Six men have been charged in the United States over an alleged international cryptocurrency romance scam in which victims were lured by fake female profiles before their digital wallets were emptied, officials said.
The US Department of Justice alleges the Africa-based suspects, who had links to Southeast Asia and China, operated a sophisticated fraud network from Madagascar targeting Americans through dating websites and fraudulent non-fungible token investment platforms.
Investigators said victims were persuaded to connect their cryptocurrency wallets to websites that appeared to offer NFT investments. Once access had been established, the scammers allegedly encouraged them to add more funds before secretly transferring money out of the wallets.
The FBI has identified about 74 cryptocurrency wallets linked to approximately 800 victims across the country. Authorities said the stolen funds were moved into cryptocurrency accounts associated with China-based individuals, while the websites used in the alleged scheme have been seized.
According to court documents, the operation used real people to act as fictional online personas. Workers were given instructions to send carefully prepared messages, videos and voice notes designed to build trust and romantic relationships with potential victims.
Phones seized during the investigation allegedly contained scripts telling operators they were carrying out an “emotional scam” by exploiting victims’ feelings to persuade them to invest. The devices also reportedly held employment contracts, work schedules and details of bonuses linked to the amount of money stolen.
The suspects are also alleged to have recorded personal information about their targets, including their names, locations, occupations and ages, in contact lists on their phones.
Alleged Madagascar scam compounds
US prosecutors said a criminal group connected to Malaysia and China established scam compounds in Madagascar in early 2025, apparently after moving operations from Cambodia following law-enforcement action there.
The charges were announced by Jeanine Ferris Pirro, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, alongside officials from the FBI and Secret Service. Pirro said the consequences for victims extended beyond financial losses, with many also left feeling ashamed and unsafe.
“It is more than just occurring in the United States, it is a global epidemic,” she said.
US authorities have asked Madagascar to extradite the six defendants. The Justice Department said an FBI team had travelled to Madagascar in August to assist local authorities with the examination of more than 3,200 electronic devices seized during raids on 13 suspected scam compounds.
Prosecutors also said 15 employees linked to the alleged operation had claimed they were trafficked and abused. A material-witness warrant has been obtained so investigators can question them, although they are believed to remain in custody in Madagascar.
The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
