Scam Texts and Crypto Cons: The Latest Trends
Over the weekend, we covered the rise of “wrong person” scam texts — seemingly innocent messages that evolve into full-blown crypto cons. And across the U.S., drivers are getting E-ZPass toll road scam texts in droves. Now, we have a clearer picture of where these types of scam texts are coming from.
Sanctions Against Myanmar Warlord Linked to Cyberfraud
On Monday, May 5, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against Myanmar warlord Saw Chit Thu and his two sons, accusing them of facilitating massive cyberfraud and human trafficking networks. According to the Treasury, Saw Chit Thu and his militia, the Karen National Army, oversaw multibillion-dollar crypto scam operations built on forced labor targeting Americans.
“The KNA profits from cyber scam schemes on an industrial scale by leasing land it controls to other organized crime groups, and providing support for human trafficking, smuggling, and the sale of utilities used to provide energy to scam operations,” the U.S. Treasury reported.
In the Treasury’s statement, the department claimed that Americans lost about $3.5 billion in 2023 to such scams.


