interpol

Interpol has officially recognized cryptocurrency fraud as a global criminal threat, highlighting the critical scale of the problem in the modern digital age. This decision underscores the fact that crimes involving virtual assets have long transcended national borders, creating unprecedented challenges for law enforcement systems worldwide.

Interpol has adopted a new resolution at its General Assembly in Marrakesh, declaring so-called fraud compounds—large criminal networks built on human trafficking and forced labor—as a major transnational threat. These organizations operate across multiple countries and rely on coerced workers to run online scams, including cryptocurrency-related fraud.

A New Criminal Model: Fraud Compounds Function as a Global Industry
Member states of the International Criminal Police Organization approved the resolution, noting that fraud compounds have evolved into a highly organized, cross-border criminal industry targeting victims in more than 60 countries.
According to Interpol, criminal groups lure people with fake job offers abroad. Once the victims arrive, their documents are confiscated, they are taken to guarded compounds, and forced to work on illegal operations ranging from online investment scams to crypto fraud schemes.
Evidence shows that many victims suffer:
physical abusepsychological coercionsexual violencerestrictions on movement
These networks use advanced tools, including voice-phishing, romance scams, fake investment platforms and cryptocurrency fraud, to exploit victims worldwide.

Southeast Asia as the Epicenter — with Expansion to Other Regions
Interpol reports that fraud compounds have expanded rapidly across Southeast Asia.

Major hubs have emerged in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, where large volumes of human trafficking and online fraud have been uncovered.
Criminal activity has also been detected in:
parts of RussiaColombiaEast African coastal nationsthe United Kingdom
U.S. authorities have recently imposed sanctions on several entities in Myanmar and Cambodia for operating scam platforms that targeted citizens across multiple countries.
Losses linked to these operations are estimated at around $10 billion, according to the U.S. Treasury.

Interpol Warns: Crypto Networks Used to Mask Illegal Financial Flows
Fraud networks increasingly rely on cryptocurrencies to hide their financial transactions.
One of the largest documented cases involved an online marketplace operated by the Cambodian conglomerate Huione Group, which processed crypto transactions exceeding $11 billion tied to scam operations.

The group later faced sanctions for allegedly laundering more than $4 billion in illicit funds.
Such networks also intersect with other criminal markets, including drugs, weapons, illegal gambling and wildlife trafficking, making them extremely difficult to dismantle.

South Korea Proposes Strategy: Real-Time Intelligence Sharing and Joint Operations
South Korea submitted a detailed proposal urging Interpol members to adopt a unified international strategy based on:
real-time intelligence sharingmapping the main operational hubs and methodscoordinated crackdowns on criminal financingstandardized procedures for locating and rescuing victimsexpanded support for survivorsglobal awareness campaigns targeting at-risk groups, including youth and job seekers
The goal is to create a coordinated framework that enables direct action against these networks and breaks their financial infrastructure.

Interpol Expands Global Operations: Significant Outcomes in 2024
In 2024, Interpol expanded its international operations to 116 countries, resulting in 2,500 arrests and several major actions in Africa and Europe.
These efforts build on previous alerts:
2022: Purple Notice on emerging forms of human trafficking2023: Orange Notice outlining methods used to coerce and exploit victims
Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized that effective action requires stronger cooperation, better information sharing and coordinated, decisive enforcement efforts worldwide.

Conclusion
Fraud compounds built on forced labor have become a global phenomenon transcending borders and continents.

Interpol’s newly adopted resolution formally designates these operations as a form of international organized crime, urging governments worldwide to respond collectively.
Security experts warn that without coordinated global action, these networks will continue to expand, putting millions of people at risk.

#interpol , #CryptoCrime , #CyberSecurity , #CryptoNews , #fraud

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🔔 MARKET MOVING NEWS!

1️⃣ Montenegro Extradites Terraform Labs Co-Founder Do Kwon To The US With Help From Interpol 🔍
#Interpol
According to a local media report, Do Kwon, the founder and former CEO of Terraform Labs, has been extradited to the U.S. following a decision by the Ministry of Justice of Montenegro. The report stated that Kwon was handed over to U.S. law enforcement authorities and FBI agents. NCB Interpol Podgorica officials reportedly facilitated the extradition with the support of the special police unit. Notably, the extradition comes after months of legal proceedings in Montenegro, where Kwon faced competing extradition requests from the U.S. and South Korea. He will now face criminal charges in the U.S., including conspiracy to commit fraud related to securities transactions, money laundering and electronic fraud.

