US slaps visa restrictions on 32 unnamed individuals for Prince Group links
The former ‘8 Park’ scam compound, in Kamchay Mear district, Prey Veng province, was linked to Chen Zhi’s Prince Group. Niem Chheng
The US State Department has announced visa restrictions on 32 individuals who it accuses of involvement in defrauding US citizens through cyber-enabled crimes, technology-facilitated criminal activities and related offences.
State department spokesman Thomas Pigott said on September 22 that the 32 have links to Prince Group, which has been designated a transnational criminal organisation (TCO) and has been sanctioned by the US several times over its role in defrauding Americans.
The department did not disclose the identities of the 32 individuals, but said in a statement that “all valid visas held by these individuals have been revoked” under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to the announcement, cybercriminals defraud Americans of tens of billions of dollars each year. In 2025 alone, TCOs in Southeast Asia, including Prince Group, defrauded US citizens of at least $18.2 billion through cyber-enabled scams, it said.
In October 2025, the US Treasury Department also took action against Prince Group, sanctioning 146 members and associates and seizing billions in assets. In June this year, the Treasury Department added nine individuals and 26 companies to its sanctions list.
Pigott reiterated that the administration of President Donald Trump would use every available means to protect Americans, dismantle scam networks and sanction those who support such activities.
“Those involved in destroying families and communities across the country will be barred from entering the US,” he added.
The sanctions against Cambodia-based Prince Group, whose licence has now been revoked, come a day before Cambodia hosts an international conference on combating technology-facilitated scams on September 23 and 24, with more than 20 countries and a number of international organisations, including the US FBI, expected to participate.
-Phnom Penh Post-
