,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #edij ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ah1 #bjbe,mr4 ,shreve 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,moolenaar1 and ,mr4 ,rulli7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committee on the ,judiciary1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish an interagency ,task ,force to dismantle and shut down transnational criminal syndicates perpetuating mass online scam operations against ,americans4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,dismantle ,foreign ,scam ,syndicates ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 ,chinese criminal organizations active in ,southeast ,asia pivoted to a new and potent form of financial scam involving elaborate fraudulent online cryptocurrency investment schemes4 7#b7 ,the most common form of such financial scam is known as pig butchering1 ,chinese criminal slang that describes how scammers develop a virtual relationship inducing them to invest ever larger sums into phony platforms1 serving to #8fatten' their victims for the slaughter4 7#c7 ,crime syndicates use the forced labor of hundreds of thousands of victims of human trafficking to perpetrate such scams4 7#d7 ,these victims themselves fall prey to false job advertisements before they are taken to a compound and forced to meet aggressive scam quotas under pain of violent punishment if they refuse4 7#e7 ,these so-called scam centers are most prevalent across ,burma1 ,laos1 and ,cambodia1 corrupt and repressive countries where transparency is absent1 rule of law is anemic and checks and balances are non-existent1 and often operate as joint ventures between the ,chinese criminal groups organizations and the autocratic governments4 7#f7 ,since #bjba1 these scams have increasingly targeted ,americans1 robbing thousands of their life savings and enriching and entrenching transnational criminal syndicates and corrupt leaders in ,cambodia1 ,laos and ,burma4 7#g7 ,american losses to these scams grew by #cc percent year-on-year in #bjbd4 7#h7 ,according to the ,department of ,treasury1 ,americans lost at least #aj1jjj1jjj1jjj from these operations in #bjbd alone4 7#i7 ,global losses are estimated to be higher than #fj1jjj1jjj1jjj annually4 7#aj7 ,the true dollar amount of losses to these scams is estimated to be much higher as many instances go unreported4 7#aa7 ,troubling links exist between the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 ,chinese criminal scam syndicates1 and the corrupt local politicians enabling their rise4 #c4 ,statement of policy ,it shall be the policy of the ,united ,states to comprehensively combat the transnational organized criminals operating human trafficking compounds primarily in ,southeast ,asia to perpetrate large-scale online scams against the ,american people4 #d4 ,task ,force 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president shall establish an interagency ,task ,force responsible for leading a whole-of-government effort to dismantle and shut down transnational criminal syndicates perpetuating mass online scam operations against ,americans through the operation of large-scale scam compounds fueled by the forced labor of victims of trafficking in persons4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,task ,force shall-- 7#a7 not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive ,united ,states ,government strategy to shut down online scam centers1 prevent their further proliferation1 disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal entities and human traffickers involved in operating such centers1 and hold accountable corrupt officials1 state1 and non-state actors enabling such entities and traffickers for the purpose of incentivizing cooperation2 and 7#b7 coordinate and oversee implementation of such strategy4 7c7 ,leadership and composition ,the ,task ,force shall-- 7#a7 be chaired by the ,secretary of ,state 7or the ,secretary's designee72 7#b7 meet on a regular basis at the call of the ,chair2 and 7#c7 be comprised of the heads 7or the heads' designees7 of-- 7,a7 the ,department of ,state1 including the ,bureau of ,international ,narcotics and ,law ,enforcement ,affairs1 the ,bureau of ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs1 and the ,office to ,monitor and ,combat ,trafficking in ,persons2 7,b7 the ,department of ,justice1 including the ,federal ,bureau of ,investigation2 7,c7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 