U.S. Seizes Over $25 Million in Cryptocurrency Linked to International Fraud Schemes

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Secret Service announced that investigations had resulted in the seizure of more than $25 million in cryptocurrency tied to international fraud schemes. On July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed five civil forfeiture complaints seeking forfeiture of cryptocurrency recovered during separate investigations. The Justice Department said launderers in each of the five cases were predominantly located in Southeast Asia, with IP addresses in China, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The department said the seizures were part of more than $800 million recovered through the Scam Center Strike Force, while U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said she launched the force in November 2025.

Cryptocurrency seizures from fraud

• ▪The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office announced the seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency.
• ▪On July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia filed five civil forfeiture complaints seeking the forfeiture of over $25 million in cryptocurrency.

Scam Center Strike Force operations

• ▪Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert directs the Scam Center Strike Force, with cases handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Blaylock and Jehiel Baer.
• ▪The Justice Department said the Scam Center Strike Force has recovered more than $800 million; U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said she launched it in November 2025.

Investment scam investigations

• ▪ In May 2026, a victim in the National Capital Region reported a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme. Investigators traced the victim’s investments across multiple cryptocurrency addresses, leading to a civil forfeiture complaint seeking approximately $1,230,900.
• ▪Two fraudulent cryptocurrency investment investigations in the National Capital Region—one reported in May 2026 and another involving transfers made in March 2026—led to civil forfeiture complaints seeking approximately $1,230,900 and $2,392,231, respectively.

Romance scam investigations

• ▪Investigators determined that more than 200 victims had been defrauded through online romance schemes, leading to a civil forfeiture complaint seeking approximately $12,086,914.
• ▪The romance scheme proceeds were laundered through hundreds of intermediary addresses and commingled with funds from other victims.

Southeast Asia laundering networks

• ▪The Justice Department said IP addresses identified in the five cases were located in China, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
• ▪The Justice Department said that, in each of the five cases, launderers were predominantly located in Southeast Asia.

Victim recovery efforts

• ▪U.S. Secret Service investigators confirmed thousands of victims worldwide who were misled into making fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
• ▪A victim of an unrelated fraud was targeted by scammers claiming to recover stolen funds, leading to a civil forfeiture complaint seeking approximately $285,000.

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