US Unveils Harsh Global Ban Targeting Foreign Cybercriminals and Their Families Over $10bn Scam Losses

Foreign cybercriminals, internet scammers, and their immediate family members now face an outright ban on entering the United States following a newly unveiled enforcement policy by the US Department of State.

Announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the global visa restriction policy—enacted under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act—specifically targets non-US citizens who are responsible for, or complicit in, cybercrime, online investment fraud, and overseas sextortion schemes.

In a major escalation of US border and security enforcement, the State Department confirmed that the travel ban will not only apply to primary suspects directly operating digital fraud rings, but will also extend to their immediate family members. The move effectively prevents relatives of cybercriminals from obtaining US visas for travel, business, or education.

The policy forms a key pillar of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14390, aimed at dismantling predatory online syndicates operating across international borders. Official figures released by Washington reveal that American citizens were defrauded of at least $10 billion in 2024 alone through international cyber-scams, while overseas sextortion rings have increasingly targeted young victims.

“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,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared. “The 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.”

While the policy applies globally without naming a single country, the directive carries heavy implications for cyber-fraud syndicates operating across Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. By cutting off visa eligibility for immediate family members, US authorities aim to strip away the lifestyle rewards of cybercrime, ensuring that illicit gains can no longer buy access or opportunities in the United States.