US, UK launch joint alliance targeting crypto scam hubs
The United States and United Kingdom have agreed to launch joint alliance targeting crypto scam centers under a first-of-its-kind memorandum of understanding. Officials will run parallel probes, share intelligence on organized crime networks, and stage a private-sector disruption operation in London in early October as fraud losses rise.
Key Takeaways
- The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales, and the UK National Crime Agency signed the memorandum of understanding.
- The pact expands the Scam Center Strike Force and prioritizes parallel investigations plus information sharing on overlapping cases.
- Authorities plan an in-person disruption operation with private-sector partners in London in early October.
- Reported US crypto investment fraud losses rose 89% to $8.65 billion in 2025 from $4.57 billion in 2023, according to the DOJ citing FBI data.
What did the US and UK agree to do?
On Thursday, the US Department of Justice said the agencies signed what it called a “first-of-its-kind” international cooperation deal aimed at disabling scam centers tied to crypto and cyber-enabled investment fraud.
Under the agreement, the partners will investigate common targets in parallel, share information on organized crime syndicates, and discuss which jurisdiction should prosecute specific cases. Officials said they have already identified overlapping cases.
The move is a notable escalation for readers following Fintech & Crypto Alerts, where cross-border enforcement continues to shape market risk and investor protection.
Why does this alliance matter for crypto investors?
The agreement expands the Scam Center Strike Force, which US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro launched in November 2025 to target Chinese organized crime networks operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia.
According to the DOJ, those schemes often involve crypto investment fraud and are linked to human trafficking and money laundering. The task force includes the FBI, US Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Justice Department offices, and works with the US Treasury, State Department, and private companies to disrupt operations and recover funds.
Losses reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center climbed 89% to $8.65 billion in 2025 from $4.57 billion in 2023, the DOJ said—underscoring why coordinated action matters for US and UK audiences.
What comes next in the crackdown?
US and UK authorities plan an in-person disruption operation with private-sector partners in London in early October. That step is designed to turn intelligence sharing into concrete disruption of scam infrastructure.
International pressure is already visible. On April 29, the DOJ reported a Dubai police-led operation involving the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security that resulted in 276 arrests and the closure of at least nine crypto scam centers. Six people were charged over schemes that allegedly used fake crypto investment platforms to solicit deposits.
For the primary reporting on the memorandum and October plans, see Cointelegraph’s coverage of the announcement.