A senior FBI official has warned that Chinese-led fraud factories are targeting Americans daily by promising to pursue criminals across borders with regional partners.
bangkok: A senior FBI official has announced that the United States is “committed to leading the fight” against billion-dollar fraud factories in Southeast Asia that are targeting Americans.
Deputy Assistant Director Scott Shelble made the comments after visiting scam complexes in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. He described the operations as “industrial scale” and Chinese-led.
“It’s impossible to fully understand the magnitude of these operations until you see them yourself,” Shelble said. He warned criminals that borders would not protect them from US action.
They said, “We know where you are and we’re coming for you.” Shelble pointed out that sophisticated criminal enterprises target Americans “every day” by exploiting borders, technology and vulnerable people.
He said these syndicates operate with “a certain degree of impunity” by taking advantage of varying national laws. The FBI is already working on a joint task force with Thai police.
That cooperation has disrupted networks, identified victims, and targeted financial infrastructure. The bureau also hopes to build on previous partnerships with Cambodian police to tackle the complexities of the scam.
Shelby described his discussions with Vietnamese officials as “fruitful”. He emphasized that the scam center is a regional issue that requires a coordinated regional response.
He concluded, “The main thing is to make every area an inaccessible place for the handling of these compounds.”
