Core Insights - Chen Zhi, once celebrated in Cambodia's business circles, is now the world's most wanted criminal for telecom fraud, specifically for orchestrating a global "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam [1][6] - The U.S. Department of Justice has filed charges against him, and his assets, including 127,271 bitcoins valued at approximately $15 billion, have been seized, marking a record in U.S. asset forfeiture history [1][6] Group 1: Business Background - Chen Zhi is the founder of the Prince Group, which claims to operate in over 30 countries across various sectors, including real estate, finance, and consumer services [3] - His wealth, however, is derived from a network of scam operations in Cambodia, where victims are lured and coerced into participating in fraudulent activities [3][4] Group 2: Criminal Operations - The criminal organization established "phone farms" equipped with thousands of devices to manipulate social media accounts, posing as investment experts to defraud victims [3][4] - The group implemented "anti-routine" rules to make scams appear more credible, advising members against using overly attractive profiles to lower victims' defenses [3] Group 3: Lavish Spending and Asset Acquisition - Chen Zhi laundered his illicit gains through sophisticated cryptocurrency transactions, leading to extravagant purchases, including private jets and luxury real estate in London, with one office building valued at nearly £100 million [4] - His spending habits have drawn criticism, with officials stating that he is destroying the lives of vulnerable populations while transferring dirty money into the UK property market [4] Group 4: Legal Consequences and International Response - On October 8, 2025, the U.S. formally charged Chen Zhi with multiple offenses, including telecom fraud and money laundering, potentially facing up to 40 years in prison if convicted [6] - The UK government has also imposed severe sanctions on him and his network, freezing assets and penalizing companies linked to the Prince Group for forced labor and torture allegations [6] Group 5: Broader Implications - The case has sparked international concern regarding the prevalence of telecom fraud in Southeast Asia and the complicity of local authorities in such activities [8] - It highlights the need for global cooperation to dismantle criminal networks and protect victims, emphasizing the importance of addressing the root causes of telecom fraud to safeguard public welfare [8]
12万枚比特币被扣，千亿电诈帝国崩塌：太子集团陈志的双面人生！
Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-17 15:08