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US, UK launch joint alliance targeting crypto scam centers
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- DeepHorus
The United States and United Kingdom have launched a groundbreaking joint law enforcement alliance to combat crypto and cyber-enabled investment fraud. On Thursday, the US Department of Justice announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the US Attorneyâs Office for the District of Columbia, the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales, and the UK National Crime Agency. This agreement, described as the âfirst-of-its-kind,â aims to disable scam centers through coordinated action.
The partnership establishes a framework for parallel investigations into common targets, information sharing on organized crime syndicates, and discussions on jurisdiction for prosecuting specific cases. Authorities have already identified overlapping cases and are planning an in-person disruption operation with private-sector partners in London for early October. The move comes as reported US losses from crypto investment fraud have surged dramatically.
According to the DOJ, losses reported to the FBIâs Internet Crime Complaint Center rose 89% to $8.65 billion in 2025 from $4.57 billion in 2023. This alarming increase underscores the urgent need for international cooperation against these sophisticated criminal networks.
The alliance expands the existing Scam Center Strike Force, launched by US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro in November 2025. That task force specifically targets Chinese organized crime networks operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia, whose schemes include crypto investment fraud and are often linked to human trafficking and money laundering.
The strike force includes the FBI, US Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Justice Department offices. It collaborates with the US Treasury, State Department, and private companies to disrupt operations and recover victimsâ funds.
Recent international efforts highlight the growing global crackdown. On April 29, a Dubai police-led operation involving the FBI and Chinaâs Ministry of Public Security resulted in 276 arrests and the closure of at least nine crypto scam centers. Governments in Southeast Asia are also pursuing tougher domestic measures; Myanmarâs parliament recently approved draft legislation proposing severe sentences, including life imprisonment and the death penalty in cases involving deaths at scam centers.
The US-UK pact represents a significant escalation in coordinated law enforcement against borderless digital crime. With fraud losses in the billions, this alliance sets a precedent for future international collaboration to protect consumers and dismantle criminal infrastructures.
