Coinbase Joins DOJ and UK Crime Agency to Target West Africa Crypto Scams

TLDR

• Coinbase participated in a four-day operation in London from Oct. 6 to 9 targeting West African fraud networks.
• The UK’s National Crime Agency hosted the occasion with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force.
• Coinbase traced illegal funds, supported property freezes and shared intelligence with cops in genuine time.
• Targeted plans consisted of phony crypto financial investments, authorities impersonation and phony video-call arrests.
• The DOJ stated U.S. losses from online financial investment scams reached $8.65 billion in 2025.

Coinbase has actually participated in a joint operation with U.S. and UK police focused on rip-off networks in West Africa. The exchange shared information of its function in a post on Oct. 13.

The four-day operation, called Joint Disruption Week, happened in London from Oct. 6 to 9. The UK’s National Crime Agency hosted it in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force.

Other individuals consisted of the Tech Against Scams union and worldwide police partners. Coinbase stated African police partners likewise participated.

How Coinbase Traced Scam Funds

Coinbase stated its Global Intelligence group followed illegal monetary activity throughout the week. The group likewise supported efforts to freeze properties connected to fraud networks and passed info to authorities in genuine time.

The business stated it connected blockchain transfers with proof from phony profiles, messaging accounts and sites. Integrating these records assisted groups discover connections in between activities that may look unassociated.

The plans targeted consisted of phony cryptocurrency financial investments and wrongdoers impersonating law enforcement officers. Some fraudsters likewise staged phony arrests over video contacts us to press victims into sending out cash.

According to Coinbase, fraudsters utilize social networks to discover victims and messaging apps to develop trust. They then utilize monetary services to move taken funds.

Coinbase Vice President Leah Bressack stated earlier operate in Southeast Asia revealed that “collaborated action throughout market and police works.” She explained the London effort as “continual pressure.”

Coinbase stated criminal networks were moving into West Africa as authorities pursued their operations in Southeast Asia.

Earlier Actions Against Scam Networks

The London occasion followed a Sep. 3 DOJ statement of an arrangement in between U.S. and UK authorities. The offer covers joint examinations into crypto financial investment scams and other online frauds.

Under the arrangement, private investigators will share info, pursue typical targets and choose which nation must prosecute overlapping cases. The DOJ stated reported U.S. losses from online financial investment scams reached $8.65 billion in 2025, up 89% from $4.57 billion in 2023.

In June, Coinbase stated it had actually frozen over $3 million in crypto connected to Southeast Asian rip-off networks. Because effort, Meta disabled more than 1.4 million accounts, pages and groups, while Microsoft suspended about 20,000 deceitful accounts.

On Sep. 9, the DOJ stated an operation versus Xinbi Guarantee and its suppliers had actually limited over $52 million in crypto. District attorneys stated the suppliers marketed cash laundering and phony financial investment sites for fraud substances.

The Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network likewise flagged $12.7 billion in suspicious activity connected to digital possession financial investment frauds. The firm stated rip-off profits were generally transformed into stablecoins, usually USDT.

FinCEN kept in mind that these overalls do not straight determine victim losses. Some filings consist of tried transfers or deals reported by more than one organization.

Coinbase stated investigative work from the London operation is still continuous. The business stated it will keep dealing with Tech Against Scams and police partners to target these networks any place they run next.