US Authorities Move to Seize $327,829 in USDT Linked to Romance Scam

The United States Department of Justice has filed a civil forfeiture action seeking to recover approximately $327,829 in Tether (USDT) allegedly tied to an online romance fraud scheme.

According to a notice issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the funds were connected to a scam that began in 2024 and targeted a Massachusetts resident. The suspect, identified in court documents as “Linda Brown,” allegedly persuaded the victim to transfer crypto under false pretenses.

Investigators traced a portion of the stolen funds to several unhosted cryptocurrency wallets, which authorities seized in August 2025. Prosecutors argue that the digital assets held in those wallets constitute property involved in money laundering activities.

Tether Freezes Billions in Illicitly Linked USDT

The forfeiture action comes amid broader scrutiny of stablecoin transactions. A recent report indicated that Tether has frozen roughly $4.2 billion in USDT since 2023 in connection with suspected illicit activity. The company has the authority to blacklist wallet addresses to restrict token transfers when requested by law enforcement agencies.

Officials continue to warn the public about cryptocurrency-related romance scams, particularly during periods when such schemes tend to increase.

Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.