Interpol Declares Crypto Fraud Global Criminal Threat

Interpol’s resolution comes amid what the organization describes as a rapidly expanding network of transnational scam centers implicated in large-scale fraud, human trafficking, and severe abuse. These criminal hubs systematically lure victims with promises of high-paying overseas jobs before coercing them into compounds where they are forced to carry out sophisticated schemes ranging from voice phishing and romance scams to investment fraud and cryptocurrency fraud targeting individuals worldwide. While not all workers in these centers are trafficked, Interpol emphasized that those held against their will frequently face brutal conditions including physical violence, torture, sexual exploitation, and rape.

The threat has grown sharply according to Interpol’s June crime trend update, which reveals victims from more than 60 countries have been trafficked into scam centers operating well beyond Southeast Asia. Criminal activities have been found to increasingly overlap with drug, firearms, and wildlife trafficking, creating complex transnational criminal networks that leverage advanced technologies to deceive victims and conceal their operations. The organization first drew attention to this emerging threat in 2022 with a Purple Notice warning of social media recruitment tactics, followed by a 2023 Orange Notice that identified trafficking-fueled fraud as a serious and imminent threat to public safety.

As part of a comprehensive plan for joint action, Interpol has outlined several measures to strengthen international law enforcement efforts against these criminal networks. The resolution mandates real-time intelligence sharing to identify perpetrators and pinpoint locations, multinational joint operations supported by Interpol coordination, targeted action against criminal financing and illicit assets linked to scam networks, and standardized emergency protocols to rescue and repatriate victims alongside expanded support services. The resolution also calls for global awareness campaigns directed at vulnerable groups, particularly youth and job seekers who are most susceptible to the fake recruitment tactics employed by these criminal organizations.

Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized the critical need for enhanced collaboration, stating: “To effectively counter these criminal networks, we must strengthen collaboration, improve information sharing, and move forward with coordinated, decisive action. INTERPOL is committed to supporting the resolution’s implementation and working with member countries to break these operations apart and protect the people who are most at risk.” The organization has already demonstrated this commitment through its largest-ever global operation against trafficking-driven fraud across 116 countries and territories in 2024, which resulted in more than 2,500 arrests, alongside additional regional operations in Africa and Europe.

The resolution emerges as Interpol continues to pursue several high-profile individuals tied to alleged crypto-related crimes around the world. In 2022, the organization issued a Red Notice for Terraform Labs co-founder and CEO Do Kwon following the collapse of the Terra ecosystem, marking one of the most significant enforcement actions in the cryptocurrency space. The pursuit of Kwon demonstrates Interpol’s increasing focus on major players in the crypto industry whose actions have global financial implications.

More recent targets include Hong Kong native and cryptocurrency promoter Wong Ching-kit, who was added to Interpol’s alert system in July 2024 for his suspected involvement in multiple criminal cases, including a cryptocurrency scam of more than $384,310. In December 2024, Richard Schueler, better known as Richard Heart, founder of the Hex cryptocurrency, was listed under a Red Notice at the request of Finnish authorities over allegations of tax fraud and assault. These cases illustrate Interpol’s expanding reach into the cryptocurrency ecosystem and its determination to pursue individuals across national boundaries.

The coordinated approach outlined in the new resolution represents a significant escalation in the global fight against crypto-enabled crime. By combining intelligence sharing, multinational operations, asset targeting, and victim protection, Interpol aims to dismantle the infrastructure that supports these criminal enterprises. As cryptocurrency continues to evolve as both a tool and target for criminal networks, international law enforcement coordination becomes increasingly critical to protecting global financial systems and vulnerable populations from exploitation.