US and UK Form Joint Alliance to Target Crypto Scam Centers

The United States Department of Justice and the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service, together with the National Crime Agency, have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a joint law‑enforcement alliance focused on crypto‑related scam centers.

Scope of the Alliance

The pact calls for parallel investigations into shared targets, the exchange of intelligence on organized‑crime networks, and coordination on jurisdictional decisions for prosecutions. A private‑sector disruption operation is scheduled for early October in London.

Background and Context

The agreement expands the U.S. “Scam Center Strike Force,” launched in November 2025 to combat Chinese‑linked organized crime operating scam hubs in Southeast Asia. The task force includes the FBI, Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and other Justice Department entities, working alongside Treasury, State, and private partners.

Rising Crypto Fraud Losses

U.S. losses from crypto investment fraud reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center rose from $4.57 billion in 2023 to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.

Recent International Actions

• April 29: A Dubai‑led operation involving the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security resulted in 276 arrests and the shutdown of at least nine crypto scam centers.
• May 15: Myanmar’s military government drafted legislation proposing severe penalties, including life imprisonment and the death penalty, for digital‑currency fraud linked to coercive labor.
• July 28: Myanmar’s parliament approved the draft bill, pending presidential assent.