A coordinated operation involving major technology companies, U.S. authorities, and international law enforcement agencies has disrupted scam networks operating across Southeast Asia, resulting in dozens of arrests, millions of account takedowns, and the seizure of cryptocurrency linked to fraud schemes.
According to the official announcement, the initiative brought together Meta, Microsoft, Coinbase, Starlink, the U.S. Department of Justice, and law enforcement agencies from several countries to target criminal organizations involved in online fraud.
Coinbase freezes $3 million in crypto assets
Coinbase said it froze more than $3 million worth of cryptocurrency connected to criminal organizations identified during the investigation. The exchange participated through the Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force, which coordinated intelligence-sharing among public and private-sector participants.
The operation highlighted the growing role of blockchain analysis in financial crime investigations, as investigators tracked cryptocurrency flows associated with fraud proceeds and linked them to broader criminal networks.
Leah Bressack, VP, Coinbase, commented on the initiative, stating, “Blockchain technology is one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against financial crime. Unlike traditional financial systems, the transparent and immutable nature of transaction data means bad actors can’t hide – every transaction leaves a trail. That transparency is exactly what allowed us to work with law enforcement to trace, freeze, and disrupt these criminal networks.”
More than 1.4 million accounts removed
According to participants, the operation focused on networks connected to romance scams, investment fraud, and scam compounds that have become increasingly prevalent in parts of Southeast Asia.
The coordinated effort produced both online and offline enforcement actions. Meta disabled more than 1.4 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages, and groups linked to scam operations. Microsoft suspended roughly 20,000 accounts tied to the same networks.
Law enforcement agencies also arrested 63 individuals suspected of involvement in scam centers, while intelligence gathered during the operation led investigators to identify additional locations and criminal networks for further investigation.
Starlink connectivity cut off
Authorities and industry partners also targeted the infrastructure supporting scam operations. Starlink terminated connectivity for thousands of internet terminals that investigators associated with unlawful activity. The move was aimed at disrupting communications and online operations used by scam compounds.
The company said the actions were part of ongoing efforts to prevent misuse of its satellite internet network and support law enforcement investigations into organized fraud.
International effort targets scam centers
The operation began on May 18 under the Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Representatives from the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, the Royal Thai Police, and law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand participated alongside technology companies.
Participants met in Washington, D.C., sharing intelligence to connect activity across platforms, financial networks, and communications infrastructure. Officials said the goal was to disrupt scam organizations at multiple points simultaneously rather than targeting individual fraudulent accounts in isolation.
Scam networks remain a global challenge
The operation reflects growing efforts by governments and technology companies to address organized fraud groups that operate across borders and often shift between platforms to avoid detection.
Officials involved in the initiative said scam centers continue to evolve their tactics, making cross-sector cooperation increasingly important. By combining platform enforcement, financial investigations, infrastructure disruption, and law enforcement action, the operation sought to limit the ability of criminal networks to recruit victims, move funds, and maintain online operations.
The joint action resulted in over 1.4 million disrupted online assets, 63 arrests, thousands of disconnected Starlink terminals, and millions of dollars in frozen cryptocurrency, making it one of the largest coordinated actions against Southeast Asian scam networks to date.
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