The U.S. authorities have made significant strides in combating cryptocurrency fraud, as the Scam Center Strike Force recently announced that it has seized and frozen over $580 million in digital assets from Southeast Asian criminal networks. These operations are particularly focused on the notorious “pig butchering” scams that have proliferated from areas including Burma, Cambodia, and Laos.
In a statement released on Thursday, Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, emphasized the progress made by the Strike Force since its inception in November 2025. Pirro stated, “In only three months, our Scam Center Strike Force has made significant progress, freezing, seizing, and forfeiting cryptocurrency from these criminals.” She assured victims that the authorities are committed to recovering lost funds, stating, “We are here for you, we care for you, and we will continue fighting like hell to claw back your assets.”
The operations carried out by the Scam Center Strike Force involve a coordinated effort among various agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service, among others. The Strike Force targets transnational criminal organizations that have amassed billions through these scams. The term “pig butchering” refers to a method where scammers engage in social engineering tactics to lure victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency projects, only to later divert and seize their funds through fraudulent investment platforms.
The rise of such scams has made Southeast Asia a focal point for illicit activities, with some operations resorting to coerced labor, as highlighted by Interpol”s designation of the issue as a global threat. In a broader crackdown in September 2025, the U.S. Treasury”s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 19 entities across Burma and Cambodia, dismantling operations that collectively cost victims more than $10 billion in losses during 2024.
Recent reports by Amnesty International have brought to light the dire humanitarian conditions faced by many workers in Cambodian scam compounds, where abuses such as forced labor, rape, and torture have been documented. With mass escapes of trafficked workers becoming increasingly common, the situation has escalated into a humanitarian crisis.
Deddy Lavid, CEO of the blockchain analytics firm Cyvers, commented on the recent seizures, noting that while the $580 million figure is significant, it is just a fraction of the broader landscape of global cryptocurrency fraud. Lavid”s analysis indicates the existence of approximately 27,000 active criminal groups worldwide, with an estimated $27.5 billion tied to fraudulent activities.
In the announcement, Pirro also connected these Southeast Asian operations to “Chinese organized crime,” suggesting a complex web of transnational criminal activities. Although Lavid acknowledged a meaningful connection to Chinese transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), he pointed out that these networks are increasingly decentralized, comprising local operators and regional facilitators. This hybrid structure has resulted in a multifaceted criminal ecosystem, where core operations leverage Chinese-language infrastructure while executing schemes across various jurisdictions.
The ongoing efforts by the U.S. authorities highlight the need for sustained vigilance against cryptocurrency-related scams, as the landscape continues to evolve and expand globally.
