Interpol disclosed that a crypto wallet linked to a suspected romance-scam money launderer processed over $122.5 million within ten months. This revelation came during a global anti-fraud operation that resulted in 5,811 arrests.
The operation, which targeted online fraud, was coordinated by Interpol and involved authorities from 97 countries and territories. It led to the uncovering of a money-laundering network in Thailand that funneled proceeds from romance scams into cryptocurrencies. Thai authorities arrested two suspects in connection with this scheme.
According to Interpol, the suspects utilized cross-chain token swaps to obscure the money trail. Tomonobu Kaya, director of Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, emphasized that social engineering scams remain a significant threat, noting that no single country can address the issue independently.
As part of Operation First Light 2026, authorities targeted bank accounts and crypto wallets linked to illicit funds. The operation analyzed 152,808 cases, blocked 31,014 bank accounts, solved 23,715 investigations, and identified 15,606 suspects. Interpol’s payment-freezing system, known as the Global Rapid Intervention of Payments, was also employed to stop illicit transfers involving both fiat and virtual assets.
In a related effort, authorities in Palau deported 22 individuals allegedly connected to two hotel-based scam centers that utilized cryptocurrencies and illegal gambling websites to exploit victims overseas.
The operation highlights increasing global scrutiny on the use of cryptocurrency in romance and investment scams. In April, the FBI reported that Americans had filed 181,565 crypto-related scam complaints in 2025, amounting to over $11 billion in losses.
Romance scams, often referred to as pig-butchering scams, typically involve criminals gaining the trust of victims through social media or online dating platforms before directing them toward fraudulent investment opportunities.
