Friday, June 20, 2025 - The U.S. government has recovered $225 million in what is now the largest seizure of funds linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam.
In a statement released Wednesday, June 18, the U.S.
Attorney’s Office said the recovery followed an extensive investigation by the
FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, using blockchain analysis and other forensic
tools. The statement did not confirm whether any arrests had been made.
According to the authorities, the stolen funds originated
from fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes that tricked victims into
believing they were making legitimate investments. More than 400 individuals
around the world, including dozens in the United States, were reportedly
affected.
The operation involved a sophisticated money laundering
network that carried out hundreds of thousands of blockchain transactions to
obscure the source and ownership of the stolen assets.
“These scams
prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims,”
said Shawn Bradstreet, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Secret Service
office in San Francisco.
Bradstreet added that U.S. officials hope the recovered
funds can eventually be returned to the rightful victims.
Cryptocurrency investment fraud accounted for over $5.8
billion in reported losses in 2024 alone, according to the statement.
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