U.S. Seizes $25M+ in Cryptocurrency in Cross-Border Investment Fraud Cases on July 21

According to statements from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, on July 21, 2026, the office filed 5 civil forfeiture complaints seeking to seize over $25 million in cryptocurrency tied to international investment scams targeting U.S. and Canadian residents. The action is part of the Scam Center Strike Force, launched in 2025 by D.C. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, which has now recovered more than $800 million in total assets.

The five cases involve romance fraud schemes and fake crypto investment platforms. The largest case recovered $12.08 million from over 200 victims; a second seized $10.4 million linked to 270 suspected victims; a third froze $2.39 million across 6 wallet addresses; a fourth recovered $1.23 million; and a fifth traced $285,000 from recovery scams. U.S. Secret Service stated investigations continue as authorities track the criminal networks behind these schemes.