Global INTERPOL Crackdown Exposes Crypto Laundering Behind Romance Scams

Thai police uncovered a crypto-laundering scheme in which one suspect’s wallet processed more than $122.5 million in proceeds from romance scams, as part of a global INTERPOL sweep. 

The international police organization’s Operation First Light 2026 ran from January 15 to April 30. It targeted social engineering scams and the money laundering that sustains them.

INTERPOL Says Global Fraud Crackdown Uncovered 142,000 Victims

According to the news release, the global anti-fraud operation spanned 97 countries and territories, resulting in the arrest of 5,811 suspects and the interception of approximately $293 million in illicit proceeds.

Investigators identified more than 142,000 victims and froze 31,014 bank accounts linked to fraudulent activity. The operation also led to the resolution of 23,715 cases, while authorities issued 99 notices and diffusions.

INTERPOL said the operation highlighted how social engineering scams and financial fraud have grown into a significant transnational threat, impacting individuals, businesses, and governments worldwide.

“Social engineering scams continue to pose a significant threat to our society. Criminal syndicates exploit human psychology to manipulate their targets, and no nation can stay safe unless all countries are equipped and committed to jointly fighting back,” Tomonobu Kaya, Director of the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said.

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Crypto Money Laundering at the Center of a Global Sweep

The operation also highlighted several significant cases uncovered by participating countries. In Thailand, police arrested two suspects tied to a crypto laundering scheme that funneled funds from romance scams. 

The operators used cross-chain token swaps to break the trail between blockchains. One suspect, aged 20, controlled a wallet that processed more than $122.5 million in 10 months, according to investigators.

In Palau, officials deported 22 people linked to hotel-based scam centres that leaned on crypto and illegal gambling sites. Enforcement stretched across several countries.

In Eswatini, police arrested 82 people and broke up a network running illegal gambling, laundering, and impersonation scams. Authorities in Singapore and Oman used I-GRIP to block a $6.6 million transfer linked to a business email compromise scam.

The cases reflect the growing role of cryptocurrency in cross-border fraud and money laundering schemes. They also highlight the increasing reliance on international cooperation to track illicit funds, dismantle criminal networks, and disrupt scams that span multiple jurisdictions.

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