Crypto Scam Risk Calculator
Assess Your Scam Risk
This tool helps you understand your vulnerability to US-sanctioned crypto scams. Based on your investment habits, it calculates your risk level and provides personalized protection advice.
On September 8, 2025, the U.S. Treasury slapped sanctions on nine crypto-related entities operating out of Shwe Kokko, Myanmar-a lawless border town that’s become the epicenter of one of the world’s most brutal financial crime rings. These aren’t just random hackers or rogue traders. These are organized criminal networks protected by armed militias, running forced-labor compounds where victims are trafficked, locked up, and forced to scam Americans out of billions. The U.S. didn’t just freeze bank accounts. It went after the entire machine: the bosses, the enforcers, the money pipelines, and the militia that shields them.
What Exactly Did the U.S. Do?
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated nine entities tied to crypto scam operations in Shwe Kokko and ten more in Cambodia under multiple executive orders, including E.O. 13851 (targeting transnational crime), E.O. 13694 (cyber-enabled fraud), and E.O. 13818 (human rights abuses). This wasn’t a warning. It was a full-scale takedown. All U.S.-based assets of these entities were frozen. Americans are now legally barred from doing any business with them-no payments, no transfers, no crypto trades. The sanctions specifically named the Karen National Army (KNA) as a transnational criminal organization. Not just a rebel group. Not just a militia. A criminal enterprise that profits directly from crypto fraud. Its leader, Saw Chit Thu, and his two sons, Saw Htoo Eh Moo and Saw Chit Chit, were also sanctioned. The KNA controls Shwe Kokko, a town on the Thai-Burmese border where over 100,000 people are estimated to be held in scam compounds. Many of them are trafficked from China, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia-lured by fake job offers, then forced to run scams under threat of torture or death.How Do These Crypto Scams Work?
These aren’t simple phishing emails or fake websites. These are high-volume, highly coordinated operations. Victims in the U.S. get messages on dating apps, social media, or even LinkedIn. They’re pitched “guaranteed” crypto investments-Bitcoin, Ethereum, or obscure tokens-with promises of 20%, 50%, even 100% monthly returns. The scammers use professional-looking websites, fake testimonials, and live video calls with actors posing as financial advisors. Once the victim sends crypto, the money flows through a chain of wallets-mixed, layered, and laundered through decentralized exchanges and privacy coins like Monero. The final destination? Wallets controlled by the KNA-linked entities in Shwe Kokko. The entire operation runs like a factory. One floor handles phishing. Another handles wallet management. A third handles money laundering. And at the top? Armed guards ensuring no one escapes. The Treasury estimates Americans lost $10 billion to these scams in 2024 alone. That’s more than the GDP of 120 countries. And it’s not just money. It’s trust. It’s retirement savings. It’s life insurance payouts. People who thought they were investing in the future ended up funding slavery.Why Myanmar? Why Shwe Kokko?
Myanmar’s military coup in 2021 shattered the country’s legal infrastructure. In the chaos, armed groups like the KNA carved out their own territories. Shwe Kokko became a no-man’s-land-no police, no courts, no international oversight. The KNA doesn’t just tolerate these scams. They profit from them. They take a cut of every dollar stolen. They provide security. They supply electricity and internet. They even run the prisons where the scam workers are held. The U.S. Treasury called this relationship “a symbiotic criminal alliance.” The KNA gets cash. The scammers get protection. And the victims? They’re trapped on both ends-Americans losing their savings, and Southeast Asians forced into cyber slavery.
Who Else Got Hit?
The nine Myanmar-based targets are all linked to specific scam compounds in Shwe Kokko. Each one controls a cluster of buildings housing hundreds of forced workers. The ten Cambodia-based targets are the financial backbone: money laundering hubs, crypto exchange accounts, and shell companies that move the stolen funds out of Southeast Asia and into global markets. The sanctions didn’t just name companies. They named the people behind them. Owners. Managers. Accountants. Even the IT staff who built the scam websites. If you’re part of the operation, you’re on the list. And if you’re a U.S. person-bank, exchange, wallet provider, or individual-you can’t touch any of them. Ever.What Happens Now?
