A few years ago, my late father received a phone call. On the other end was a “lawyer” who claimed he was representing my son, who had “just killed his pregnant girlfriend in a car crash” and needed $3,000 to get out of jail. My boy was too scared to call me, the scammer told Pops, so he was phoning his grandfather in desperation.
They even put “him” on the phone, but he couldn’t really talk because his nose was supposedly broken.
My father was an extremely smart man, but he was in his later years, and he was terrified. He almost fell for it. I will not say what I think should happen to the perpetrators because it would be indecent, but you can guess I don’t have pleasant thoughts for them.
Although that extortion attempt didn't involve a computer, it's similar to the heartless online operations which cheat victims, often the elderly, out of their life savings and ruin their lives.
Scams have, unfortunately, increasingly become a regular danger in daily life, especially since the advent of the internet. Secretary of State Marco Rubio knows that full well, and he’s taking action to mete out some consequences for foreign fraudsters. Prey on our citizens, and you’ll find your visa restricted:
President Trump has made clear that his administration will take action to counter cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes against Americans. Today I am announcing a new policy that will restrict visas to foreign nationals responsible for or complicit in cybercrime and…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 23, 2026
President Trump has made clear that his administration will take action to counter cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes against Americans. Today I am announcing a new policy that will restrict visas to foreign nationals responsible for or complicit in cybercrime and cyber-enabled crimes that have devastated American families and children. By going after these individuals, our message is clear: The United States will go after those who prey on our citizens.
In other words, if you’re a foreign cybercriminal — or the immediate family member of one — you won’t be welcome here in the United States.
MORE: The FBI Is Finally Going After the Services That Enable Cybercrime
Unseen Chinese Claws in Every Call: Massive Hacking Attack Exposed
In an official announcement Thursday from the State Department, Rubio placed a big portion of the blame on Chinese scammers, though he could have lumped Nigerians in there as well. Almost everybody has had some cyber contact with a “Nigerian prince” at this point.
Often orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organizations, scammers have defrauded U.S. citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024 alone while fueling corruption, money laundering, and human trafficking. American children also have been specifically targeted by offenders operating overseas for sextortion scams, devastating families and futures.
Crime does pay for some of these internet thugs (before they're caught, anyway).
🚨 Here’s a breakdown of the action our Scam Center Strike Force took this week to seize $25M in cryptocurrency from Chinese transnational criminals, as we continue the fight against global fraud schemes. pic.twitter.com/WfXYbiJcHe
— U.S. Attorney DC (@USAO_DC) July 23, 2026
He continued, saying the U.S. will use all our capabilities to crack down on the cyberscammers, who fleece us out of an estimated $21 billion a year. Prey on us, he said, and we will come after you:
The Trump Administration is deploying every tool at our disposal—sanctions, prosecutions, asset seizures, extradition requests, and international law enforcement cooperation—to dismantle criminal scam networks and impose costs on those who enable them. By restricting visa issuance to those who are responsible for or complicit in these criminal enterprises, we are sending a clear message: The United States will go after those who prey on our citizens.
Cybercriminals have become increasingly sophisticated, and I know even smart people who have fallen for a ruse. Restricting visas is only one part of the effort by the Trump administration to crack down on these despicable sleazeballs. Taken together with operations by the FBI, DOJ, and other departments, however, we may see many more of these people being held to account.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
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