including the ,u4,s4 ,secret ,service and ,homeland ,security ,investigations2 and 7,d7 the ,department of the ,treasury1 including the ,office of ,terrorism and ,financial ,intelligence1 the ,office of ,foreign ,assets ,control1 and ,financial ,crimes ,enforcement ,network4 7d7 ,further composition ,the heads 7or the heads' designees7 of the following entities are authorized to be members of the ,task ,force3 7#a7 ,the ,u4,s4 ,securities and ,exchange ,commission4 7#b7 ,the ,federal ,trade ,commission4 7#c7 ,the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7#d7 ,any other department1 agency1 or entity the ,president determines to be relevant4 7e7 ,intelligence community ,the intelligence community is authorized to provide support to the ,task ,force4 7f7 ,information sharing ,to ensure proper coordination and effective interagency action1 each ,federal department or agency represented on the ,task ,force shall fully share-- 7#a7 all relevant data with the ,task ,force2 and 7#b7 all information regarding the department or agency's plans1 before and after final agency decisions are made1 on all matters relating to actions regarding combating online scams4 7g7 ,consultation ,the ,task ,force or representatives thereof shall-- 7#a7 consult quarterly with ,united ,states ,state and local law enforcement entities and stakeholder organizations with firsthand expertise in reporting and combatting online scam operations1 cyberscams known as pig butchering scams1 and other kinds of cyberscams1 and recovering stolen crypto assets1 and incorporate their feedback and recommendations to the maximum extent feasible2 7#b7 consult regularly with ,u4,s4 non-governmental organizations with expertise in countering trafficking in persons or anti-corruption1 as appropriate2 and 7#c7 develop partnerships with relevant private sector actors1 including banks1 social media platforms1 online dating applications1 telecommunication carriers1 cryptocurrency exchanges1 internet service providers1 applications stores1 search engines1 and search optimization companies1 for the purpose of better disrupting the enabling infrastructure of scam compounds1 operations1 and syndicates4 7h7 ,sunset ,the ,task ,force shall terminate on the date that is seven years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #e4 ,elements of comprehensive strategy 7a7 ,in general ,the strategy required by section #a7;b77#a7 shall incorporate the following objectives3 7#a7 ,bringing pressure to bear on foreign governments1 in coordination with allies and partners to the greatest extent possible1 that are complicit in1 tolerant of1 or uncooperative in combatting online scam operations4 7#b7 ,investigating the ,people's ,republic of ,china's 7,,prc7 involvement in the origin and perpetuation of online scam operations1 including through links between ,chinese ,communist ,party officials and criminal organizations1 deepening regional security influence1 and selective crackdowns that incentivize the targeting of ,americans4 7#c7 ,investigating the ,burmese military's involvement in allowing1 neglecting1 and profiting from online scam operations in ,burma1 and the importance of resolving the instability and violence in ,burma to stop the unfettered operation of scam centers in ,burma4 7#d7 ,responding comprehensively to ,,prc complicity in and instrumentalization of online scam operations4 7#e7 ,reducing the power1 influence1 and scope of transnational criminal organizations and operations in ,southeast ,asia and wherever else they may propagate4 7#f7 ,building the capacity of trusted foreign law enforcement partners to degrade1 disrupt1 and shut down online scam centers and prevent their proliferation1 including through training in digital forensics1 anti-money laundering1 and border patrol4 7#g7 ,building the capacity of trusted foreign law enforcement partners to screen for and protect victims of trafficking in persons in a trauma-informed manner1 prosecute traffickers1 and prevent trafficking into online scam centers1 including through public awareness campaigns4 7#h7 ,imposing sanctions or other relevant designations1 comprehensively and in coordination with allies and partners to the greatest extent possible1 on the perpetrators and enablers of online scams1 using relevant transnational organized crime1 corruption1 human rights1 and trafficking in persons authorities4 7#i7 ,advocating for the greylisting or blacklisting1 as appropriate1 