Core Viewpoint - The arrest of Chen Zhi, founder and chairman of Prince Group, marks a significant development in a global transnational fraud case involving extensive criminal networks, staggering amounts of money, and various associated crimes, including human trafficking and forced labor [1][15]. Group 1: Criminal Activities and Network - Chen Zhi, a dual citizen of the UK and Cambodia, presented himself as a "business elite" while secretly leading a major transnational crime organization, described by the U.S. Department of Justice as the "largest in Asia" [2][4]. - The Prince Group, under Chen's leadership, established seemingly legitimate businesses in over 30 countries to mask fraudulent activities, with a core operation based in Cambodia's scam parks, which included "phone farms" with 1250 phones and 76,000 social media accounts used for scams [4][6]. - The criminal network employed emotional manipulation through social media to defraud victims, promising high returns on cryptocurrency investments, leading to significant financial losses for individuals [6]. Group 2: Human Trafficking and Forced Labor - The network not only engaged in scams but also involved severe human rights abuses, including human trafficking and forced labor, with hundreds of victims lured or trafficked to Cambodia, where they faced violence and exploitation [6]. - Some perpetrators of the scams were also victims of human trafficking, caught in a cycle of abuse and exploitation [6]. Group 3: Financial Crimes and Asset Seizures - In October 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal charges against Chen Zhi, including telecommunications fraud and money laundering, and seized approximately 127,271 bitcoins valued at $15 billion, marking the largest asset seizure in the department's history [9][12]. - Multiple countries, including the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong, have taken coordinated actions to freeze Chen's assets, with the total value of seized properties and financial assets exceeding $1.5 billion [12][14]. - The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned 146 individuals and entities associated with the Prince Group, freezing their U.S. assets and prohibiting any transactions with them [12][14]. Group 4: Broader Implications and Future Actions - The case highlights the complexity and brutality of the Southeast Asian fraud industry and underscores the commitment of multiple nations to combat transnational crime [15]. - As the investigation progresses in China following Chen's return, further details of the criminal network may emerge, and efforts to recover assets for victims will be a key focus [15].
突发!被美国抄了150亿美元比特币的电诈头子陈志,遣送回国了
凤凰网财经·2026-01-07 13:40