A Dubai police-led international crackdown on crypto scam rings has led to the arrest of 276 people and the shutdown of at least nine crypto scam centers, according to information attributed to the US Department of Justice. The operation was carried out with the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security, while one additional arrest was made by the Royal Thai Police.
Six Defendants Charged in San Diego
Six people have been charged in connection with the scam centers. Four defendants and two fugitive co-conspirators were charged with federal fraud and money laundering in federal court in San Diego. If convicted, each offense carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison and fines.
US Assistant Attorney General Andrew Tysen Duva said the charges and arrests reflected an international consensus that scam centers were unwelcome and had to be rooted out. He said fraud was borderless and that law enforcement activity to combat and eliminate it was also borderless.
The FBI reported earlier this month that American losses from crypto- and artificial intelligence-related scams in 2025 exceeded $11 billion (approx. ₹93,600 crore), with investment scams identified as the most damaging.
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Fake Investment Platforms Used to Deceive Victims
All six defendants are accused of working for three different companies operating the scam centers. Authorities say the groups promoted fake crypto investment platforms and deceived victims into making deposits.
FBI investigators identified millions of dollars in losses caused by the alleged criminal network. Mark Remily, special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office, said the indictment showed the bureau’s determination to identify, disrupt and dismantle global scam centers defrauding Americans, regardless of where they were operating.
Separate European Action Targets Scam Network
In a separate police action involving Austrian and Albanian authorities, with support from Europol and Eurojust, 10 people were arrested in connection with three scam centres in Tirana, Albania, Europol said.
Victims were drawn in by seemingly legitimate online investment platforms advertised on social media and by promises of profitable investments. After registering, they were assigned a fake broker who pressured them into making investments.
Losses from that scheme were estimated at more than $58 million (Approx INR 552 Crore), and affected people worldwide. Europol said the criminal network involved up to 450 employees across departments, including customer acquisition, customer service, management, finance, IT, human resources and other back-office activities.
About the author – Manoj Borana is a law graduate from GNLU with a strong interest in legal affairs, technology, cybercrime, and digital safety. He writes about crime, governance, rights, online activity, and technology-related risks, with a focus on raising public awareness.
