DOJ Scam Center Strike Force — Southeast Asia Romance Fraud Network
Summary
A transnational organized crime network operating from fortified compounds in Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and adjoining Southeast Asian jurisdictions has defrauded tens of thousands of victims — primarily in the United States and Canada — through pig-butchering cryptocurrency investment scams and online romance fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice's Scam Center Strike Force, launched November 2025, has restrained more than $832 million in cryptocurrency and coordinated at least 276 arrests globally as of mid-2026. Five civil forfeiture complaints filed July 21, 2026 seek more than $25 million in additional crypto tied to over 670 suspected victim transactions.
Connected Entities
1 entities · 10 linked investigationsTimeline(6 events)
2024-01-01
Operation Level Up launched as a joint FBI initiative across San Diego and Phoenix field offices, targeting pig-butchering scams through proactive victim notification.
DOJ Office of Public Affairs2025-11-01
DOJ Scam Center Strike Force formally launched by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, targeting Southeast Asian pig-butchering crypto fraud networks.
DOJ U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia2026-04-29
FBI-coordinated international operation results in at least 276 arrests and dismantlement of nine scam centers across Southeast Asia. Dubai Police execute 275 of the arrests. Three defendants charged in the Southern District of California for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
DOJ Office of Public Affairs2026-05-18
Scam Center Strike Force convenes 'Disruption Week' (May 18-21) with private-sector partners including Apple, Coinbase, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and SpaceX, resulting in removal of over 1.4 million fraudulent accounts and freezing of $3.8 million in crypto.
DOJ Office of Public Affairs2026-06-03
DOJ publicly announces results of Disruption Week; cumulative Strike Force crypto restraints reported at approximately $832.8 million.
DOJ Office of Public Affairs2026-07-21
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia files five civil forfeiture complaints in U.S. District Court seeking more than $25 million (approximately $26.4 million total) in cryptocurrency from separate romance and investment scam investigations, identifying more than 670 suspected victim transactions.
DOJ U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of ColumbiaDecision Log
- #1publish⛓ pending7/28/2026, 12:11:12 PMhash: GSuU11RnMtwkM4euzLok7Pz3XaeBK85jZMjbDkLBMFXW
14 of 15 cited source URLs have an Internet Archive snapshot.
model: claude-sonnet-4-6
generated: 7/28/2026, 12:11:05 PM
last updated: 7/28/2026, 9:12:14 PM
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