The US Justice Department has recent noted that law enforcement agencies from the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and China have dismantled multiple overseas operations tied to cryptocurrency investment scams, resulting in the arrests of at least 276 people. The coordinated action, which unfolded last week, focused on fraud centers that had defrauded American victims of millions of dollars through sophisticated deception / fraudulent tactics.
The operation was primarily driven by Dubai Police under the UAE Ministry of Interior, with strong support from the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security.
Dubai authorities took 275 suspects into custody, including three individuals now facing federal charges in San Diego. Thai police separately arrested one more key figure.
The raids targeted at least nine scam compounds used to run large-scale cryptocurrency fraud schemes.
Among those charged in the Southern District of California are Thet Min Nyi, a 27-year-old Burmese national also known as Ko Thet or Pixy; Wiliang Awang, a 23-year-old Indonesian; Andreas Chandra, 29, from Indonesia; and Lisa Mariam, 29, also Indonesian.
Two additional co-conspirators remain at large.
The defendants are accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
Court records show they allegedly oversaw and recruited staff for three separate scam outfits known as Ko Thet Company, Sanduo Group, and Giant Company.
The frauds relied on a method commonly called “pig butchering.” Perpetrators first built fake personal connections with victims—often posing as friends or romantic interests—to gain their trust.
Once the relationship was established, the scammers pushed fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities.
They helped victims open accounts on counterfeit platforms, encouraged larger deposits by boasting about high returns, and even urged them to borrow money from family or take out loans.
In reality, the funds were immediately diverted to the operators’ control and laundered through other cryptocurrency wallets.
FBI agents in San Diego launched the investigation in 2025 after spotting patterns linked to these overseas compounds.
Working through the Internet Crime Complaint Center, they interviewed victims and traced financial and digital currency transactions, confirming widespread losses across the United States.
Senior officials hailed the operation as a clear message that criminals can no longer hide behind borders.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division stressed that scam centers are now viewed as unacceptable anywhere and will be pursued globally.
US Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California noted that the world of crime has become global, and so has the reach of justice.
FBI leaders, including Assistant Director Heith Janke and Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily, underlined the importance of international partnerships in protecting Americans from further harm.
Dubai Police and Thailand’s Royal Thai Police played pivotal roles in the arrests and ongoing disruption efforts. Meta Platforms provided valuable assistance by sharing critical data.
The cases are being handled by federal prosecutors in San Diego and the Justice Department’s Computer Crime section.
This takedown builds on earlier FBI initiatives, such as Operation Level Up, which has already warned nearly 9,000 potential victims and prevented roughly $562 million in losses.
Authorities continue to investigate similar networks, including those operating in Southeast Asia. Anyone who believes they have fallen victim to these schemes is encouraged to file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.