The post INTERPOL seizes $293 million, arrests 5,811 in global scam crackdown appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
INTERPOL revealed in a statement that was shared on Thursday, July 9, that a four-month operation spanning 97 countries and territories arrested 5,811 people and froze $293 million in illicit money. This sweep also reached some crypto holders as the investigators traced romance-scam profits laundered through cross-chain token swaps. The operation, called First Light 2026, ran from January 15 to April 30, according to INTERPOL’s statement. Its focus was social engineering, the practice of exploiting a person’s trust to extract money or account details. That category covers business email compromise, sextortion, romance, impersonation, and investment scams, along with the laundering networks that move the proceeds. INTERPOL counted more than 142,000 victims over the four months. Alongside the arrests, police blocked 31,014 bank accounts, solved 23,715 cases, identified ano
The post INTERPOL Operation Leads to 5,800 Arrests, Busts Crypto Money Laundering Ring appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
Key highlights: INTERPOL’s Operation First Light 2026 resulted in more than 5,800 arrests across 97 countries. Authorities intercepted approximately $293 million linked to fraud and money laundering schemes. Investigators froze both fiat and virtual assets, highlighting crypto’s growing role in global financial crime investigations. INTERPOL has announced the results of Operation First Light 2026, a global anti-fraud initiative that led to more than 5,800 arrests and the interception of approximately $293 million in illicit proceeds across 97 countries. The operation targeted criminal organizations involved in social engineering fraud, investment scams, business email compromise schemes, romance scams, sextortion, and associated money laundering networks. Authorities said the investigation uncovered more than 142,000 victims worldwide, underscoring the scale of or
The post Romance Scam Suspect’s Crypto Wallet Processed $122M: Interpol appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
A crypto wallet linked to a suspected romance-scam money launderer processed more than $122.5 million in 10 months, according to Interpol, as authorities expanded a global crackdown on online fraud. Interpol said Thursday that Thai authorities arrested two suspects and uncovered a money-laundering network that funneled proceeds from romance scams into cryptocurrencies, using cross-chain token swaps to obscure the trail. The Thai investigation was part of Operation First Light 2026, an Interpol-coordinated campaign targeting social engineering scams and the financial infrastructure used to launder their proceeds. The operation involved authorities in 97 countries and territories, resulting in 5,811 arrests and the seizure of $293 million in illicit assets tied to fraud and money laundering. Tomonobu Kaya, director of Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said soc
Interpol said a suspect's crypto wallet processed over $122.5 million in 10 months as authorities uncovered the scheme during a global anti-fraud operation that led to 5,811 arrests.
The post INTERPOL operation blocks illicit crypto transfers and leads to 5,811 arrests appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
INTERPOL-led operation has resulted in 5,811 arrests, blocked more than 31,000 bank accounts, and intercepted $293 million in illicit assets across 97 countries and territories during a global crackdown on fraud and crypto-linked money laundering. Summary INTERPOL’s global anti fraud operation led to 5,811 arrests and intercepted $293 million in illicit assets across 97 countries and territories. Thai authorities uncovered a crypto laundering network that allegedly moved romance scam proceeds through cross chain token swaps, with one wallet processing more than $122.5 million. The operation identified more than 142,000 victims and used rapid payment blocking tools to freeze suspicious fiat and cryptocurrency transfers. According to an INTERPOL statement published on Thursday, Operation First Light ran between Jan. 15 and April 30, 2026, targeting social engineerin
INTERPOL-led operation has resulted in 5,811 arrests, blocked more than 31,000 bank accounts, and intercepted $293 million in illicit assets across 97 countries and territories during a global crackdown on fraud and crypto-linked money laundering. According to an INTERPOL statement…
The post Massive Global Sweep Exposes Illegal Crypto Operations appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
A broad global effort spearheaded by Interpol, named Operation First Light 2026, has zeroed in on worldwide fraud networks and activities involving laundering of criminal earnings. Spanning across 97 nations, this significant crackdown has led to the capture of 5,811 individuals and the confiscation of illicit assets valued at $293 million. Continue Reading:Massive Global Sweep Exposes Illegal Crypto Operations Source: https://en.bitcoinhaber.net/massive-global-sweep-exposes-illegal-crypto-operations
The post A 20-Year-Old’s Crypto Wallet Moved $123M in Romance-Scam Cash: Interpol Says appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
In brief Thai police arrested two people over a scheme that laundered romance-scam proceeds through crypto, using cross-chain swaps to hide the trail, Interpol said. One suspect, aged 20, controlled a wallet that processed more than $122.5 million in 10 months. The arrests came out of Operation First Light 2026, a four-month push across 97 countries and territories that led to 5,811 arrests and the interception of $293 million in illicit assets. Interpol said it identified more than 142,000 victims and blocked over 31,000 bank accounts, using its I-GRIP stop-payment tool to check the flows of fiat and virtual assets. A 20-year-old’s cryptocurrency wallet moved more than $122.5 million in just 10 months as part of a scheme to launder money stolen from romance-scam victims, Interpol said, in one of the standout cases from a sweeping global anti-fraud operation. Thai
