US and UK launch joint effort to dismantle crypto scam centers

The U.S. Department of Justice and the UK Crown Prosecution Service, together with the National Crime Agency, have formalised a cross‑border partnership aimed at disabling crypto‑focused scam compounds and organized‑crime networks.

Key elements of the agreement

• Intelligence sharing and joint investigations on overlapping cases.
• Co‑ordination on jurisdictional decisions for suspect prosecutions.
• First in‑person disruption operation with private‑sector partners scheduled in London in early October.

Rising fraud losses drive cooperation

Reported U.S. losses from cyber‑enabled investment fraud are projected to rise from $4.57 billion in 2023 to $8.65 billion in 2025, representing an 89 % increase. Authorities estimate annual losses to Americans at roughly $10 billion.

Recent enforcement actions

• Scam Center Strike Force, created in November 2025, has seized over $800 million and disrupted more than 1.4 million online accounts.
• April 2024 operation restrained $700 million in cryptocurrency linked to fraud networks in Burma and Cambodia.
• International crackdowns in 2024 resulted in 276 arrests and the shutdown of nine scam centers.

International context

The pact builds on prior multilateral initiatives, including a May enforcement effort that involved Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Thailand, and recent INTERPOL operations targeting romance scams, fake crypto investments and related financial infrastructure.