DC Scam Center Strike Force Crypto Seizures, Freezes Hit $580M
The Scam Center Strike Force, established in November 2025, has frozen and seized over $580 million in cryptocurrency from Southeast Asian crime networks, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. These actions target scam organizations operating in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos, which are responsible for so-called “pig butchering” scams—social engineering schemes that trick victims into purchasing cryptocurrency, which scammers then steal via fake investment platforms. The Strike Force is a multi-agency U.S. initiative involving the DOJ, FBI, Secret Service, and Treasury, aiming to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and return funds to victims. In 2024, such scams reportedly defrauded victims of more than $10 billion globally. The networks are often linked to Chinese organized crime but are increasingly decentralized and involve multiple nationalities and regions, with complex laundering structures. Despite recent progress, experts note that the $580 million seized represents only a small fraction of the estimated $27.5 billion in global crypto fraud, which involves tens of thousands of criminal groups worldwide.
