US Moves to Forfeit $3.44M in USDt Linked to Fake Ether Investment Scheme
US prosecutors seek to forfeit $3.44 million in USDt connected to an online crypto investment scam targeting victims nationwide.Summary
US federal prosecutors in Boston have initiated a civil forfeiture action to recover approximately $3.44 million in USDt linked to an online cryptocurrency investment scam. The scheme involved scammers building trust with victims, often via text or encrypted apps, before enticing them with a fraudulent, exclusive Ethereum investment opportunity supposedly backed by physical gold. Victims were instructed to send Ether (ETH) to the perpetrators' wallets, where the funds were converted to USDt and moved to unhosted wallets. Authorities seized the USDt in February and March 2025 following investigations that began in late 2024 after reports from at least four victims across several states, including Massachusetts, Utah, and South Carolina. This action is part of a broader trend of US authorities seizing crypto assets tied to various fraud schemes.
(Source：Cointelegraph)