TLDR
- Coinbase froze over $3 million in crypto linked to Southeast Asia scam networks as part of a DOJ-led operation
- Meta, Microsoft, and Starlink helped take down over 1.4 million accounts and thousands of internet kits used by scammers
- The Royal Thai Police arrested 63 people connected to the scam operations
- The DOJ’s Scam Center Strike Force led the action, targeting romance scams, investment fraud, and forced labor compounds
- FBI data shows Americans lost over $11 billion to crypto and AI-related scams in 2025
Coinbase froze more than $3 million in cryptocurrency tied to scam networks operating across Southeast Asia, as part of a coordinated operation led by the US Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force.
COINBASE freezes $3M tied to Southeast Asia fraud networks. Authorities worldwide are intensifying joint actions against scam infrastructure; watch for potential spillover into broader exchange compliance. $BTC $ETH pic.twitter.com/tvMlMcqJCj
— Bpay News (@bpaynews) June 4, 2026
The operation brought together government agencies and private companies to target fraud networks accused of running romance scams, investment fraud, and forced labor scam compounds.
Coinbase shared intelligence with Meta, Microsoft, Starlink, the DOJ, and law enforcement partners across multiple countries including the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Thailand.
Tech Companies Play a Central Role
Meta disabled more than 1.4 million accounts, pages, and groups across Facebook and Instagram linked to the scam networks. Microsoft suspended around 20,000 fraudulent accounts, while Starlink cut connectivity for thousands of kits tied to unlawful use.
The Royal Thai Police Anti-Cyber Scam Center arrested 63 people connected to the operations. Meta said shared intelligence helped law enforcement connect online activity to real-world scam center locations.
“This operation is proof that scammers can’t be stopped by any single company or agency acting alone,” Coinbase said.
The company said it took social platforms, financial institutions, connectivity providers, and law enforcement all working together to hit these networks at multiple points simultaneously.
Blockchain Tracking Supports Investigations
Coinbase defended the use of blockchain technology in the operation. The company said public blockchain records give investigators a clear trail to follow stolen funds after victims send crypto to scammers.
“Blockchain technology gives law enforcement something traditional financial systems often can’t: a transparent, immutable and permanent record of every transaction,” Coinbase said.
The FBI reported earlier this year that Americans lost over $11 billion to crypto and AI-related scams in 2025. The DOJ has described pig butchering and investment fraud as among the most damaging types of fraud targeting Americans.
Pig butchering scams involve fraudsters building fake relationships with victims online before convincing them to invest in fraudulent crypto platforms.
The latest freeze follows a broader crackdown that saw US authorities freeze more than $701 million in crypto tied to global scam networks in April. That action also targeted over 500 fake investment websites.
A Dubai police-led operation separately resulted in the arrest of 276 people and the shutdown of at least nine crypto scam centers. In Albania, Austrian and Albanian authorities with Europol and Eurojust support arrested 10 people linked to three scam centers in Tirana.
Coinbase said it will continue working with public and private partners to block criminal funds and protect users from fraud.
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