Threat IntelligenceMar 19, 2026

FBI in Thailand Working with Partners to Shut Down Region's Scam Centers That Target Americans | Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI and international partners are conducting coordinated operations to dismantle Southeast Asian scam compounds that target Americans through romance fraud, pig butchering, and cryptocurrency investment schemes. These industrial-scale operations involve human trafficking, money laundering, and cyber fraud, with Americans losing billions annually. The FBI's Scam Center Strike Force has seized over $580 million in cryptocurrency and confiscated 8,000+ phones and 1,300 hard drives in recent operations across Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

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An official website of the United States government. Here's how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. FBI in Thailand Working with Partners to Shut Down Region's Scam Centers That Target Americans A delegation that included the FBI views a suspected scam compound in Burma (Myanmar) from across the border in Thailand in February. Targeting Overseas Scam Centers March 16, 2026 FBI in Thailand working with partners to shut down region's scam centers that target Americans The fraud often begins with a friendly message.A stranger reaches out on social media. A budding romance develops. Or an online investment tip promises quick returns in cryptocurrency. Weeks later, the victim's savings are gone—wired overseas, converted into digital currency, and dispersed through a maze of accounts that seem to dissolve on contact.Behind many of these schemes, U.S. officials say, are sprawling scam compounds in parts of Southeast Asia—fortified office parks where trafficked workers sit at rows of computers, following scripts designed to extract as much money as possible from victims thousands of miles away.In remarks last month in Asia, the deputy assistant director of the FBI's International Operations Division, Scott Schelble, described the operations as highly organized criminal enterprises that blend cyber fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. FBI Bangkok Law Enforcement Attaché Ben Virtue, left, and a member of the Royal Thai Police are seen at a command post in Thailand with phones seized from suspected scam compounds. "These are industrial-scale fraud operations," Schelble said during a Department of State media briefing on February 24, 2026, following a trip to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. He noted that financial losses to Americans now reach into billions of dollars annually. The crimes are often emotionally devastating as well, targeting retirees, small-business owners, and people seeking companionship.Schelble described scam centers that operate with the efficiency of legitimate corporations. Recruiters advertise high-paying jobs abroad. Workers are flown to foreign countries only to discover that the positions do not exist. Passports are confiscated. Armed guards patrol the grounds. Under threat of violence, workers are forced to pose as potential romantic partners or savvy investment advisers, cultivating trust with victims over weeks or months.One of the fastest-growing schemes is known as "pig butchering," a term derived from the methodical way scammers "fatten up" their targets. The fraudsters strike up casual conversations— often through text messages sent to wrong numbers—then slowly introduce investment opportunities, typically in cryptocurrency.Victims are directed to professional-looking websites that display impressive but fictitious gains. When they attempt to withdraw their funds, they are told to deposit more money to cover taxes or fees. Eventually, the site disappears. "Americans are losing billions of dollars a year to these types of scams. And in many cases, victims lose their life savings."Scott Schelble, deputy assistant director, FBI International Operations Division The financial toll is staggering. "Americans are losing billions of dollars a year to these types of scams," Schelble said. "And in many cases, victims lose their life savings."Schelble said the FBI's response has evolved alongside the threat. Investigators no longer focus solely on individual perpetrators but on dismantling the broader networks that finance and sustain the compounds. That work involves tracing cryptocurrency transactions across blockchains, identifying financial intermediaries, and working with banks and exchanges to freeze accounts when possible.Last summer, the FBI's law enforcement attaché office in Bangkok created a task force that includes the Royal Thai Police (RTP) to target the problem. The Department of Justice in November established the Scam Center Strike Force "to secure America against Southeast Asian cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams." The DOJ recently announced freezes and seizures of cryptocurrency by the Scam Center Strike Force have topped $580 million. The FBI has been rotating special agents to Thailand to work alongside local authorities on investigations, said FBI Bangkok Law Enforcement Attaché Ben Virtue. The Bureau's Criminal Division detailed personnel on six-month rotations to support the effort. And the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) helped the FBI surge additional agents for operations. "The geographical borders will not protect criminals who target Americans and will not protect these crime syndicates who traffic individuals for money."Scott Schelble, deputy assistant director, FBI International Operations Division "We’re working the problem together," Virtue said. "The RTP are true partners in this fight against the organized crime syndicates who are running these scam compounds. Without the RTP's partnership, this would not be possible."More than 8,000 phones and 1,300 hard drives were seized in recent task force operations, Virtue said. The evidence may offer yet more leads for task force investigators. Virtue said the FBI and Thai investigators are talking to people associated with the scam compounds to develop intelligence and build criminal cases.Last week, the U.S.-based technology company Meta announced it disabled over 150,000 accounts related to scam center networks as part of a joint effort with authorities in Thailand. Royal Thai Police arrested 21 individuals for involvement in scam activity."The FBI is actively investigating and tracking down anyone who is targeting Americans," Virtue said. "In doing that, we are aggressively seeking out anyone who has knowledge about the inner workings of the compounds."The Bureau also relies heavily on intelligence gathered through its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which collects reports directly from victims. Patterns in the data—repeated wallet addresses, common language in scripts, recurring digital infrastructure—can help agents map the architecture of an operation that might span several countries.International partnerships are essential. Many of the compounds operate in jurisdictions where corruption, limited law enforcement resources, or porous borders allow organized crime groups to flourish. The FBI shares intelligence with foreign counterparts and supports joint investigations aimed at raiding facilities, arresting ringleaders, and rescuing trafficking victims.Recent crackdowns in several countries have freed thousands of workers from scam compounds, according to regional authorities. Schelble cautioned that enforcement victories can be temporary. Criminal networks often relocate, rebrand, or shift tactics in response to pressure. More than 8,000 phones and 1,300 hard drives were seized in recent task force operations. "As long as there are illicit gains to be made and there is an ease to do so, the situation will likely continue," Schelble said. "And that's why I sort of go back to the importance of this regional approach, this coordinated approach amongst the law enforcement agencies and nations."Still, Schelble expressed confidence that coordinated efforts are beginning to disrupt the ecosystem that sustains the fraud. By combining cyber expertise, financial forensics, and diplomatic engagement, U.S. authorities aim to attack the problem from multiple angles—seizing illicit proceeds, sanctioning key facilitators, and exposing the tactics used to ensnare victims.For those already targeted, speed is critical. Schelble urged victims to cease communication immediately, notify their financial institutions, and report the crime to the FBI as soon a