- U.S. authorities and major technology companies dismantled infrastructure linked to cyber fraud groups operating across Southeast Asia.
- The operation disrupted more than 1.4 million social media accounts, 20,000 Microsoft accounts, and thousands of Starlink devices used in scam activities.
- Authorities froze over $3.8 million in cryptocurrency and arrested seven suspects in Thailand as reported losses from crypto scams surpassed $7.2 billion in 2025.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has announced the results of a large-scale international operation targeting cyber-enabled fraud and cryptocurrency investment scams that have cost Americans billions of dollars.
The initiative, known as “Disruption Week,” began on May 18, 2026. Government agencies worked alongside technology companies and international law enforcement partners to dismantle infrastructure used by transnational cybercrime groups operating from Southeast Asia.
The operation led to the removal of millions of online accounts and the freezing of more than $3.8 million in cryptocurrency allegedly connected to money laundering activities.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia said crypto-related investment fraud continues to inflict severe financial damage on Americans, draining life savings and disproportionately affecting vulnerable individuals.
Operation Targets Fraud Infrastructure Across Multiple Platforms
The crackdown forms part of the U.S. government’s broader Scam Center Strike Force initiative, which focuses on dismantling criminal organizations behind cyber-enabled fraud and so-called “pig butchering” schemes. These operations often rely on romance-based manipulation and fake investment opportunities to deceive victims into transferring funds.
Fraudsters typically spend weeks or months building trust with targets before directing them to fraudulent investment platforms that promise substantial returns. Once victims deposit money, the criminals move the funds into accounts under their control. Communication usually ends once victims discover the deception or exhaust their financial resources.
Several major companies participated in the OP, including Apple, Google, Coinbase, Microsoft, Silent Push, Meta, SpaceX’s Starlink, Zenlayer, and TRM Labs. Authorities from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Thailand, and the United Kingdom also supported the effort.
The operation produced significant results across multiple fronts. Authorities disrupted criminal activity linked to over 1.4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages, and groups. Investigators also disabled approximately 20,000 Microsoft accounts and thousands of Starlink kits allegedly used by scam networks.
Officials further interrupted malicious internet traffic, dismantled hosting infrastructure connected to fraud operations, identified suspected scammers and scam platforms, and referred several cases for additional investigation and potential prosecution. The Royal Thai Police also arrested seven suspects and opened new investigations through its Anti-Cyber Scam Center.
Crypto Fraud Losses Continue to Climb
According to the DoJ, cryptocurrency investment fraud has become one of the fastest-growing forms of financial crime affecting Americans. Reported losses increased from $3.96 billion in 2023 to $5.8 billion in 2024 before surpassing $7.2 billion in 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of roughly 24%.
Tech-support fraud is another major category of financial crime. Two former executives pleaded guilty to their roles in a global tech-support fraud scheme, highlighting the diverse types of fraud targeting Americans.
The department stated that many of these criminal operations function from large scam compounds located in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar near the Thai border. Criminal syndicates reportedly recruit workers with promises of lucrative technology-related jobs in Thailand before confiscating their identification documents and forcing them into scam operations.
The DoJ said trafficked workers inside these facilities frequently conduct fraud campaigns against victims in the United States and other countries while facing threats of violence if they refuse to participate.
The announcement follows another major enforcement action last month in which U.S. as well as Chinese authorities reportedly apprehended up to 276 suspects and took down 9 scam centers involved in virtual currency investment fraud campaigns targeting Americans.
International Cooperation Drives Results
Meta reported that law enforcement agencies have so far arrested 63 individuals believed to have connections to scam compounds and related criminal operations. Coinbase also disclosed that it froze more than $3 million in cryptocurrency assets linked to the networks targeted during the investigation.
Police Lieutenant General Jirabhop Bhuridej of the Royal Thai Police emphasized that no single country or agency can tackle transnational online fraud alone. He said authorities must continue sharing intelligence and coordinating investigations to effectively dismantle criminal networks and improve public protection.
The latest operation highlights the growing cooperation between governments, law enforcement agencies, and private-sector companies as they work to disrupt increasingly sophisticated cyber fraud networks operating across international borders.
