AI · Cointelegraph
Interpol operation exposes $122 million crypto wallet tied to romance scam laundering
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Interpol said a suspect's crypto wallet processed over $122.5 million in 10 months as authorities uncovered the scheme during a global anti-fraud operation that led to 5,811 arrests.
Key facts
- Interpol said a suspect's crypto wallet processed over $122.5 million in 10 months as authorities uncovered the scheme during a global anti-fraud operation that led to 5,811 arrests
- The operation involved authorities in 97 countries and territories, resulting in 5,811 arrests and the seizure of $293 million in illicit assets tied to fraud and money laundering
- A crypto wallet linked to a suspected romance-scam money launderer processed more than $122.5 million in 10 months, according to Interpol, as authorities expanded a global crackdown on online fraud
- The Thai investigation was part of Operation First Light 2026, an Interpol-coordinated campaign targeting social engineering scams and the financial infrastructure used to launder their proceeds
Summary
A crypto wallet linked to a suspected romance-scam money launderer processed more than $122.5 million in 10 months, according to Interpol, as authorities expanded a global crackdown on online fraud. Interpol said Thursday that Thai authorities arrested two suspects and uncovered a money-laundering network that funneled proceeds from romance scams into cryptocurrencies, using cross-chain token swaps to obscure the trail. The Thai investigation was part of Operation First Light 2026, an Interpol-coordinated campaign targeting social engineering scams and the financial infrastructure used to launder their proceeds. The operation involved authorities in 97 countries and territories, resulting in 5,811 arrests and the seizure of $293 million in illicit assets tied to fraud and money laundering.