Gairika Mitra
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on Cambodian businessman and ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat, his conglomerate L.Y.P. Group Co., Ltd., and several of his businesses, including O-Smach Resort, for their involvement in human rights abuse and financial misconduct linked to online scam operations.
Bradley T. Smith, acting undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, highlighted OFAC’s commitment to combat financial fraud.
“Today’s action underscores our commitment to hold accountable those involved in human trafficking and other abuses, while also disrupting their ability to operate investment fraud schemes that target countless unsuspecting individuals, including Americans,” he stated in a press release.
According to the release, the Treasury will keep exposing the criminal networks behind the alleged illegal operations. It will also track those responsible for carrying out the acts of abuse.
Ly Yong Phat’s O-Smach Resort has been under police investigation for more than two years, from 2022 to 2024. Phat’s company lured victims to the resort under the false pretense of legitimate employment, only to have their passports confiscated and be forced to work “scam operations.”
Moreover, those who reached out for help shared harrowing experiences. They reported instances of physical abuse, including beatings and electric shocks. Some were coerced into paying significant ransoms. Others faced threats of being sold to different online scam organizations. Alarmingly, two victims have reportedly jumped to their deaths from buildings at the resort.
On top of all that, the Treasury Department’s sanctions are also targeting three additional properties owned or controlled by Ly Yong Phat. These are Garden City Hotel, Koh Kong Resort, and Phnom Penh Hotel.
Growing Trend of Crypto Investment Scams in Southeast Asia
According to the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), scammers often disguise their identities and try forming deep trusted relationships to deceive victims.
The bureau’s findings indicate that many scams involve persuading victims to invest in virtual currencies. In some instances, victims are also drawn into over-the-counter foreign exchange schemes. The primary goal of these schemes is to defraud individuals of their money. Most of these scams are carried out by criminal organizations located in Southeast Asia.
Recently, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported a surge in cryptocurrency investment fraud. It revealed that investment fraud losses rose from $3.31 billion in 2022 to $4.57 billion in 2023.
“Within these numbers, investment fraud with a reference to cryptocurrency rose from $2.57 billion in 2022 to $3.96 billion in 2023, an increase of 53 percent,” the press release read.
Implications of the Sanctions
As of now, the Treasury has blocked all assets and interests in property belonging to Ly Yong Phat, L.Y.P. Group, and their other businesses within U.S. jurisdiction. Those in the U.S. cannot engage in transactions with these entities. Additionally, non-U.S. persons who try to violate these sanctions may also face penalties.
In response to this development, a user with the handle @jdanielsims commented on X that this has been a long time in the making.
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Gairika holds positions in BTC. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
