US Seizes More Than $25M in Crypto Tied to Investment and Romance Scams
U.S. prosecutors seized more than $25 million in cryptocurrency linked to international scam networks that defrauded victims in the U.S. and Canada. The Justice Department filed five civil forfeiture complaints tied to separate investigations into fake crypto investment platforms and romance scams. Investigators traced the money through hundreds of intermediary wallets that mixed proceeds from many victims. The largest seizure, about $12.1 million, involved romance scams affecting more than 200 people. Another $10.4 million case was flagged by Canadian authorities and involved more than 270 suspected victim transactions. Three smaller cases ranged from $285,000 to $2.4 million, including one in which scammers posed as recovery agents. Prosecutors said the laundering networks were mostly based in Southeast Asia, with IP addresses in China, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The seizures are part of the Scam Center Strike Force, launched in November 2025, which has now recovered more than $800 million.
