fraud

According to the Dongguan Release public account, the Dongguan Hengli police successfully intercepted a virtual currency investment fraud case, preserving 1.1 million yuan in cash just 5 minutes before the victim's offline transaction with the fraudster, thus avoiding significant economic losses.It is understood that the victim, Ms. Li (pseudonym), previously met an unfamiliar online acquaintance who lured her with "internal investment channels for virtual currency," promising low thresholds and high returns, and created a false impression of investment profits through forged profit screenshots. Subsequently, the fraudster induced Ms. Li to withdraw 1.1 million yuan in cash under the pretext of "needing to exchange cash for USD recharge" for payment. After discovering risk clues, the Dongguan police quickly activated the early warning interception mechanism, organized police forces to rush to the bank to dissuade her, and ultimately successfully prevented the fund transfer before the transaction.

According to Reuters, the Central Bank of Brazil announced new anti-fraud rules, under which some cryptocurrency transfers will be delayed for up to 24 hours. The new regulations will take effect next year and apply to transfers exceeding $10,000 sent to overseas virtual asset companies or self-custodied wallets, with the threshold calculated based on individual transactions or the total transfers of a customer in a single day.The Central Bank of Brazil stated that this move reflects the increasing use of virtual assets (including stablecoins) for the rapid transfer of funds obtained through financial fraud. The central bank emphasized that this measure is not a freezing of assets and will not permanently block transfers; it can also apply to other transactions that require stricter scrutiny.

The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) conducted raids on 9 unregistered cryptocurrency trading service providers in Moscow, claiming they were suspected of transferring funds obtained from fraud abroad through cryptocurrency assets, and detained more than 20 employees at the Moscow International Business Center.The FSB stated that these exchanges converted stolen funds from Russian telephone scam victims into cryptocurrency and transferred them to accounts they referred to as Ukrainian processing parties. The operation was carried out jointly by the FSB and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has initiated a criminal investigation into large-scale fraud, which under Russian law can carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The FSB stated that it is continuing to identify victims and assess potential compensation.

According to CoinPost, the Financial Services Agency of Japan and the National Police Agency recently jointly sent a letter to the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA), requesting exchanges to strengthen anti-fraud measures. This request includes 11 specific requirements, such as the need for withdrawal addresses to be registered in advance, enhanced transaction monitoring, strict verification of identification documents when opening accounts, and setting a withdrawal limit for a certain period after users deposit fiat currency or purchase crypto assets.The background of this action is the increasing prevalence of investment scams and "pig butchering" schemes on social media, where criminals frequently use crypto accounts to transfer illegal funds. The Financial Services Agency also suggested that exchanges flexibly set withdrawal limits based on customers' risk levels and transaction purposes, and that suspicious transactions should immediately result in account restrictions or freezes, while enhancing intelligence cooperation with the police. For system renovations that are difficult to implement in the short term, exchanges are allowed to proceed in phases. In addition, the Financial Services Agency has officially established the "Cryptocurrency and Stablecoin Division," responsible for related regulatory affairs.

According to CoinPost, the Financial Services Agency and the National Police Agency of Japan jointly issued a request to the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA), asking all cryptocurrency traders to strengthen withdrawal restrictions to prevent fraud victims, proposing a total of 11 new measures.The main content includes: the introduction of a pre-registration system for withdrawal destinations, setting a certain period of withdrawal restrictions after depositing fiat currency or purchasing cryptocurrency, establishing withdrawal limits based on customer risk assessments, and enhancing transaction monitoring and information-sharing mechanisms with police in each prefecture. The background is that the damage from social media investment inducements and "pig butchering" scams continues to expand, with criminal methods becoming increasingly complex.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the establishment of a new Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit within its enforcement division, specifically responsible for investigating financial reporting fraud and violations in the accounting and auditing fields. David Woodcock, head of the SEC's enforcement division, stated that the new unit will enhance the SEC's ability to combat misconduct in the accounting and auditing industry, focusing on financial fraud cases and related securities law violations.The unit will consist of lawyers and accounting professionals and will collaborate with other SEC divisions to conduct investigations and enforcement actions. The SEC indicated that the new unit will be led by Timothy Zimmerman. Zimmerman joined the SEC in May 2026, having previously worked for 12 years at an international law firm, most recently serving as the Deputy General Counsel of an international accounting and professional services firm.

According to the Financial Times in the UK, scammers are exploiting the new EU MiCA regulations to target users who are forced to withdraw assets from unlicensed crypto platforms after the licensing deadline. The fraudsters impersonate regulatory agencies and crypto exchanges to lure users into transferring funds to fake accounts.