of countries involved in state-sponsored scam operations1 including ,cambodia1 at the ,financial ,action ,task ,force4 7#aj7 ,harnessing offensive cyber capabilities to degrade online scam centers' operations4 7#aa7 ,recovering and returning stolen assets of defrauded ,united ,states persons4 7#ab7 ,integrating data collection1 analysis1 and response mechanisms across ,federal1 ,state1 and local agencies1 including by assessing if any existing relevant ,fusion ,centers could be leveraged to combat online scam centers4 7#ac7 ,convening a coalition of like-minded foreign allies and partners to combat online scam centers1 including through the establishment of similar task forces or working groups1 the compilation and sharing of data1 and collaboration regarding the indictment of key actors and enablers4 7b7 ,measurable indicators ,the ,task ,force shall develop measurable indicators of the success of the strategy required by section #agca7;b77#a71 which may include persons sanctioned1 arrest warrants or indictments issued1 arrests made1 ,u4,s4 losses mitigated1 and the number of victims of trafficking in persons rescued1 and known scam centers reduced1 in comparison to the previous year4 #f4 ,annual report to ,congress 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #cfj days after the date of the submission of the strategy required by section #a7;b77#a71 and annually thereafter for five years1 the ,task ,force shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes1 for the previous year the following3 7#a7 ,a list of all foreign persons sanctioned by the ,united ,states for being responsible for1 complicit in1 or responsible for ordering1 controlling1 or otherwise directing1 online financial scams against ,united ,states nationals4 7#b7 ,for the foreign persons listed in paragraph 7#a71 an assessment and review of their ongoing involvement in the operation of scam centers1 including an identification of entities in particular from within the ,people's ,republic of ,china that aid or abet such foreign persons4 7#c7 ,an estimate of how much money was stolen from ,united ,states nationals through scams emanating from online scam centers1 including as a percentage of the estimated total amount stolen through such scams globally4 7#d7 ,an estimate of how many stolen funds were intercepted1 seized1 or returned4 7#e7 ,an estimate of how many victims of trafficking in persons were employed in online scam centers4 7#f7 ,an estimate of the total number of people involved in operating or supporting the operation of scam centers4 7#g7 ,a list of known online scam centers4 7#h7 ,a description of if1 where1 and how online scam centers and operations have proliferated globally4 7#i7 ,recommendations on the kinds of programs the ,department of ,state should support in order to effectively implement the strategy described in subsection 7c71 including the level of appropriations such programs would require4 7#aj7 ,any other measures the ,task ,force determines appropriate to include4 7b7 ,form ,each report submitted pursuant to subsection 7a7 shall be unclassified but may include a classified annex4 7c7 ,consultation ,the ,task ,force shall consult regularly with the appropriate congressional committees on its efforts to implement the strategy required by section #a7;b77#a71 including potential updates4 ,such consultations should include descriptions of the ,task ,force's periodic consultations with local law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations and any incorporated recommendations1 as well as recommendations for strengthening the ,task ,force's capability to effectively shut down online scam centers1 dismantle criminal scam organizations1 and recoup stolen ,u4,s4 assets4 ,such consultations may take the form of briefings4 #g4 ,imposition of sanctions 7a7 ,determination1 ,imposition1 and ,report ,required ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president shall1 in accordance with the strategy required by section #a7;b77#a7-- 7#a7 determine whether each foreign person listed in subsection 7d7 meets the statutory criteria for the imposition of sanctions under one or more of the sanctions programs and authorities listed in subsection 7c72 7#b7 pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 impose applicable sanctions against such foreign persons determined to meet such criteria for imposition of sanctions2 and 7#c7 submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing-- 7,a7 