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US government sanctions tech company involved in cyber scams | TechCrunch

May 29, 2025 - techcrunch.com
The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on FUNNULL, a company accused of facilitating "pig butchering" crypto scams that have resulted in $200 million in losses for American victims. These scams involve cybercriminals deceiving victims into investing in fake crypto projects, often under the guise of a romantic relationship. The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control stated that FUNNULL, based in the Philippines and run by Chinese-national Liu Lizhi, is linked to most virtual currency scam websites reported to the FBI. The company allegedly provided infrastructure, including domain names and web design templates, to cybercriminals, enabling them to impersonate trusted brands and evade takedown efforts.

The Treasury also highlighted FUNNULL's involvement in the Polyfill supply chain attack, where the company maliciously altered code to redirect visitors from legitimate websites to scam and gambling sites, some linked to Chinese money laundering operations. This aligns with findings from cybersecurity firm Silent Push, which previously accused FUNNULL of these activities. Zach Edwards, a researcher at Silent Push, expressed approval of the Treasury's actions but emphasized the need for further measures against global financial scams targeting Americans.

Key takeaways:

  • The U.S. government imposed sanctions on FUNNULL, a company accused of facilitating "pig butchering" crypto scams causing $200 million in losses for American victims.
  • FUNNULL, based in the Philippines and run by Chinese-national Liu Lizhi, provided infrastructure for scam websites and was linked to a supply chain attack redirecting users to malicious sites.
  • The Treasury's actions align with findings from cybersecurity firm Silent Push, which previously accused FUNNULL of similar activities.
  • Experts emphasize the need for continued efforts to hold global threat actors accountable for financial scams targeting Americans.
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