A coordinated DOJ takedown targeted an alleged international cryptocurrency investment-fraud network that operated through “scam centers,” with victims in the United States. DOJ says alleged managers and recruiters directed victims to transfer crypto to fake platforms and stole funds.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a coordinated takedown of an alleged international cryptocurrency investment-fraud operation that used “scam centers” to reach victims in the United States. DOJ alleges the defendants recruited victims and coached them through a staged process designed to make a fake crypto investment appear legitimate. According to the release, alleged managers and recruiters guided victims to transfer cryptocurrency to purported trading or investment platforms that were actually controlled by the fraudsters. Once victims sent funds, DOJ says the scammers exploited the transactions to move money out of victims’ control. DOJ reported at least 276 arrests tied to the operation, including arrests and charges that occurred both in the United States and abroad as part of the international sweep. The case description emphasizes the role of structured recruiting and centralized “scam centers,” suggesting a workflow where different participants had distinct roles—such as recruiting, operating platforms, and managing the flow of stolen assets. The announcement underscores how crypto investment scams often rely on social engineering, coordinated communications, and fake online platforms to induce transfers, then rapidly shift proceeds to reduce traceability.