DOJ and FBI Lead Global Operation with 276 Arrests in Crypto Scam Crackdown

The Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation announced an international operation that resulted in at least 276 arrests and the closure of multiple scam centers involved in cryptocurrency fraud. The networks targeted Americans and stole millions of dollars from victims. The effort spanned continents and included cooperation from law enforcement and tech companies.

Authorities partnered with Dubai Police and agencies in Thailand and other countries to dismantle at least nine scam centers tied to large-scale crypto fraud. Several suspects face federal charges in the United States, including wire fraud and money laundering. Investigators described the operations as businesslike, complete with recruitment, management layers and systems to deceive victims.

Meta Platforms, Inc. provided key data to help identify and track the networks. The company removed more than 159 million scam ads and shut down 10.9 million accounts linked to scam centers in 2025 alone. It also disabled over 150,000 accounts connected to these networks recently. "Meta is committed to combatting online fraud and scams, and we are proud to partner with law enforcement in these efforts," Chris Sonderby, Meta's vice president and deputy general counsel, said. "We applaud the DOJ and FBI for their leadership in holding criminal scammers accountable and protecting American consumers."

The scams often used a pattern called pig-butchering. Scammers contacted victims through social media or messaging apps with casual talk that turned personal, sometimes mimicking a relationship. They then pitched crypto investments, directing victims to set up accounts and transfer funds to fake platforms showing phony gains. Money quickly moved through accounts to the scammers. Victims faced pressure to invest more, often borrowing funds, leading to heavy losses.

Meta introduced new tools on its apps. Facebook shows alerts for suspicious friend requests with odd behavior like few connections or mismatched locations. WhatsApp warns against scammers linking devices to user accounts. Messenger prompts users to block or report when conversations match fraud patterns.

Officials said the operation shows fraud crosses borders and enforcement now does too. The crackdown highlights organized networks using structured tactics, though new groups keep appearing with similar methods.