Major Crypto Scam Crackdown Sees 276 Arrests Worldwide

The operation involved Dubai police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and China’s Ministry of Public Security. Investigators found the network used fake crypto investment platforms to defraud victims,  while separate European actions led by Europol and Eurojust dismantled even more scam centers in Albania linked to over €50 million in damages.

Authorities Shut Down Crypto Scam Centers

An international crackdown led by authorities in Dubai resulted in hundreds of arrests and the dismantling of multiple fraud networks. According to the US Department of Justice, a joint operation involving Dubai police, the FBI, and China’s Ministry of Public Security led to the arrest of 276 individuals connected to crypto scam centers. 

Of those, 275 were apprehended in Dubai, while one additional suspect was arrested by Thai authorities. The coordinated effort also led to the shutdown of at least nine scam centers that were targeting victims worldwide.

Press release from the US Department of Justice

Prosecutors charged six people linked to the operation, including four defendants and two fugitive co-conspirators. They face federal fraud and money laundering charges in a US court in San Diego. If convicted, each charge could result in prison sentences of up to 20 years, alongside large financial penalties.

Investigations revealed that the accused were involved in promoting fraudulent crypto investment platforms that were designed to deceive victims into depositing funds. These schemes often relied on convincing interfaces and coordinated social engineering tactics to build trust before extracting money. 

The FBI linked the network to millions of dollars in losses. Earlier reports indicate that Americans alone lost more than $11 billion to crypto- and AI-related scams in 2025, with fake investment platforms representing the largest share of damages.

At the same time, European authorities took similar action against organized scam operations. In a separate case, law enforcement agencies in Austria and Albania, supported by Europol and Eurojust, arrested ten people tied to three scam centers operating out of Tirana. These operations were highly structured, employing up to 450 individuals across various roles including customer acquisition, fake brokerage services, IT support, and financial management.

Announcement from Europol

Victims in the European scheme were typically lured through social media advertisements that promoted seemingly legitimate investment opportunities. Once onboarded, they were assigned fake brokers who used pressure tactics to encourage continued deposits. Authorities estimate that this network alone caused losses of more than €50 million.