U.S. Prosecutors Seek Forfeiture of ¥51.6 Million in USDT Tied to Romance Scam

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, prosecutors filed a civil forfeiture action to recover 327,829.72 USDT allegedly linked to a crypto laundering scheme connected to an online romance scam.

USDT

Summary

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has filed a civil forfeiture action seeking to recover 327,829.72 USDT, valued at approximately ¥51.6 million, in connection with an alleged online romance scam. Prosecutors claim the funds were involved in a money laundering scheme after being fraudulently obtained from a Massachusetts resident. The investigation, which began in fall 2024, focuses on tracing stablecoin transactions tied to the suspected scheme, underscoring continued federal efforts to combat crypto-enabled fraud and laundering activities.

Terms & Concepts
  • USDT (Tether): A U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin widely used in cryptocurrency markets for trading, transfers, and as a liquidity instrument.
  • Civil forfeiture: A legal process that allows authorities to seize assets suspected of being connected to criminal activity without requiring a criminal conviction.