According to the Hong Kong Wen Wei Po, the Hong Kong Police Commercial Crime Bureau, together with the Macao Judiciary Police, launched a cross-border joint law enforcement operation codenamed "Junli" from August 1 to 3, successfully cracking down on a fraud criminal group that claimed to be involved in virtual currency investment.The Hong Kong police arrested 1 man and 5 women (aged 51 to 64) on charges of "conspiracy to commit fraud," with those involved including company directors, shareholders, company secretaries, and key promotional members; the Macao Judiciary Police also arrested 2 women involved in the case on charges of "aggravated fraud." As of August 3, the Hong Kong police had received a total of 225 reports, with losses amounting to approximately 94 million Hong Kong dollars; the Macao police received 9 reports, involving losses of about 3.6 million Macao patacas, totaling over 97 million.

According to The Block, the Hong Kong police stated that a local insurance practitioner fell victim to a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment romance scam, with total losses exceeding 26 million Hong Kong dollars, approximately 3.3 million US dollars.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that it has filed a civil forfeiture lawsuit to recover 47,461.73111 USDT, stating that this amount comes from a cyber fraud case. The fraudsters deceived victims into depositing funds into cryptocurrency ATMs and then stole the funds.Law enforcement tracked part of the funds to a cryptocurrency wallet and seized it in March 2026. The investigation also confirmed that the funds of four other similar fraud victims can be traced back to the same wallet.

The FBI submitted data disclosure to the legislative committee, revealing that losses related to cryptocurrency kiosks in Texas amounted to $56.8 million in 2025, involving 1,179 complaints, making it the highest loss among all states in the U.S. The total number of related complaints nationwide was 13,460, with reported losses increasing by 58% year-on-year to $389 million. Cryptocurrency kiosks can accept cash and exchange it for cryptocurrency, typically set up at gas stations and convenience stores.Statistics from the Texas Tribune show that there are about 4,000 such devices in Texas, where scammers induce victims to withdraw money from their bank accounts and deposit it into the machines. Jesse Saucillo, Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Department of Banking, stated that once funds are transferred out, recovering them is nearly impossible, as the money typically flows into unhosted wallets and then into mixers. He added that AI-generated police and state agency impersonation content makes phone inducements more deceptive.Data from AARP indicates that since 2023, approximately 30 states in the U.S. have enacted laws related to cryptocurrency kiosks. Indiana fully banned such devices in March, followed by Tennessee and Minnesota. Texas House Committee Chairman Rep. Cole Hefner stated that the state will consider measures beyond regulatory scope.

Recently, the public security agencies of Zhanjiang and Leizhou in Guangdong, China, launched a concentrated crackdown operation, successfully dismantling a money laundering criminal gang that used virtual currency transactions to transfer funds from telecom network fraud. Sixteen members were criminally detained in accordance with the law.The gang, led by a couple named He and Zhang, began laundering and transferring fraudulently obtained funds through virtual currency trading models since the end of 2025. They illegally profited by earning transaction price differences and amassed a large number of personal bank cards, WeChat, Alipay, and other payment accounts to build a money laundering chain. In the early hours of July 24, the police conducted a precise cross-regional operation, dismantling the entire gang. The Zhanjiang Public Security Bureau solemnly reminds that "score running" money laundering is an important accomplice in telecom network fraud. Involved individuals will be charged based on the severity of their actions, suspected of aiding information network criminal activities, concealing and disguising criminal proceeds, and crimes related to the benefits of criminal proceeds.Citizens are strongly advised not to rent, lend, or sell personal bank cards and various payment accounts for the sake of small commissions. They must resolutely avoid participating in illegal activities such as virtual currency fund transfers and money laundering. Everyone should consciously protect their personal credit and property safety and actively stay away from all types of fraud-related criminal activities.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a restriction notice to Futu Securities International (Hong Kong) Limited, prohibiting it from handling or disposing of assets in customer accounts held by a certain entity, limited to HKD 125,247,000. This entity is suspected of participating in a fraudulent scheme aimed at creating a false or misleading appearance of demand for initial public offering shares. Futu is not the subject of the SFC's investigation, and this restriction notice will not affect Futu or its other clients.According to the notice, Futu must not dispose of or handle the relevant account assets in any way without the SFC's written consent, and must immediately notify the SFC if it receives any instructions related to the restricted assets. The SFC believes that issuing this restriction notice is in the interest of investors and the public. The investigation is still ongoing.

The "China Business Journal" issued a statement saying: "Recently, our company discovered that illegal individuals are impersonating 'China Business Journal' and sending emails to some companies through non-official company email accounts, falsely claiming to have obtained significant negative information about the companies through so-called 'undercover investigations,' and threatening that if financial compensation (in Bitcoin) is not paid, the related 'undercover articles' will be published."The "China Business Journal" stated that all its news reports strictly comply with national laws and regulations, and interviews and communications are conducted through official channels. Such behavior is suspected of fraud and has been closely monitored, with evidence collected, and all rights to pursue legal responsibility are reserved. The statement reminds relevant companies to remain vigilant; if they receive such impersonated emails, they should not pay any financial compensation, and should immediately preserve all evidence and report to the local public security authorities.

