Meta, in collaboration with the FBI, Department of Justice, Microsoft, Coinbase, and Starlink, led an extensive anti-scam operation that resulted in 63 arrests and the freezing of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. The operation, which began on May 18, aimed to dismantle criminal networks involved in various scams, including romance scams and cryptocurrency fraud. It involved international law enforcement agencies from countries such as Thailand, the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
During the two-week operation, Meta reported removing approximately 1.4 million scam-related accounts from its platforms. The Royal Thai Police arrested individuals allegedly connected to scam centers, while Coinbase froze over $3 million in cryptocurrency linked to these networks. Microsoft disabled around 20,000 accounts tied to scams, and Starlink disrupted numerous internet terminals associated with the operations.
Authorities indicated that many of the scam operations are linked to transnational organized crime and involve victims of trafficking coerced into committing fraud. This operation marks Meta's third joint effort with the DOJ Scam Center Strike Force since December 2025, with the scale of operations increasing significantly over time.
