- The Department of Justice, with the aid of blockchain, traced over $225.3 million in cryptocurrency linked to a large-scale fraud and money laundering network.
- Over 400 victims were linked to the scam, and according to the reports, they were probably deceived into believing they were investing in real cryptocurrency opportunities.
DOJ (the United States Department of Justice) has launched a major blockchain-related move to help curb crypto-related crimes. This major step by the DOJ just shows the government’s ongoing efforts to crack down on financial misconduct, especially in the crypto space.
On Wednesday, the 18th of June, the DOJ reported complaints about a particular wallet that holds over $225.3 in crypto. According to the details, the $225.3 million wallet was involved in a complex crypto scheme that helped launder money.
The network helped scammers carry out thousands of transfers and move stolen funds through different crypto addresses and accounts. The network was built in such a way that it would hide the source of illegal funds.
source: justice.gov
How the DOJ Uncovered the $225.3M Crypto Scam
The DOJ stated in a public release that so far investigators have used blockchain analysis along with other advanced technical methods to trace the crypto funds. Their findings revealed that the seized cryptocurrency ($225.3 million) is linked to stolen money laundered through fraudulent crypto investment operations, often known as “cryptocurrency confidence scams,” which target unsuspecting individuals online.
During the investigation, the investigating officials also found out that more than 400 individuals were victims of the scam network. These individuals were likely tricked into thinking they were investing their money into profitable crypto deals, but instead, they ended up losing their funds through fake investment schemes.
Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, has come out to say that they are working closely with agencies across the nation to make sure that all the stolen money is recovered and taken back from overseas scammers and also reimbursed to victims that were affected. Galeotti also adds that the $225.3 million scam is one of the biggest crypto scam recoveries ever made by the U.S. Secret Service.
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