The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has filed a civil forfeiture action seeking to recover 327,829.72 USDT, allegedly tied to an online romance scam and money-laundering scheme.
The complaint, filed in federal court, identifies the cryptocurrency itself as the defendant property and seeks forfeiture under federal law as proceeds of fraud and laundering. Investigators say the stolen funds came from a Massachusetts resident targeted in late 2024 on a dating app. The scammer, using an alias, convinced the victim to send money for fake cryptocurrency investments. Instead of investing the funds, the fraudster routed them through intermediary wallets and converted them into USDT to conceal the source.
Several wallets connected to the scheme were seized in August 2025 after blockchain analysis traced the movement of funds. Under U.S. civil forfeiture law, property linked to illegal activity can be seized and potentially returned to victims if the court rules in their favor. Third parties with legitimate claims can also contest the forfeiture before it is finalized.
Prosecutors said this case is part of broader federal efforts to combat online fraud—including romance scams, investment schemes, and cyber-enabled financial crime—that increasingly use cryptocurrency to move and hide funds. The case underscores the growing sophistication of crypto-related fraud and the expanding role of blockchain analysis in helping law enforcement trace and recover stolen digital assets for victims.
