The United States and the United Kingdom have launched a joint law enforcement alliance aimed at dismantling scam centers linked to cryptocurrency and cyber-enabled investment fraud.
The agreement will allow authorities in both countries to run parallel investigations, share intelligence and coordinate prosecutions. US and UK officials are also preparing a private-sector disruption operation in London in early October.
US and UK Sign New Crypto Fraud Agreement
On Thursday, the US Department of Justice announced that the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales, and the UK National Crime Agency had signed a memorandum of understanding.
The DOJ described the deal as a “first-of-its-kind” international cooperation agreement focused on disrupting scam centers involved in financial and cryptocurrency fraud.
Under the agreement, the agencies will investigate common targets at the same time and exchange information about organized crime groups. They will also coordinate on which jurisdictions are best placed to prosecute individual cases.
According to the DOJ, authorities have already identified several overlapping investigations. Officials now plan to meet with private-sector partners in London in early October for an in-person disruption operation.
Crypto Investment Fraud Losses Continue to Rise
The agreement comes as reported losses from cryptocurrency investment fraud in the United States continue to increase.
According to DOJ figures, losses reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reached $8.65 billion in 2025. That represents an 89% increase from the $4.57 billion reported in 2023.
The rising losses have increased pressure on governments to coordinate their response to large-scale scam networks operating across multiple jurisdictions.
International Efforts Target Crypto Scam Centers
The new agreement expands the work of the Scam Center Strike Force, which US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro launched in November 2025.
The initiative focuses primarily on Chinese organized crime networks operating scam centers in Southeast Asia.
According to the DOJ, these operations often use fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes to steal money from victims. Some scam centers have also been linked to human trafficking and money laundering.
The task force includes the FBI, US Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and several Justice Department offices.
It also works with the US Treasury Department, State Department and private-sector companies to disrupt scam operations and help recover stolen funds.
Authorities Step Up Raids Against Scam Compounds
International law enforcement agencies have also coordinated raids against similar operations.
On April 29, the DOJ reported that a Dubai police-led operation involving the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security resulted in 276 arrests.
Authorities also shut down at least nine crypto scam centers.
Six people were charged in connection with schemes that allegedly used fake cryptocurrency investment platforms to persuade victims to deposit funds.
Southeast Asian Governments Toughen Laws
Governments in Southeast Asia have also introduced tougher measures against scam-center operations.
On May 15, Myanmar’s military government released draft legislation proposing prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life for digital currency fraud.
The proposed law also allowed for the death penalty in cases where people forced to work at scam centers were killed.
Parliament approved the bill on July 28. However, presidential assent had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.
