WASHINGTON—Federal authorities have seized a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment domain tied to a major Southeast Asian scam compound, marking one of the first significant enforcement actions by the Justice Department’s newly formed Scam Center Strike Force and underscoring the growing scale of crypto-related fraud targeting Americans.
The domain, tickmilleas.com, was operated by scammers at the Tai Chang compound—also known as Casino Kosai—in Burma and was shut down less than three weeks after DOJ launched the District of Columbia–based Strike Force. According to court filings, the compound is linked to the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and Trans Asia International Holding Group, both designated by Treasury last month as specially designated nationals for ties to organized crime and regional scam operations, DOJ said.
Investigators said the site mimicked a legitimate investment platform, showing victims falsified returns and fabricated deposits to coax them into sending more cryptocurrency. Although the domain was registered only in early November, the FBI has already identified multiple victims who lost funds within weeks. A law-enforcement warning page has now replaced the website to prevent further transfers and disrupt associated money-laundering activity.
The FBI also notified Google and Apple after learning the domain directed users to download fraudulent companion apps; several have since been voluntarily removed. In a parallel effort, Meta removed more than 2,000 accounts linked to the Tai Chang network, reflecting a broader push to dismantle the digital infrastructure underpinning large-scale crypto-fraud schemes, DOJ said.
The action comes as cryptocurrency investment scams continue to surge, with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reporting more than 41,000 complaints and $5.8 billion in losses in 2024. DOJ leaders said the Strike Force—which brings together federal prosecutors, the FBI, the Secret Service, and international partners—will continue targeting scam compounds and the U.S.-based tools they rely on to deceive victims and move illicit funds.