DOJ reported that its “Disruption Week” disrupted scam infrastructure by working with private industry to interrupt millions of social media, email, and internet access accounts. The disruption targeted cyber-enabled fraud operations used to defraud Americans.

The DOJ says its Scam Center Strike Force delivered measurable disruption results during a U.S. and private-industry “Disruption Week.” The agency describes collaboration with private sector partners aimed at cutting off the compromised accounts that criminals use to carry out large-scale cyber-enabled fraud. DOJ’s release states that, through information sharing with private industry, the operation disrupted or interrupted millions of social media, email, and internet access accounts used by transnational organized crime actors. DOJ frames these account access points as critical infrastructure for scam operations—allowing fraudsters to send fraudulent messages, impersonate victims or businesses, and maintain continuity even when targets change. In addition to the communications disruption, DOJ ties the effort to broader scam enforcement priorities, including actions designed to reduce the effectiveness of social-media and email account takeovers. The agency also connects these account-level disruptions to follow-on fraud steps, including attempts to move and launder stolen proceeds using cryptocurrency. Overall, DOJ characterizes “Disruption Week” as a coordinated law-enforcement and private-industry response to scam ecosystem components, highlighting how fast disruption of account access can reduce reach, slow victim targeting, and limit operational persistence.