US federal agents have seized more than $61 million worth of USDT, because apparently, even crypto scammers need a vacation from their own schemes. Investigators traced the funds to addresses so shady, they probably had their own ZIP code.
According to the official press release, the funds were connected to scams where victims were lured in with promises of “romance, fake profits, and a side of cryptocurrency.” Because who doesn’t want a boyfriend who also doubles as a financial advisor?
Romance, Fake Profits, and $61M in USDT
Court filings reveal that criminal actors targeted victims by pretending to be love interests. After gaining trust, they claimed to have “specialized knowledge” of crypto trading-probably learned from a YouTube tutorial titled “How to Steal $1 Million in 10 Minutes.”
Victims were directed to platforms so convincing, they could fool a blockchain. These fake sites showed “unusually high returns” because, hey, why not? It’s not like anyone actually checks the math.
When victims tried to withdraw, they were told they needed to pay “taxes” or “fees.” Because nothing says “trust me” like a 100% tax rate on your life savings.
Once funds were in scammer wallets, the money was moved faster than a crypto bro at a Bitcoin conference. HSI agents, presumably sipping coffee and solving crimes, traced the funds through a labyrinth of wallets so complex, even the scammers got lost.
Authorities also revealed that some wallets still held victims’ funds, making them prime targets for seizure. Because nothing says “justice” like taking back money you never wanted in the first place.
Crackdowns
Tether has been busy playing hero, helping law enforcement track down illicit funds. On July 22, 2025, the DOJ froze $1.6M tied to Gaza-based terror financing. Because apparently, even terrorists need a 501(c)(3) tax form.
In June 2025, Brazilian authorities thanked Tether for blocking $6.2M in a cross-border scheme. And in June 2025, the DOJ and OKX teamed up to seize $225M in USDT. Because when in doubt, just throw a bigger number at it.
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2026-02-28 23:54