According to Russian media bits.media, Igor Runets, the founder of Russia's largest mining company BitRiver, has been transferred from house arrest to detention pending trial by the Zamoskvoretsky Court in Moscow due to allegations of fraud amounting to 100 million rubles. He will be held in custody for at least two months. The charges are based on Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation—"particularly large-scale fraud committed by an organized group."The investigation claims the case involves the supply of mining equipment, causing nearly 100 million rubles in losses to the metallurgical and energy companies under the En+ Group. Investigators requested the detention of Runets on the grounds that he might influence witnesses, and the court approved this request. Representatives of BitRiver and Runets' lawyer have not yet commented on the court's ruling, and the progress of the case will depend on the equipment appraisal and witness testimonies from En+. In February of this year, Russian law enforcement suspected Runets of concealing assets to evade taxes, leading to his arrest and house arrest on charges of tax evasion. BitRiver is facing bankruptcy and ownership risks, with its owner Fox Group having debts of approximately 9.2 million dollars, and assets insufficient to repay the debts, prompting a bankruptcy application.

According to Decrypt, the Myanmar parliament passed a law on Tuesday that allows for the death penalty for those who coerce others into engaging in online fraud through violence or illegal detention.According to the draft bill released in May this year, if such abusive behavior results in the death of the victim, the death penalty should be imposed. The new law also stipulates that individuals operating online fraud parks or implementing "digital currency fraud (cryptocurrency fraud)" can be sentenced to life imprisonment; while criminals who commit violent coercion, illegal detention, and other acts can be sentenced to 10 years to life imprisonment.

According to Decrypt, the U.S. Department of Justice's District of Columbia Attorney's Office, in conjunction with the Secret Service, has filed five civil forfeiture lawsuits in court regarding investment fraud and "pig butchering" scams, seizing over $25 million in cryptocurrency assets, with victims spread across the U.S. and Canada.The largest case involves approximately $12.1 million, with over 200 victims; the amount marked by Canada is about $10.4 million, involving over 270 suspicious transactions; the remaining three cases range from $285,000 to $2.4 million, one of which involves scammers posing as "fund recovery intermediaries" to carry out secondary fraud. Investigations show that money launderers are primarily located in Southeast Asia, with involved IP addresses coming from China, Malaysia, and Cambodia. This operation is part of the "Fraud Center Task Force" established in November 2025, which has cumulatively recovered over $800 million, and the five cases are still under ongoing investigation.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office, announced that an investigation into multiple international cyber fraud cases has led to the seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency, with the funds suspected to be linked to cryptocurrency investment scams targeting residents of the United States and Canada. This operation is part of the U.S. "Scam Center Strike Force," initiated in 2025 by D.C. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, which has so far recovered assets totaling over $800 million.U.S. prosecutors stated that on July 21, 2026, the D.C. Attorney's Office submitted five civil forfeiture complaints to the U.S. District Court, seeking to confiscate over $25 million in crypto assets recovered from various fraud investigations. Investigators indicated that these cases involve multiple money laundering networks, with victims spread across the globe. Criminal groups lure victims into investing through fake cryptocurrency investment platforms, online romance scams, and other methods, and conceal the source of funds through multi-layered wallet addresses and coin mixing operations.The seized funds are related to five major investigations: in one case, Canadian law enforcement provided the U.S. Secret Service with wallet addresses suspected of transferring illegal proceeds. Investigators froze the relevant addresses and tracked over 270 suspected victim transactions, involving approximately $10.4 million; the second case involves an online romance scam where over 200 victims were defrauded, with illegal funds transferred through hundreds of intermediary wallet addresses, mixing with other victims' funds, totaling about $12.08 million; the third case involves a victim in the Washington D.C. area who participated in a fake cryptocurrency investment project and lost contact with the scammers after a failed withdrawal, with related funds amounting to about $1.23 million; in the fourth case, a victim transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to a fake investment account, and investigators traced part of the funds to six wallet addresses, freezing approximately $2.39 million; in the fifth case, scammers impersonated a "fund recovery" agency, tricking victims into paying fees, with the amount involved being about $285,000. The U.S. Secret Service stated that these cases are still under ongoing investigation, and law enforcement is tracking the suspects behind the fraud networks and will collaborate with international law enforcement agencies to hold them accountable.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Florida resident Zan Shaikh and his company Bright Vision Distribution LLC (operating under the name Mining Automatic), accusing them of defrauding investors through a fraudulent cryptocurrency mining investment scheme, with approximately $22 million raised.The SEC stated that from June 2023 to May 2025, Shaikh and Mining Automatic promised investors fixed monthly returns by participating in cryptocurrency mining operations, but the related mining operations were actually unable to generate the promised returns. According to the SEC's complaint, Shaikh and Mining Automatic are accused of making false statements regarding their cryptocurrency mining experience, operational capabilities, the use of investment funds, and the status of the mining business, and explained payment delays by claiming they were unable to pay investor returns.