US Authorities Seize Domain Tied to Elaborate Burma Crypto Scam Compound

Federal agents just pulled the plug on a major digital front for an international crypto fraud operation. The takedown highlights a growing enforcement trend—targeting the infrastructure, not just the individuals.

The Anatomy of a Modern Scam

Forget dark web backrooms. This scheme allegedly ran from a compound in Burma, using a professional-looking website to lure victims. The playbook was classic: promises of outsized returns, sophisticated fake dashboards, and a dead-end for withdrawals. The domain seizure acts as a digital padlock, cutting off a key public-facing channel overnight.

Why Infrastructure is the New Battleground

Going after a website is faster than extradition. It's a immediate disruption tactic, freezing the flow of new victims while broader investigations unfold. This move signals regulators are adapting their tools for the crypto age—where a domain name can be as critical as a physical office.

For the crypto industry, it's a double-edged sword. Every publicized crackdown on blatant fraud helps clean up the ecosystem's reputation. Yet, it also invites more scrutiny from agencies hungry for headlines. One cynical finance veteran quipped, 'The SEC can't define a security, but they're getting real good at finding scam websites.'

The bottom line? The long arm of the law is getting more digitally dexterous. While this takedown won't end crypto scams, it shows authorities are learning to fight on the scammer's own turf—the internet.

How the scam worked

Investigators discovered that tickmilleas.com showed fake dashboards, made-up profits, and false deposits meant to convince users their crypto investments were increasing.

Victims were also urged to download fake mobile apps available in major app stores. Following an FBI warning, Google and Apple took down several of these apps, and Meta shut down over 2,000 related social media accounts.

Although the domain had existed only for a short time, the scams spread rapidly. “Despite the seized domain being registered in early November 2025, the FBI already identified multiple victims who used the domain in the last month and were scammed out of their investments,” the announcement noted.

Strike force steps up enforcement

This case is one of the first major actions by the Scam Center Strike Force, a new effort led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The initiative brings together federal prosecutors, the FBI, the Secret Service, and agents stationed in Bangkok who track the movement of scam operations across Burma, Cambodia, and other nearby countries. 

The goal is to disrupt the infrastructure these groups rely on, from their websites to their financial channels. Authorities warn that crypto investment fraud continues to grow rapidly. In 2024 alone, the FBI received more than 41,000 complaints reporting nearly $5.8 billion in losses. 

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s San Diego Field Office and prosecuted by the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) along with the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Since 2020, CCIPS has secured more than 180 cybercrime convictions and recovered over $350 million for victims.

DOJ’s wider crackdown on crypto crime

The domain seizure comes as the DOJ accelerates its broader push against cyber-enabled financial crime. Recently, the department disrupted a scheme that helped North Korean IT workers use stolen American identities to secure remote tech jobs and funnel money to DPRK weapons programs.

In another action, prosecutors filed a civil forfeiture case seeking over $5 million in Bitcoin that was stolen through SIM-swapping attacks. 

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