The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office announced on July 21 that multiple investigations have led to the seizure of more than $25 million in cryptocurrency connected to international fraud schemes targeting residents in the United States and Canada.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said, “This $25 million seizure is a direct result of the Scam Center Strike Force I launched in November 2025, and it demonstrates the power of aggressively targeting these international fraud networks. Our investigators cut through complex laundering schemes, protected victims, and shut down criminal pipelines. We will continue to identify these actors, dismantle their operations, and bring them to justice.”
On July 21, five civil forfeiture complaints were filed in U.S. District Court seeking forfeiture of more than $25 million recovered during separate investigations by Secret Service agents. These investigations uncovered multiple laundering networks with thousands of victims worldwide who believed they were making legitimate cryptocurrency investments.
Special Agent in Charge Tara McLeese said, “These investigations are far from over, and we encourage anyone who thinks they may be a victim of these scams or similar cryptocurrency crimes to contact us. I want to thank the Special Agents and Investigative Analysts who continue to work on these cases and symbolize the dual mission of the Secret Service every day.”
The list of investigations includes: Canadian authorities alerting agents about illicit virtual currency wallets; private sector partners reporting romance scam transactions; individual reports from victims defrauded by fraudulent investment platforms; funds traced across numerous addresses; and cases where scammers posed as recovery agents demanding fees for previously stolen funds. In each case, launderers were predominantly located in Southeast Asia with IP addresses found in China, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert directs the Strike Force with support from Associate Counsel Richard Goldberg as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Blaylock and Jehiel Baer handling related matters. Individuals believing themselves victims are encouraged to contact their local Secret Service field office or submit a report through www.ic3.gov.