Interpol Bust Uncovers $122M Crypto Wallet Tied to Romance Scam Network

A crypto wallet connected to a suspected romance scam money launderer processed more than $122.5 million over just 10 months, Interpol revealed Thursday as part of a sweeping global crackdown on online fraud.

Thai Arrests Expose Cross-Chain Laundering Scheme

Thai authorities arrested two suspects after uncovering a money-laundering operation that moved romance scam proceeds into cryptocurrency, relying on cross-chain token swaps to hide the money trail. The arrests came under Operation First Light 2026, an Interpol led campaign aimed at social engineering scams and the financial systems that launder their profits.

Global Operation Spans 97 Countries

The wider operation covered 97 countries and territories, leading to 5,811 arrests and the seizure of $293 million in illicit assets. Authorities reviewed 152,808 cases, froze 31,014 bank accounts, closed out 23,715 investigations and identified 15,606 suspects. Investigators also used Interpol’s Global Rapid Intervention of Payments system to block illicit transfers involving both traditional currency and crypto. Tomonobu Kaya, who directs Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said social engineering scams remain a serious threat that no single country can handle alone.

Palau Deports Scam Center Workers

In a related action, Palau deported 22 people tied to two hotel-based scam operations that used crypto and illegal gambling sites to target victims overseas. The crackdown comes as crypto-related fraud losses keep climbing; the FBI reported in April that Americans filed 181,565 crypto scam complaints in 2025, totaling more than $11 billion in losses.