This isn’t the end. It’s the beginning. The Treasury said this action “builds on a series of actions taken in the last several months.” That means more are coming. The U.S. is now using its full legal arsenal: financial sanctions, human rights violations, cybercrime laws, and even anti-slavery statutes. The message is clear: if you’re running a crypto scam out of Myanmar, you’re not just breaking financial rules. You’re committing crimes against humanity. Crypto exchanges and wallet providers are now under pressure to monitor for transactions linked to these sanctioned addresses. Major platforms like Coinbase and Kraken have already updated their compliance systems to block any transfers to the sanctioned wallets. If you’re sending crypto to an address tied to Shwe Kokko, your transaction will be flagged-and possibly frozen.
What This Means for Crypto Users
If you’re an investor, this is a wake-up call. Not all crypto is equal. Not all wallets are safe. If you’re using decentralized platforms, you’re on the front lines of this war. There’s no central authority to reverse a transaction. Once your crypto leaves your wallet, it’s gone. And if it ends up in a sanctioned wallet? You might not get it back-and you could be violating U.S. law just by sending it there. The Treasury’s message to the public is simple: if it sounds too good to be true, it is. And if you’re sending crypto to someone in Southeast Asia you’ve never met? You’re probably funding a prison camp.How to Protect Yourself
- Never invest in crypto through unsolicited messages on social media or dating apps.
- Verify every platform using official websites-never click links in DMs.
- Use wallets that support transaction monitoring and sanctions screening.
- If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to the FBI’s IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) immediately.
- Never send crypto to addresses you don’t fully control or verify.
Are U.S. citizens allowed to send crypto to Myanmar?
No. U.S. persons are legally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with entities or individuals sanctioned by OFAC, including those tied to Myanmar’s crypto scam networks. This includes sending, receiving, or facilitating any cryptocurrency transfers to or from these targets. Violating these sanctions can result in civil penalties, criminal charges, and asset seizures.
How do I know if a crypto wallet is linked to a sanctioned entity?
OFAC publishes the full list of sanctioned addresses in its SDN (Specially Designated Nationals) database. Most major crypto exchanges automatically screen transactions against this list. If you’re using a non-custodial wallet, you can check addresses manually using blockchain explorers like Etherscan or Blockchain.com, then cross-reference them with OFAC’s published sanctions list. If an address matches a sanctioned entity, avoid any interaction with it.
Why did the U.S. target the Karen National Army (KNA)?
The KNA isn’t just a militia-it’s an active criminal organization that profits directly from cyber scam operations in Shwe Kokko. The U.S. determined the KNA provides protection, infrastructure, and security to these scam centers in exchange for a share of stolen funds. This makes the KNA a transnational criminal organization under U.S. law, not a political group. Sanctioning them breaks the financial lifeline that keeps these operations running.
Is this the first time the U.S. has sanctioned crypto scams?
No. The U.S. has sanctioned crypto-related fraud before, including North Korean hacking groups and ransomware operators. But this is the largest and most comprehensive action targeting Southeast Asian scam networks. What makes this unique is the direct link to human trafficking and forced labor-allowing the U.S. to use human rights sanctions, not just financial crime tools.
Can I still use cryptocurrency if I’m not involved in scams?
Yes. The sanctions target specific entities and addresses linked to criminal operations-not cryptocurrency as a whole. Legitimate users, exchanges, and developers are unaffected. But you must be vigilant. Always verify where your crypto is going. Use reputable platforms with compliance tools. Avoid peer-to-peer transactions with unknown parties. The goal is to clean up the ecosystem, not shut it down.
What happens to the people forced to work in these scam centers?
Many are victims themselves-trafficked, held against their will, and tortured if they refuse to scam. The U.S. sanctions don’t directly free them, but by cutting off funding and exposing the networks, the government hopes to pressure regional actors into shutting down the compounds. International NGOs and law enforcement agencies are working on rescue operations, but progress is slow due to the remote location and armed control of the area.
Helen Hardman
November 1, 2025 AT 06:40Okay but can we just take a second to appreciate how insane it is that people are getting scammed out of BILLIONS while being held in prison camps? I mean, I knew crypto had shady corners, but this is like a horror movie turned real. My cousin almost sent her life savings to some ‘crypto guru’ on Instagram last year-thank god her sister caught it. We need way more public awareness campaigns. This isn’t just about money, it’s about human lives. Every time someone thinks ‘it won’t happen to me,’ another person gets trapped. We gotta stop normalizing these ‘get rich quick’ DMs. Period.
And seriously, if you’re using a non-custodial wallet and don’t check addresses? You’re playing Russian roulette with someone’s freedom. I’ve started sharing OFAC’s list on my Twitter thread every week. Small actions matter.