a list of all foreign persons determined to meet such criteria2 and 7,b7 for any foreign person listed in subsection 7d7 that is not determined to meet the criteria for the imposition of sanctions under one or more of the sanctions programs and authorities listed in subsection 7c71 a complete justification of such a non-determination or decision to otherwise not apply the sanctions authorized by such sanctions programs and authorities4 7b7 ,waiver ,the ,president may waive the imposition of sanctions with respect to a foreign person listed in subsection 7d7 on or after the date that is #ae days after the ,president-- 7#a7 determines that such a waiver is vital to the national security interests of the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 submits to the appropriate congressional committees the reasons for that determination4 7c7 ,applicable ,sanctions ,the sanctions listed in this subsection are the sanctions described in the following3 7#a7 ,sections #abfb through #abfd of the ,global ,magnitsky ,human ,rights ,accountability ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajaja et seq474 7#b7 ,section #aaa of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gajh74 7#c7 ,executive ,order #aceha1 relating to ,transnational ,criminal ,organization ,sanctions4 7d7 ,foreign persons 7#a7 ,in general ,the foreign persons listed in this subsection are the following3 7,a7 ,aik ,paung4 7,b7 ,benjamin ,mauerberger4 7,c7 ,chen ,xiuling4 7,d7 ,d4 ,chen ,zhi4 7,e7 ,chou ,bun ,eng4 7,f7 ,dy ,vichea4 7,g7 ,edward ,lee4 7,h7 ,gabriel ,tan4 7,i7 ,honn ,sorachna4 7,j7 ,hun ,to4 7,k7 ,ing ,dara4 7,l7 ,kok ,an4 7,m7 ,kuoch ,chamrouen4 7,n7 ,li ,xiong4 7,o7 ,long ,dimanche4 7,p7 ,ma ,dongli4 7,q7 ,michael ,chiam4 7,r7 ,mote ,thun4 7,s7 ,neth ,savoeun4 7,t7 ,rithy ,raksmei4 7,u7 ,sai ,aung ,lin4 7,v7 ,sai ,kyaw ,hla4 7,w7 ,sar ,sokha4 7,x7 ,saw ,min ,min ,oo4 7,y7 ,su ,zhongkian4 7,z7 ,yan ,borith4 7,,aa7 ,yan ,narong4 7,,bb7 ,yan ,sathya4 7,,cc7 ,yim ,leak4 7,,dd7 ,yu ,jianjun4 7,,ee7 ,yu ,lingxiong4 7,,ff7 ,zhong ,baojia 7also known as ,wang ,qiang74 7,,gg7 #i ,dynasty4 7,,hh7 ,dongmei ,group4 7,,ii7 ,fully ,light ,group of ,companies1 ,,ltd4 7,,jj7 ,hongmen ,world ,cultural and ,historical ,association4 7,,kk7 ,huione ,group4 7,,ll7 ,k#ii ,group4 7,,mm7 ,prince ,group ,holding ,company4 7,,nn7 ,trans-,asia ,international ,holding ,group4 7,,oo7 ,union ,development ,group4 7,,pp7 ,white ,sands ,palace ,casino4 7,,qq7 ,xinwang ,international4 7,,rr7 ,any person1 organization1 or entity determined by the ,president1 based on credible evidence1 to be responsible for1 complicit in1 or responsible for ordering1 controlling1 or otherwise directing1 online financial scams against ,united ,states nationals1 including those scams originating from compounds in ,southeast ,asia in which victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons are forced to engage in illegal scam activity4 7#b7 ,exception ,in accordance with section #ajb7;b77#ai7 of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gaja7;b77#ai771 no person determined by the ,president to be a victim of trafficking in persons shall be considered to be a foreign person listed in this subsection for purposes of imposition of sanctions under this section4 #h4 ,programs to support victims of forced criminality 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state is authorized to carry out programs1 out of the funds authorized to be appropriated by section #f and in accordance with section #ajf7;a7 of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gaje7;a771 to provide trauma-informed care1 shelter1 reintegration1 and support services for victims of trafficking in persons within online scam centers4 7b7 ,design and implementation ,the ,task ,force shall ensure programs authorized by subsection 7a7 are designed and implemented in a manner that prevents revictimization and gains information and evidence critical to understanding online scam centers' operations and prosecuting scammers4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #cj1jjj1jjj for the ,department of ,state for each of the fiscal years #bjbf and #bjbg to develop1 coordinate1 and implement the strategy required by section #a7;b77#a74 #aj4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 and 7#b7 the term intelligence community has the meaning given that term in section #c of the ,national ,security ,act of #aidg 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjc74