The United States and the United Kingdom have decided to strengthen cooperation against international criminal networks involved in cryptocurrency investment scams and cyber-enabled fraud. Law enforcement agencies from both countries have established a formal framework for joint action against scam centres allegedly used to defraud people through cryptocurrency and other digital investment schemes.
The first joint disruption exercise under the new arrangement is planned to take place in London in October.
What Does The New US-UK Agreement Cover?
According to the US Department of Justice, a memorandum of understanding was agreed on September 3 between the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales, and the UK’s National Crime Agency. US authorities described the agreement as the first international cooperation arrangement specifically aimed at disrupting scam centres involved in cryptocurrency and cyber-enabled investment fraud.
Under the agreement, investigators from the two countries will share intelligence on organised criminal groups whose activities extend across both jurisdictions. They will exchange information related to overlapping investigations and suspects and coordinate efforts to determine the appropriate jurisdiction in which individuals accused of fraud should face prosecution.
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How Large Are The Losses From Investment Fraud?
Cyber-enabled investment fraud has caused rapidly increasing financial losses in the United States. US authorities estimate that Americans lose around $10 billion every year to such schemes, equivalent to approximately ₹94,490 crore. Data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and information cited by the US Department of Justice show that reported losses from these schemes increased by 89 percent, from $4.57 billion in 2023 to $8.65 billion in 2025.
Authorities said cyber-related fraud accounted for nearly 85 percent of all losses reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2025. However, the Department of Justice has cautioned that the figures are largely based on information provided by victims. Because many fraud victims do not report incidents, the actual scale of financial losses could be significantly higher.
Why Are Scam Centres A Major Concern?
The new partnership will allow agencies from the US and UK to work together against transnational organised criminal groups operating scam centres. US officials have also highlighted cases in which victims of human trafficking have allegedly been forced to work at such facilities and carry out fraudulent activities. These operations can involve large networks that target victims across multiple countries.
The first joint disruption exercise is planned for the first week of October in London. Law enforcement agencies from both countries will participate along with private-sector companies. The exercise is expected to focus on identifying scam-centre networks, disrupting their operations and strengthening enforcement action against the criminal structures supporting them.
Have The US And UK Worked Together On Crypto Fraud Before?
The US and UK have previously worked with other countries to combat cryptocurrency-related fraud networks. In March, law enforcement agencies from the US, UK and Canada launched a coordinated initiative known as Operation Atlantic to target organised criminal groups involved in cryptocurrency fraud. The operation focused on investment scams, phishing schemes and other forms of digital-asset fraud.
Authorities have increasingly relied on international cooperation as cryptocurrency-related scams have become more sophisticated and geographically dispersed. Criminal networks can operate different parts of their infrastructure from separate countries, making it difficult for individual law enforcement agencies to trace money flows, identify suspects and establish jurisdiction.
How Do Cryptocurrency Investment Scams Typically Work?
Cybercrime experts say investment scams frequently rely on promises of unusually high or rapid returns to persuade victims to transfer money to fraudulent investment platforms or accounts. Victims may initially be shown fabricated profits or allowed to make small withdrawals, encouraging them to invest larger amounts. When they attempt to withdraw their funds, criminals may demand additional payments or use other excuses to prevent access to the money.
What Is The US-UK Partnership Expected To Achieve?
The formal US-UK framework is intended to make intelligence sharing, joint investigations and enforcement cooperation more systematic. By coordinating investigations and determining prosecution jurisdictions at an early stage, authorities hope to prevent criminals from exploiting differences between national legal systems.
The two countries are therefore seeking to move beyond investigating individual fraud complaints and focus on the wider international networks operating scam centres. The cooperation is expected to combine intelligence exchange, coordinated enforcement measures and engagement with private-sector organisations to disrupt cryptocurrency and cyber-enabled investment fraud at its source.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
