The U.S. Justice Department announced it conducted a coordinated operation with major technology and cryptocurrency firms to disrupt cyber-enabled investment fraud networks targeting Americans. The campaign, called 'Disruption Week,' took place May 18-21 and brought together federal investigators, foreign law enforcement agencies, and private companies in Washington. The effort was led by the DOJ's Scam Center Strike Force, with participation from the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, alongside private firms including Apple, Coinbase, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Silent Push, SpaceX, TRM Labs, and Zenlayer, as well as agencies from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Thailand, and the U.K. The operation targeted scam networks in Southeast Asia running cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, often known as 'pig butchering,' in which criminals build trust with victims over time before persuading them to deposit money into fake investment platforms. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, reported losses from investment scams reached $7.2 billion in 2025, up from $5.8 billion in 2024 and $3.96 billion in 2023, with crypto-related fraud making up 83% of reported investment scam losses in 2023.
DOJ and Partners Disrupt 1.4M Scam Accounts in May Operation
The DOJ said private companies voluntarily interrupted more than 1.4 million social media and email accounts used by transnational criminal groups during the May 18-21 operation. The government also shared information that helped private-sector firms freeze more than $3.8 million in cryptocurrency linked to the laundering of stolen funds. Meta played a central role in coordinating private-sector participation, according to the DOJ.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia said the schemes are devastating ordinary Americans and wiping out life savings. He remarked: "Disruption Week shows what is possible when governments and private industry focus their efforts in tandem: millions of scam accounts interrupted, and criminal networks pushed off the U.S. internet platforms on which they rely."
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said the U.S. is facing an "unprecedented threat from industrial-scale, foreign organizations looking to prey on citizens" that requires new forms of coordination.
The disruption went beyond online accounts. The DOJ said participants interrupted malicious IP traffic, cut network connections used by scammers, and decommissioned servers, hosting infrastructure, and colocation environments tied to fraud operations. The operation also identified several scammers and scam platforms for possible U.S. prosecution.
Coinbase Freezes $3M in Crypto Tied to Fraud Networks
Coinbase said it froze more than $3 million in crypto assets tied directly to the criminal networks. The exchange said blockchain records helped investigators trace illicit funds because transactions are transparent and permanent. Coinbase also said the broader effort resulted in 63 arrests, thousands of Starlink kits terminated, and millions in criminal assets frozen.
FBI Reports $7.2B in Investment Scam Losses for 2025
According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, reported losses from investment scams rose from $3.96 billion in 2023 to $5.8 billion in 2024. Reported losses climbed again in 2025, reaching more than $7.2 billion. Crypto-related fraud made up 83% of reported investment scam losses in 2023. Officials believe actual losses are far higher because many victims never report the crime.
Many of these fraud operations are run from large compounds in Cambodia, Laos, and Burma near the Thai border. Workers are often lured with fake job offers, stripped of identity documents, and forced to scam victims under threat of violence.
Thai Authorities Arrest Seven Suspects During Joint Operation
Thai authorities arrested seven suspected scammers and opened new cases through the Royal Thai Police Anti-Cyber Scam Center during the operation.
FAQ
What did the DOJ do during Disruption Week in May?
The DOJ led a coordinated operation May 18-21 with federal agencies, private firms, and foreign law enforcement to disrupt cyber-enabled investment fraud networks. Participants interrupted more than 1.4 million social media and email accounts used by transnational criminal groups and froze more than $3.8 million in cryptocurrency linked to laundering stolen funds.
How much money did the FBI report Americans lost to investment scams in 2025?
According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, reported losses from investment scams reached more than $7.2 billion in 2025, up from $5.8 billion in 2024 and $3.96 billion in 2023. Crypto-related fraud made up 83% of reported investment scam losses in 2023.
How many suspects were arrested in Thailand during the operation?
Thai authorities arrested seven suspected scammers and opened new cases through the Royal Thai Police Anti-Cyber Scam Center during the May 18-21 operation.
