Police from China, the United States and the United Arab Emirates have carried out their first joint international law enforcement operation against telecommunications and online fraud in Dubai, according to Xinhua.
Summary
- China, the United States and the United Arab Emirates have announced their first joint crackdown on crypto romance scams in Dubai.
- Authorities said nine fraud dens were dismantled and 276 suspects were captured in the operation.
- DOJ documents link similar networks to fake crypto platforms and millions of victims worldwide.
China’s Ministry of Public Security said the operation dismantled nine fraud dens and led to 276 arrests.
Investigators said the groups used social media to form fake romantic relationships with victims before steering them into “so-called high-yield cryptocurrency projects.”
The report states that victims suffered financial losses after sending funds into these programs. Xinhua said Chinese authorities presented the operation as part of broader cross-border cooperation against online fraud.
Crypto.news links raid to broader FBI case
Crypto.news earlier reported that an enforcement action led by the FBI disrupted nine crypto scam hubs and led to 276 arrests. Dubai police arrested 275 people, while Thai authorities arrested a suspect linked to the same wider crackdown.
The report states that U.S. Attorneys in the Southern District of California have charged several suspects with wire fraud and money laundering. It also said investigators linked the activity to Ko Thet Company, Sanduo Group and Giant Company, which authorities described as companies used to run scam hubs.
How Crypto Romance Scams Worked
The Justice Department said the defendants targeted people in the United States and other countries by building trust and affection over time. After that, they encouraged crypto investments and helped victims transfer funds to platforms that were not real.
The DOJ said victims lost control of their crypto once they sent funds to fake platforms. Prosecutors said the money was then transferred through other crypto accounts, including accounts controlled by the fraudsters. The agency said investigators have already uncovered millions of dollars in losses related to the cases.
Additionally, the crackdown comes on top of a broader campaign against organized crypto investment fraud. The DOJ said the San Diego FBI began the investigation in 2025 after identifying companies and individuals operating fraudulent compounds linked to crypto fraud.
The San Diego FBI also said Operation Level Up notified nearly 9,000 victims of crypto investment fraud and saved an estimated $562 million by April 2026. The new arrests show how law enforcement is now targeting the operators, recruiters and managers behind the scam hubs, not just the wallets used to move funds.
