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U.S. Justice Department and FBI Dismantle Nine Overseas Crypto Scam Centers

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, an FBI-led international operation targeting crypto pig butchering networks resulted in 276 arrests and the disruption of nine centers tied to investment fraud.

Fact Check
The claim is directly and authoritatively confirmed by the official DOJ press release ('Coordinated Takedown of Scam Centers Leads to at Least 276 Arrests'), which is the primary source for all downstream reporting. The Block, crypto.news, and The Record all independently corroborate the core facts: 276 arrests, nine scam centers disrupted, FBI-led international operation, and pig-butchering crypto fraud as the target. The claim's description of 'nine overseas crypto scam centers' and '276 arrests' matches the DOJ's own language precisely. The only minor nuance is that the DOJ press release says 'at least 276 arrests,' making the claim if anything slightly conservative. No conflicting evidence was found.
Summary

The U.S. Department of Justice said an FBI-led global enforcement operation targeting crypto pig butchering schemes led to 276 arrests and the disruption of nine crypto scam centers linked to investment fraud. The action builds on a multinational crackdown involving authorities in Dubai, China, and Thailand, reflecting the international structure of these fraud networks. The FBI has also said its Operation Level Up warned nearly 9,000 victims and helped prevent about $562 million in losses, highlighting the scale of the scams and the role of coordinated victim-alert efforts.

Terms & Concepts
  • Pig butchering: A form of investment fraud in which scammers build trust with victims over time before persuading them to send increasing amounts of money, often in cryptocurrency.
  • Crypto scam center: An organized fraud operation that uses cryptocurrency payments or transfers to steal funds from victims, often across multiple countries.
  • Operation Level Up: An FBI initiative aimed at identifying potential crypto fraud victims early and warning them before additional losses occur.