DOJ Seeks $25M Crypto Forfeiture in Global Scam Crackdown

Two smaller matters were opened after victim reports filed in the Washington, D.C. area in March and May 2026. Prosecutors said they are pursuing forfeiture of approximately $2.4 million in one case and about $1.2 million in the other. A fifth case involves a follow-on scam in which criminals allegedly demanded fees under the pretense of helping victims recover stolen funds. Prosecutors said around $285,000 in crypto is subject to forfeiture in that matter.

Prosecutors said the laundering groups' key operational hubs were concentrated in Southeast Asia, with internet protocol addresses observed in China and Malaysia. The seizures are a result of the "Scam Center Strike Force," an initiative launched in November 2025 by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, which prosecutors said has helped recover more than $800 million in criminal proceeds to date. Pirro called the $25 million forfeiture effort a direct result of the strike force's work.

Prosecutors said the speed of on-chain transfers and the use of layered wallets are recurring hurdles. U.S. officials said the current actions demonstrate a strategy centered on disrupting the "money movement" networks that keep scams profitable. Identifying the scam fronts is only part of the effort, they said.

The forfeiture cases come as crypto markets continue to deal with the reputational impact of high-volume fraud. The strike force has recovered more than $800 million in criminal proceeds to date, the Justice Department said.