US Sanctions Cambodian Senator Over Links to Crypto Romance Scams

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Cambodian senator Kok An on April 23, stating that he operated scam centers involved in crypto-romance fraud targeting U.S. citizens. The sanctions also applied to 28 individuals and entities connected to these operations.

The Treasury reported that these centers stole millions of dollars from victims. Kok An, 71, is described as a political ally of Hun Sen, who served as Cambodia's prime minister for 25 years until 2023 and now holds the position of president of the Cambodian Senate.

Hun Sen handed power to his son, Hun Manet, in 2023. Kok An is a senator from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

The Treasury stated that fraudsters in these centers use promises of friendship or romantic relationships to persuade victims to transfer savings as digital assets, under the guise of investment opportunities with high returns. These operations are based in scam centers in Cambodia and Myanmar, often involving trafficked workers from China and other countries.

The centers are reportedly connected to casinos used to launder proceeds. Matthew Hogan, a detective with the Connecticut State Police and an officer on the Secret Service’s Financial Crimes Task Forces, stated last year that a significant increase has occurred in long-term scams known as “pig butchering,” which involve luring people into fake cryptocurrency investments.

Treasury Statement and Broader Context U.S.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that eliminating fraud is a top priority for the Trump administration and that the Treasury will continue targeting fraudsters and scam centers stealing from Americans.

“Eliminating fraud is a top priority for the Trump administration. Treasury will continue to target fraudsters and scam centers that steal billions of dollars from hardworking Americans, no matter where they operate or how well-connected they are.”

The Treasury noted that Kok An owns companies, including Crown Resorts, which have been repurposed as scam centers. Andy Jenkinson, a fellow of the Cyber Theory Institute and author of “Stuxnet to Sunburst: 20 Years of Digital Exploitation and Cyber Warfare,” stated in April 2025 that annual global losses to cybercrime exceed $10 trillion.

after the sanctions announcement, stablecoin issuer Tether froze $344 million in its USDT stablecoin, which it linked to sanctions evasion, criminal networks, or other illicit activity. Tether stated that it can restrict assets in wallets connected to such activities and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward criminal use of USDT, following guidelines from the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Industrial-scale cyberscamming has become a revenue source for organized crime groups in the region, according to the Treasury.