Also-why aren’t more exchanges being forced to freeze these wallets in real-time? If Coinbase can block ransomware addresses, why not these? We’re talking slavery here, not just fraud.
Also also-can we please stop calling these ‘scams’? That word softens it. This is modern-day human trafficking with blockchain as the weapon. We need to reframe the language. It’s not ‘a bad investment.’ It’s a crime scene.
And to everyone who says ‘crypto is decentralized so it’s free’-no. Freedom doesn’t mean lawlessness. This is exactly why regulation matters. Not to kill crypto-to save people from it.
I’m not anti-crypto. I’m anti-slavery. And these people are being forced to scam their own kind. That’s the worst part.
Let’s not just tweet about it. Let’s call our reps. Let’s demand Congress fund rescue ops. Let’s pressure Thai and Cambodian authorities. This isn’t just a U.S. problem-it’s a global moral emergency.
And if you’re reading this and you’ve ever sent crypto to a stranger… please, just pause. Breathe. Check the address. Someone’s life might depend on it.
Bhavna Suri
November 2, 2025 AT 22:56This is very bad. People are hurt. Money is stolen. Government should do more.
naveen kumar
November 3, 2025 AT 18:21Let’s be real-this whole thing is a distraction. The U.S. sanctions these groups because they want control over global crypto flows, not because they care about ‘human rights.’ The Karen National Army? A rebel group that’s been fighting for autonomy for decades, now labeled a ‘criminal enterprise’ because they’re in the way of American financial hegemony.
And who exactly benefits from freezing these wallets? The same banks that laundered money for the Taliban, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Russian oligarchs. OFAC is a tool of empire, not justice.
Also-how many of these ‘sanctioned addresses’ are just decoys? The real money’s moving through private DeFi pools and cross-chain bridges that aren’t even on the list. This is theater. A PR stunt to make Americans feel safe while the real systemic rot continues untouched.
And don’t get me started on the ‘forced labor’ narrative. Every war zone has exploitation. Why single out Myanmar? Because it’s convenient. China’s got millions in labor camps. The U.S. has private prisons. But no sanctions there. Why? Because they’re not in the way of Wall Street’s crypto ambitions.
This isn’t about ethics. It’s about power. And anyone who buys the ‘clean crypto’ narrative is naive.
Wesley Grimm
November 4, 2025 AT 21:5910 billion? That number smells like a press release. The Treasury inflates these figures to justify budget increases. Realistic estimates from Chainalysis put the total Southeast Asian crypto fraud at $3.2B in 2024. Even that’s probably inflated by double-counting wash trades.
Also, the KNA being labeled a ‘transnational criminal organization’? That’s legally dubious. They’re an ethnic armed group with a territorial base. Not a corporate entity. Sanctioning them under E.O. 13818 stretches the statute beyond recognition.
And the claim that ‘Americans are now barred from doing any business’? What does that even mean? If I hold a wallet that received a dust transaction from a sanctioned address five years ago, am I now in violation? The compliance burden on individuals is absurd.
Also-why are we not talking about the fact that the Thai government has been complicit in allowing Shwe Kokko to operate for years? No sanctions on Thai banks? No sanctions on Thai police who take bribes to look the other way?
This isn’t a takedown. It’s a symbolic gesture with zero chance of real impact. And it’ll only push the operations further underground-into Monero, Zcash, and privacy chains where even OFAC can’t follow.
Bottom line: This looks good on paper. In practice? It’s performative.
Masechaba Setona
November 6, 2025 AT 00:51OMG I’m literally shaking. 😭 This is the darkest thing I’ve ever read. Like… people are being tortured to scam strangers on dating apps? That’s not crypto. That’s a dystopian Netflix series. And we’re just scrolling past it like it’s a TikTok ad.
Why is no one talking about the fact that these victims are mostly young women from Vietnam and China? They’re lured with fake modeling jobs, then forced to flirt with American men for months before asking for ‘investments’? That’s not a scam. That’s emotional warfare.
And the KNA? They’re not ‘militia.’ They’re psychopaths with Wi-Fi. And the U.S. is acting like they’re the only ones who can fix this? What about ASEAN? What about the UN? Why are we letting a bunch of armed men run a digital slavery factory on the Thai border?
I’m done. I’m deleting my crypto wallets. I’m donating to rescue orgs. I’m calling my senator. I’m not just angry-I’m ashamed. We built this world. And now we’re paying for it with other people’s screams.
And if you’re still buying Dogecoin from some guy on Discord? You’re part of the machine. 💔