Bill > HR5490

This bill establishes a comprehensive interagency Task Force aimed at dismantling and shutting down transnational criminal syndicates operating large-scale online scam operations, primarily in Southeast Asian countries like Burma, Laos, and Cambodia. The Task Force, which will be chaired by the Secretary of State and include representatives from multiple federal agencies, is charged with developing a strategy to combat these "pig butchering" scams, which involve elaborate cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes that have increasingly targeted Americans. The bill highlights the severe economic impact of these scams, noting that Americans lost approximately $10 billion in 2024, and draws attention to the human trafficking component, where victims are forced to work in scam compounds under threat of violence. The Task Force will have broad responsibilities, including investigating connections between Chinese criminal organizations and local governments, imposing sanctions on perpetrators, building international partnerships, recovering stolen assets, and supporting victims of trafficking. The bill authorizes $30 million for the State Department to implement the strategy, mandates annual reporting to Congress, and includes provisions for sanctioning specific individuals and entities involved in these scam operations. The Task Force is set to operate for seven years, with the ultimate goal of comprehensively disrupting these transnational criminal networks and protecting American citizens from financial fraud.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5490/all-info