BREAKING: US Announces New Visa Ban on Yahoo Boys, Family Members

• The United States has announced a new visa ban on yahoo boys, fraudsters, cybercriminals, sextortion perpetrators and romance scammers who defraud Americans, warning that their immediate family members could also face visa bans.

The United States government has announced a new global visa restriction policy targeting fraudsters, cybercriminals, sextortion perpetrators and other individuals involved in online scams targeting American citizens.

The new policy was announced on Thursday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said it is aimed at individuals responsible for or complicit in cybercrime and cyber-enabled criminal activities.

According to Rubio, the policy was introduced under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.

In a statement, the U.S. Secretary of State said the visa restrictions would apply to individuals involved in cyberscams, sextortion and other forms of online fraud.

“This policy targets individuals responsible for, or complicit in, cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime, such as those involved in cyberscams and sextortion,” Rubio said.

He explained that the new measure is intended to deny entry into the United States to those who participate in or facilitate such criminal activities.

“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,” he added.

Family Members May Also Face Visa Restrictions

Rubio disclosed that the new policy could also affect the immediate family members of individuals involved in online fraud and cyber-enabled crimes.

According to him, relatives of those engaged in such criminal enterprises may also be subjected to visa restrictions.

“Immediate family members of individuals engaged in such illicit activities may also be subjected to visa restrictions,” he said.

The Secretary of State added that the administration of President Donald Trump is using every available tool to combat international cybercrime networks.

“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,” Rubio stated.

US Raises Concern Over Growing Online Scams

Rubio said many of the global scam operations targeting Americans are often orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organisations.

According to him, the criminal networks defrauded American citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024, while also contributing to corruption, money laundering and human trafficking.

“Often orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organisations, scammers have defrauded U.S. citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024 alone while fueling corruption, money laundering, and human trafficking,” he said.

Trump Administration Steps Up Crackdown

The U.S. Secretary of State said the visa restriction policy aligns with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14390 on Combating Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens.

According to Rubio, the executive order demonstrates the administration’s commitment to tackling the growing threat posed by online investment scams and other cyber-enabled crimes targeting Americans.

He also expressed concern over the increasing number of children becoming victims of sextortion schemes operated by offenders outside the United States.

“American children have also been specifically targeted by offenders operating overseas for sextortion scams, devastating families and futures,” Rubio said.

The United States said the new visa restriction policy forms part of its broader efforts to disrupt international cybercrime networks and hold those responsible for online fraud accountable.