The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, in collaboration with the FBI, has dismantled a multinational cryptocurrency scam network. The operation targeted Russian-speaking victims across the United States, resulting in the loss of tens of millions of dollars.
Investigators executed search warrants across three time zones, seizing or disrupting 241 scam domains and over 100 cloud servers. These servers, hosted by companies in Eastern Europe and the U.S., contained victim data, site content, and operational software.
The scam utilized Facebook advertisements in Russian to lure victims. Once engaged, individuals were guided by fake advisors to purchase digital assets on fraudulent platforms. Victims were later blocked from withdrawals or forced to pay bogus fees.
The criminal group also operated a secondary scheme by posing as recovery services to solicit more funds from previous victims. The investigation, which spanned three years, has resulted in the recovery of $300 000 to date.
