U.S. DOJ Seizes Fraud Domain Tied to Burma’s Tai Chang Crypto Scam Compound

Highlights:

• U.S. officials shut down a Burma-linked crypto scam site that used fake trading tools to trick users.
• DOJ seized the fraud domain linked to Tai Chang after investigators connected the operation to sanctioned groups.
• Interpol has reported rapid growth in crypto scam compounds as crypto grows.

U.S. authorities have seized the domain tickmilleas.com after investigators linked it to a crypto scam operation inside Burma’s Tai Chang compound. The Justice Department announced the action on December 2 and confirmed that the site targeted American investors with fake trading features. The platform displayed false balances and fabricated profits to convince users that their funds grew through real market activity. Scammers guided victims through deposits while showing dashboards that looked active and legitimate.

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❗PRESS RELEASE❗
As a result of an #FBI San Diego investigation, DOJ, together with federal LE and interagency partners, today announced the seizure by the Scam Center Strike Force, spearheaded by the @usao_dc, of a web domain used to target and defraud Americans through… pic.twitter.com/EnHRmCcc3S

— FBI San Diego (@FBISanDiego) December 2, 2025

Investigators noted that the domain also directed victims to download mobile apps linked to the same scam network. The apps appeared on Google Play and the Apple App Store until the FBI alerted both companies. The quick notices led the firms to remove several apps before more users fell into the scheme. In addition, FBI agents found victims who used the domain within the last month despite its early November registration.

The domain carried instructions that encouraged victims to trust the site’s trading tools. It used clean layouts, fast dashboards, and fake return histories to build confidence. The FBI stated that the scammers used these features to gain control of victims’ funds and lead them through repeated transfers. Meanwhile, the DOJ seized $225M linked to Pig Butchering scams in the United States and other regions.

DOJ Seizes Fraud Domain Tied to Sanctioned Groups Operating Southeast Asia Scam Networks

The investigation uncovered direct links between Tai Chang and groups sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury. Officials traced the network to Trans Asia International Holding Group and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army. Both groups hold Specially Designated National status due to their ties to Chinese organized crime. Authorities stated that these groups help build scam compounds across Southeast Asia and support operations that rely on trafficked workers.

Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a Burmese armed group, along with four of its senior leaders, for supporting cyber scam centers in Burma that target Americans using fraudulent…

— Treasury Department (@USTreasury) November 12, 2025

Investigators have described Tai Chang as part of a wider criminal structure that runs romance scams, fake investment sites, and coordinated fraud campaigns. The strike follows two earlier domain seizures in the same week connected to the compound. Officials say the Scam Center Strike Force is expanding its actions as the network grows more aggressive.

The FBI also shared information that helped Google and Apple remove malicious apps linked to Tai Chang. The apps supported fake trading flows and encouraged victims to move money to controlled wallets. Meta used the same data to detect and erase more than 2,000 accounts tied to the compound.

Investigators noted that the domain also carried design elements that matched known scam templates from the region. These elements included identical return charts, identical login flows, and repeated wallet-deposit prompts. The DOJ noted that the compound uses consistent patterns across all its fake investment pages.

Interpol Warns About Expanding Global Crypto Scam Compounds

Interpol and other agencies have warned about the spread of scam compounds across Southeast Asia. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 41,000 scam reports last year linked to crypto investment frauds. The reports showed losses of about $5.8 billion. Officials say many crypto scams start with simple messages from unknown contacts on social media or dating apps.

According to Interpol, criminal gangs entice employees to work in compounds under fake employment promises. The employees are threatened and subjected to inhumane conditions where they run scam campaigns against victims all over the world. The group claims that these groups use emerging technologies to cover up their activities and evade detection. Agencies argue that international cooperation is still necessary as networks are growing internationally.

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