US and UK Form Joint Alliance to Combat Crypto Scam Centers
The United States and the United Kingdom have established a groundbreaking international law enforcement alliance aimed at dismantling scam centers involved in crypto and cyber-enabled investment fraud. On Thursday, the US Department of Justice announced a memorandum of understanding signed between the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales, and the UK National Crime Agency. This first-of-its-kind cooperation agreement aims to facilitate joint investigations and disrupt operations of organized crime syndicates engaged in crypto scams.
Memorandum and Alliance Objectives
Under the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and UK agencies, the partners will conduct parallel investigations targeting common entities, share intelligence on organized crime syndicates, and determine the appropriate jurisdictions for prosecution. The DOJ disclosed that overlapping cases have already been identified and that a coordinated disruption operation involving private-sector partners will take place in London in early October.
Rising Crypto Fraud Losses in the US
The cross-border collaboration responds to increasing losses reported from crypto investment fraud in the United States. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, losses surged by 89% from $4.57 billion in 2023 to $8.65 billion in 2025, as reported by the DOJ.
Expansion of the Scam Center Strike Force
The agreement broadens the scope of the Scam Center Strike Force, launched in November 2025 by US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The task force focuses on Chinese organized crime groups operating scam centers mostly in Southeast Asia. Their schemes involve crypto investment fraud and are linked to human trafficking and money laundering.
The task force consists of the FBI, US Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division, Homeland Security Investigations, and various Justice Department offices. It also collaborates with the US Treasury and State Departments and private companies to dismantle scam operations and recover funds for victims.
International Raids and Regional Legislative Actions
International law enforcement agencies have previously coordinated raids targeting similar operations. On April 29, 2026, a Dubai police-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. Six individuals were charged with running fake crypto investment platforms to solicit deposits from victims.
Additionally, governments in Southeast Asia have implemented stricter domestic regulations. On May 15, Myanmar’s military government introduced draft legislation proposing sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment for digital currency fraud. In cases where people coerced to work at scam centers died, the death penalty could apply. The bill was passed by parliament on July 28, although presidential assent remains pending.
Why it matters
The formation of this US-UK international alliance represents a significant advance in the global fight against organized crypto fraud. By joining forces, law enforcement agencies can more effectively identify and dismantle criminal syndicates, leveraging combined expertise and resources while facilitating cross-jurisdictional intelligence sharing. Given the steep increase in crypto-related losses, such coordinated international efforts are becoming essential to combat scams and foster private-sector collaboration. Moreover, expanding existing task forces and enacting stringent legislative measures in regions harboring scam centers strengthens a comprehensive and systemic approach to confront these threats.
Prepared from the source material with AI-assisted editing and checked against the supplied facts.
Open original source ↗