US Seeks $25 Million in Crypto Seizures From Pig Butchering Scams

The scams follow a pattern known as “pig butchering,” the Secret Service said. Operators build trust with victims over weeks or months, then steer them to fake trading platforms. The infrastructure includes fortified compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, where human trafficking and forced labor have been documented, according to previous Justice Department reports.

Seizures by the task force have accelerated through 2026. Recovered funds rose from $580 million in February to more than $700 million by April, the agency said.

Beyond asset seizures, the government has also pursued criminal charges. Court documents show the indictment of two Chinese nationals for managing a scam compound in Myanmar. The Treasury Department issued sanctions against Cambodian Senator Kok An for his role in the networks.

Federal officials estimate that illicit operations in Southeast Asia cost U.S. citizens up to $10 billion annually. The FBI reported $21 billion in total cybercrime losses during 2025.

The civil forfeiture lawsuits will proceed in federal court. The Justice Department said it intends to return recovered assets directly to identified victims once the legal process concludes.