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U.S. Seizes $25 Million in Crypto Across Fraud Cases

The seizure follows the U.S. Attorney’s Scam Center Strike Force and targets romance scams and fake investment platforms with thousands of victims.

By Mike Hesp
• 2 min read
U.S. Seizes $25 Million in Crypto Across Fraud Cases

Key Takeaways

  • U.S. authorities have seized more than $25 million in crypto in fraud cases involving victims in the United States and Canada.
  • The seizure follows the Scam Center Strike Force and is part of a broader crackdown on crypto-related scams.
  • The cases include romance scams, fraudulent investment platforms, and a recovery scam, with thousands of victims worldwide.

U.S. authorities have seized more than $25 million (€21.9 million) in crypto tied to fraud cases that affected victims in the United States and Canada. The action is part of a wider push against crypto-related scams, and officials say more than $800 million (€701 million) has now been recovered.

New Blow Against Fraud

US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said the seizure stems from the Scam Center Strike Force she set up in November 2025. She said the case is evidence that pressure on international fraud rings is starting to pay off. Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese of the US Secret Service Washington Field Office added that investigators play a key role in following cybercriminals and tracing the movement of their illicit funds.

The five complaints were filed in federal court on July 21. They aim to forfeit crypto recovered in separate fraud probes. Taken together, the cases involve several money laundering networks and thousands of victims around the world.

Multiple Fraud Schemes

The complaints point to several different scam setups. In one case, more than 200 victims were targeted through online romance scams, and prosecutors are seeking to forfeit about $12 million (€10.5 million). Investigators followed the funds through hundreds of intermediary crypto wallets.

Another probe involved more than 270 suspected victim transactions linked to fraudulent investment platforms. In that case, authorities are seeking about $10.4 million (€9.1 million). In a fifth case, scammers went back to a previous victim with a promise to recover lost funds. That victim then sent multiple payments, and the complaint targets about $285,000 (€249,600), while recovery efforts are still underway.

Why This Matters

For European crypto readers, the case is another sign that U.S. law enforcement is taking a more aggressive approach to scams. The Scam Center Strike Force is part of a broader trend toward specialized teams focused on crypto fraud and money laundering trails. That matters because many of these networks operate across borders and affect victims in more than one country. Crypto laundering also remains a major part of romance scams, as shown in a recent case where an international network behind romance scams was exposed through a crypto money laundering network behind romance scams.

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