Prosecutors Move to Seize $456,602 in Crypto From Dating-Site Romance Scams

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on November 9 that it has filed a civil forfeiture action to recover 456,602 USDT, a dollar-pegged stablecoin worth about $456,602, alleged to be proceeds of romance fraud against people in Massachusetts and elsewhere.

According to the office, "Scammers targeted individuals on online dating sites and Facebook." After building trust, they introduced victims to cryptocurrency and urged them to invest through fake platforms. Victims saw what looked like profits, but their money went to unhosted wallets. When they tried to withdraw, they were told to pay more in supposed fees and taxes. Investigators traced the proceeds to two cryptocurrency wallets, and the funds were seized.

U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Field Office, announced the action. Third parties may file claims, which must be resolved before the funds can be forfeited and returned to victims. The office said it is one of several similar actions it has filed, and that the details in the complaint are allegations.

Why it matters: The path in this case, from a dating profile to a fake investment platform, is the pattern regulators now expect dating companies to warn users about. With the Romance Scam Prevention Act giving apps until October 2027 to comply, operators should treat early contact that moves quickly to crypto or off-platform investing as a signal to detect, warn on and report. Recovery through forfeiture is slow and partial, so prevention on the platform is where the value is.

Sources: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts: civil forfeiture action to recover cryptocurrency, November 9, 2026