methods, including romance scams (commonly known as "pig butchering"), to commit large-scale financial fraud against numerous victims, including those in the UK. The scammers are often trafficked foreigners who are imprisoned in compounds and forced to engage in online scam activities under the threat of torture.
As part of this crackdown, the UK government has frozen a property worth 12 million pounds in North London, owned by a transnational group that uses forced labor to carry out online scams.
The crime network's leader, Chen Zhi, and his associates, by setting up offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands, have invested illicit funds into the London real estate market, including:
→ A mansion on Avenue Road in North London worth 12 million pounds
→ An office building on Fenchurch Street in the City of London worth 100 million pounds
→ 17 high-end apartments in the New Oxford Street and Nine Elms area
The sanctions will immediately freeze the above assets and completely exclude Chen Zhi and his network from the UK financial system.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated:
“The masterminds behind these horrific scam centers are destroying the lives of vulnerable groups,
they hide their dirty money in London mansions.
We are taking decisive action together with our US allies to combat this increasingly severe transnational threat—
upholding human rights, protecting British citizens, and preventing dirty money from flowing into our streets.”
The individuals and entities sanctioned this time include:
🟥 Prince Group and its Chairman Chen Zhi
A high-profile transnational corporate group with assets worth billions of pounds, operating across Cambodia and other regions.
Chen Zhi and the group build casinos and scam centers, maintain operations through shell companies, and are suspected of money laundering.
🟧 Jin Bei Group
An entertainment and gambling enterprise associated with the Prince Group, owning a seven-story hotel and casino in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and operating multiple scam centers.
🟨 Golden Fortune Resorts World Ltd.
Constructing large scam centers on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, disguised as "technology parks," built by a subsidiary of the Prince Group.
🟩 Byex Cryptocurrency Exchange
Linked financially with the Prince Group and Jin Bei Group, used for money laundering.
Operation of scam centers in Southeast Asia
Scam centers lure foreigners to abandoned casinos or compounds through fake job advertisements, then restrict their freedom and force them to commit online scams.
Common scam methods include establishing fake romantic relationships, inducing victims to invest in fictitious cryptocurrency projects.
Illegal proceeds are then transferred through a complex financial laundering system—including businesses and online gambling platforms under a "legitimate guise."
Simultaneous sanctions with the US, expanding international cooperation
This round of sanctions is conducted in sync with the actions of the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), ensuring maximum global impact.
The sanctions are based on extensive investigations and intelligence cooperation between the UK FCDO and the US government.
Minister for Fraud Prevention Lord Hanson stated:
“Scammers plunder people's life savings, destroy trust, and tear lives apart.
We will not tolerate such actions.
This round of sanctions demonstrates our determination to block illegal profits, hold criminals accountable, and resist dirty money.
With our expanded anti-fraud strategy and the upcoming global anti-fraud summit,
we will further dismantle these corrupt networks, protecting the public from shameless criminals.”
The London Metropolitan Police's Action Fraud continues to protect the British public from online fraud.
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