In a coordinated effort between the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Dubai Police and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security raided and dismantled 9 pig butchering scam operations, where the scammers gain a victim’s trust over time before persuading them to make phony investments in the form of cryptocurrency. The operations shut down include:
- Ko Thet Company
- Sanduo Group
- Giant Company
276 scammers were arrested during this coordinated effort, including
- Thet Min “Pixy” Nyi, a 27-year-old Burmese national who served as a manager and recruiter for the Ko Thet Coimpany.
- Wiliang Awang, a 23-year-old Indonesian national who also went under the names “Wilang Ng,” “Wilang Huang,” “Huang Wilang,” “Lincon” and “Lincoln”
- Andreas Chandra, a 29-year-old Indonesian national otherwise known as “Andreas Chandra Kho” or “Jay”
- Lisa Mariam, a 29-year-old Indonesian national also known as “Melissa Chloe,” “Cipul,” “Naomi May Lingston,” “Vanessa” and “Bella Theresia”
Each individual has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with each charge carrying a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison.