U.S. Treasury sanctions Cambodian senator Kok An over crypto scams targeting Americans, freezing assets and disrupting global fraud networks.
The United States has taken strong action against a global crypto scam network. The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned a Cambodian senator over allegations he is involved in scams. The action is part of efforts to shield U.S. citizens from increasing cryptocurrency scams.
Treasury Targets Global Crypto Scam Network
The sanctions were handed down by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, which oversees financial regulations. It named Kok An and 28 other people and entities. He is said to run multiple scam compounds in Cambodia.
Today, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Cambodian senator Kok An—who controls a network of compounds in his country that target Americans with digital asset scams—along with 28 affiliated individuals and entities. https://t.co/1NbnOEyXVx
— Treasury Department (@USTreasury) April 23, 2026
The scam compounds are involved in scamming Americans. Scammers often claim to forge friendships or romantic relationships. They then lure victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes.
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But victims end up losing all their money. Authorities said that millions of dollars have been lost in these scams. So, the government is stepping up its efforts to prevent such scams and punish leaders.
Furthermore, reports showed that some employees of these scam centers are also victims. They are coerced into committing crimes through human trafficking and threats. This makes it not only a financial but also a human rights issue.
U.S. Expands Crackdown With New Actions
The Treasury confirmed that scam centers are located in casinos and office buildings. They are used to conduct scams and launder money. As a result, they provide a safe haven for criminals.
In the meantime, U.S. law enforcement is collaborating to halt these networks. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Secret Service are involved. They are tracking and disrupting scam networks around the world.
In addition, the Scam Center Strike Force has taken a number of actions in conjunction with the sanctions. These include arrests of key players and the seizure of scammers’ tools. For instance, police seized a messaging app used to lure trafficking victims.
Moreover, authorities confiscated 503 fraudulent websites involved in cryptocurrency scams. These sites deceived people into thinking they were investing in legitimate opportunities. So, taking them down prevents future scamming.
Authorities also pointed to previous scams in this network. In 2024, police broke up a network that stole more than $73 million from victims. This demonstrates the scale and sophistication of these schemes.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of State has offered rewards to help investigations. It is providing up to $10 million for the recovery of funds. It is also offering $4 million to bring in a fugitive.
In all, this move is part of the worldwide fight against cryptocurrency scams. Through sanctions and inter-agency cooperation, the U.S. hopes to dismantle these networks. As this work progresses, the aim is to safeguard users and prevent financial crimes globally.