US, UAE and China joint effort dismantles 9 crypto scam centers

A Dubai police-led international crackdown on scam rings last week resulted in the arrest of 276 individuals and the shutdown of at least nine crypto scam centers, the US Department of Justice revealed on Wednesday. 

In a joint operation with the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security, Dubai authorities arrested 275 people, with an additional person arrested by the Royal Thai Police. 

Six people have been charged in connection with the scam centers. Four of the defendants and two fugitive co-conspirators were charged with federal fraud and money laundering in federal court in San Diego, according to the DOJ. If convicted, each offense carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and hefty fines.

“The charges and arrests announced today reflect an international consensus that scam centers are unwelcome everywhere and must be rooted out…. In contemporary society, fraud is borderless, and law enforcement activity to combat it and eliminate it is as well,” said US Assistant Attorney General Andrew Tysen Duva. 

The FBI reported earlier this month that Americans' losses from crypto and artificial intelligence-related scams in 2025 exceeded $11 billion, with investment scams flagged as the most damaging.

Source: US Department of Justice Criminal Division 

Scammers used fake crypto investment platforms to deceive victims

All six defendants are accused of working for three different companies operating the scam centers, promoting fake crypto investment platforms and deceiving victims into making deposits. 

FBI investigators have identified millions of dollars in losses caused by the criminal network.

“Today’s indictment demonstrates the FBI’s determination to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these global scam centers defrauding Americans no matter where they set up shop,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office.  

European police shut down scam network with 450 employees

Meanwhile, in a separate police action involving Austrian and Albanian authorities, with support from Europol and Eurojust, ten people were arrested in connection with three scam centers in Tirana and Albania, Europol said on Wednesday.

Inside one of the shuttered scam centers. Source: Europol

Victims were drawn in by “seemingly legitimate online investment platforms,” advertised on social media and the promise of profitable investments, according to Europol. 

Once registered, they were assigned a fake broker who pressured them into making investments. Losses from the scheme are estimated at more than 50 million euros ($58 million) and affected people worldwide.

Related: OFAC sanctions Cambodian politician linked to pig butchering scam centers 

“The scale and professionalism of the criminal network were evident in its structure, which involved up to 450 employees across various departments, including customer acquisition, handled by conversion agents, and customer service, managed by retention agents,” Europol said.

“Additionally, the network had dedicated teams for management, finance, IT, human resources and various back-office activities.”

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