US and UK form first-of-its-kind alliance against crypto scam centers

The United States and United Kingdom are forming an alliance against global scam centers tied to cryptocurrency fraud and cyber-enabled investment schemes. Officials described the new Memorandum of Understanding as the first international cooperation framework focused on scam centers involved in cryptocurrency fraud, cyber-enabled investment fraud and other schemes. These schemes cost Americans an estimated $10 billion each year. US and UK authorities will conduct parallel investigations into shared targets. They will exchange intelligence on organized crime groups. They will coordinate where individual cases should be prosecuted. The agencies will prioritize investigations involving the threat to maximize the impact of their joint efforts. US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said the authorities would disable Chinese transnational organized crime networks operating scam compounds. Pirro said those networks use human-trafficked labor to increase profits. Pirro launched the Scam Center Strike Force in November 2025. The task force focuses on cryptocurrency investment scams, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking and money laundering operations. The task force addresses scam centers operated primarily across Southeast Asia by Chinese organized crime groups.