DOJ Seizes Fraudulent Crypto Domain in Burma-Linked Scam Crackdown

03.12.2025 21:29 2 sources positive

The U.S. Department of Justice has seized the domain tickmilleas.com, a fraudulent website posing as a cryptocurrency trading platform that was linked to a major scam compound in Burma. The site, which was registered in November 2025, deceived American users into depositing crypto funds under false pretenses, with victims' assets being transferred to wallets controlled by the scammers.

Federal agents confirmed the domain was operated by the Tai Chang scam compound in Kyaukhat, Burma, which has connections to the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and the Trans Asia International Holding Group—both previously sanctioned entities tied to organized crime. The FBI identified several U.S. victims who reported falsified trades and fabricated balances on the platform.

The seizure is part of a broader initiative by the newly launched Scam Center Strike Force, a collaboration between the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the Secret Service, and other Justice Department divisions. This team aims to dismantle Southeast Asian scam compounds that exploit U.S. infrastructure. In a coordinated effort, tech giants Google and Apple removed fraudulent mobile apps tied to the domain, while Meta deleted over 2,000 related accounts used to lure victims via social media.

The action highlights the escalating threat of crypto fraud, which caused over $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024, according to the FBI. Since 2020, investigators have recovered more than $350 million from global cybercriminal operations. The Justice Department's prosecution, led by the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section with support from the FBI’s San Diego Field Office, underscores a growing focus on tracing illicit cryptocurrency activities and recovering stolen funds through cross-border coordination.