The Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken down a cryptocurrency scam website linked to a fraudulent scheme originating from Burma. The domain, tickmilleas(dot)com, was seized by authorities and is believed to have been used to target US citizens in a multi-million dollar operation. This action comes as part of a wider crackdown on crypto fraud across Southeast Asia.
The scam targeted unsuspecting individuals through the use of fraudulent mobile apps and social media accounts that were created by cybercriminals connected to the Tai Chang network, which is based in Burma’s Kyaukhat village.
Authorities found that the website tricked users into believing they were participating in legitimate cryptocurrency trading. Instead, victims were only led on a loop of fake data and misleading information, all designed to build trust and then ultimately lead them to lose their money by investing real funds in the fraud scheme. This site has been previously shut down in the past, as authorities have found that the same scam was used for another crypto fraud operation.
The takedown of tickmilleas(dot)com is part of a larger effort by federal agencies to combat the rising number of cryptocurrency scams across Southeast Asia. This follows similar actions taken against other scam domains associated with the Tai Chang network, which has been linked to organized crime and fraudulent operations throughout the region.
The DOJ’s action comes on the heels of an increase in reported cases of crypto fraud by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The center recorded over 41,000 cases of scams involving cryptocurrencies in 2024 alone, leading to a total loss estimated at $5.8 billion.
In addition to the website takedown and removal of malicious apps from popular app stores, authorities have also taken down hundreds of related social media accounts associated with the scam. The DOJ continues to pursue these scammers and target the networks behind crypto fraud schemes worldwide.