US and UK Unite Against Crypto Scam Centers

The US and UK have launched a joint alliance targeting crypto scam centers as part of their efforts to combat cyber-enabled investment fraud. The agreement, signed by the US Department of Justice, the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales, and the UK National Crime Agency, marks the first international cooperation agreement of its kind.

The memorandum of understanding allows for parallel investigations into common targets, information sharing on organized crime syndicates, and coordination on which jurisdictions should prosecute specific cases. The authorities have already identified overlapping cases and plan an in-person disruption operation with private-sector partners in London in early October.

According to the DOJ, reported US losses from crypto investment fraud continue to climb, rising 89% from $4.57 billion in 2023 to $8.65 billion in 2025. The agreement expands the Scam Center Strike Force, which was launched by US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro in November 2025 to target Chinese organized crime networks operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia.