US Seizes $9 Million in Crypto Linked to Romance Scam Operation
• US Justice Department seized $9 million in USDT connected to a criminal organization running romance scams • Funds were part of $225 million in illicit crypto funds frozen by Tether • Scams involved “pig butchering” tactics to convince victims to invest then steal funds • Justice Department traced laundered funds across wallets and exchanges via chain hopping • Seizure part of ramped up cryptocurrency enforcement actions by US agencies