US And UK Join Forces Against Crypto Scam Centers
The US and UK have signed a first-of-its-kind memorandum of understanding to run parallel investigations and share intelligence targeting global crypto scam centers, as reported US crypto fraud losses hit $8.65 billion in 2025.
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A First-of-Its-Kind Cross-Border Pact
The United States and United Kingdom have signed a formal memorandum of understanding to jointly target global scam centers engaged in crypto and cyber-enabled investment fraud. The agreement was announced by the US Department of Justice, which described it as a "first-of-its-kind" international cooperation effort bringing together the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales, and the UK National Crime Agency.
Under the agreement, the agencies will conduct parallel investigations into common targets, share information on organized crime syndicates, and coordinate on which jurisdictions should prosecute specific cases. Authorities have already identified overlapping investigations and have scheduled an in-person disruption operation in London for early October.
Officials said the effort will target transnational organized crime networks operating scam compounds, including networks associated with Chinese organized crime and human trafficking.
Rising Losses Driving Urgency
Losses reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 89% from $4.57 billion in 2023 to $8.65 billion in 2025, according to the DOJ. Authorities said the actual losses are likely considerably higher because many victims never report scams.
The cooperation marks a new phase for the US Scam Center Strike Force, which was established in November 2025 to combat crypto investment scams, cyber-enabled fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking linked to scam centers, particularly in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force disrupted more than 1.4 million scam-linked social media and email accounts during May 2026.
The London disruption event, planned with private-sector partners, signals that authorities are moving beyond investigation into active, coordinated takedowns. With reported losses still climbing and a growing share linked to AI-assisted deception, the US-UK alliance represents one of the most structured cross-border enforcement efforts in crypto fraud to date.
Sources:
Crypto Briefing: US and UK strike first joint pact to disrupt crypto scam centers
US Department of Justice: Scam Center Strike Force Disruption Week Results
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Soumen DattaSoumen has been a crypto researcher since 2020 and holds a master’s in Physics. His writing and research has been published by publications such as CryptoSlate and DailyCoin, as well as BSCN. His areas of focus include Bitcoin, DeFi, and high-potential altcoins like Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Chainlink. He combines analytical depth with journalistic clarity to deliver insights for both newcomers and seasoned crypto readers.