2️⃣ Vitalik Buterin Donates $170K To Tornado Cash Developers’ Legal Fund 💰
#VitalikButerin #donate
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has reportedly donated 50 ETH (about $170,000) to a legal defence fund for Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev. Acknowledging the donation, Storm stated that the contribution accounted for 25% of the $650,000 in total funds available to the Tornado Cash developer through JusticeDAO ahead of his trial.

For context, the Tornado Cash developers have been charged with money laundering, sanctions violations and fraud related to their roles with Tornado Cash by both U.S. and Dutch law enforcement authorities. Alexey Pertsev, the developer arrested and charged by Dutch authorities, was found guilty of money laundering and sentenced to more than five years in prison in May 2024. While Storm was given bail conditions ahead of his trial, scheduled to begin on April 14 in the U.S. The legal defence fund will be used to fund the costs of both Pertsev’s appeal and Storm’s legal battle in the U.S.

3️⃣ IRS Issues Temporary Relief On Crypto Cost-Basis Method Changes ‼️
#IRSUpdates
The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has reportedly issued a temporary relief on a rule that would have defaulted crypto holders on centralised exchanges to report sales using the FIFO method, if they didn’t select their preferred accounting method, like HIFO (Highest In, First Out) or Spec ID.

For context, FIFO (otherwise known as “First In, First Out,”) is the default method for calculating capital gains tax in the US. It is calculated by assuming the oldest cryptocurrency bought is sold first, pushing up a taxpayer’s capital gains. The temporary relief applies to sales on centralised crypto exchanges until Dec. 31, 2025, in order to give brokers time to support all accounting methods. This will allow crypto taxpayers to maintain their own records until that date.

4️⃣ Proposal Mandating The Swiss National Bank To Hold Bitcoin Now Underway 💸

Giw Zanganeh, Tether’s vice president of energy and mining, along with Yves Bennaïm, founder and chairman of Swiss Bitcoin nonprofit think tank 2B4CH, and eight other Bitcoin advocates have reportedly launched a proposal to constitutionally mandate the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to hold Bitcoin on its balance sheet. The proposal is reported to have been set in motion by the Swiss Federal Chancellery on Dec. 31. It must now accumulate 100,000 signatures by June 30, 2026, for it to be put to a public referendum.

According to reports, the proposal specifically proposes Article 99 Paragraph 3 of the Swiss Federal Constitution to be amended to:

“The National Bank builds up sufficient monetary reserves from its own earnings; part of these reserves are made up of gold and Bitcoin.”

5️⃣ China Tightens Crypto Trade Oversight With New Foreign Exchange Rules ❓
The Chinese foreign exchange regulator has reportedly introduced foreign exchange rules that make it more difficult for residents to buy digital assets. Specifically, the rules require the country’s banks to monitor and flag risky forex trading activities. This includes cross-border gambling, underground banks and illegal cross-border financial activities involving crypto assets. The rules also require banks to track the activities based on the identity of individuals and institutions involved, their sources of funds and the frequency of their trades.
#Crypto2025Trands

David Lynch, the legendary American director known for his surreal and unique style, passed away at the age of 78 this week. While he is best known for his cinematic works, Lynch also experimented with blockchain technology and left a memorable mark in the digital world.
NFT and the Connection with Interpol
In 2021, when NFTs were still a new concept for many, Lynch collaborated with the indie rock band #interpol to create a unique NFT collection on the Ethereum blockchain.

Thai police arrested Ngo Thi Theu for a $300M crypto scam.
Over 2,600 victims were defrauded through fake trading platforms.Ngo laundered profits via real estate and mule accounts.The scam involved 44 call centers across Vietnam and Cambodia.Investors urged to verify crypto platforms to avoid fraud.
#CryptoScam #BangkokArrest #Interpol #CryptocurrencyFraud #NgoThiTheu
Thai Police Arrest Key Figure in Massive Crypto Fraud
Thai authorities arrested a Vietnamese woman in Bangkok for orchestrating a crypto scam that defrauded over 2,600 victims of $300 million. Ngo Thi Theu, 30, known as “Madam Ngo,” was apprehended at a hotel in the Watthana district on May 24, 2025. She was wanted under an Interpol Red Notice and a Hanoi police warrant for concealing criminal activities.
The scam lured investors with promises of 20-30% monthly returns through fake cryptocurrency and forex trading platforms. Victims were initially allowed to withdraw small amounts to build trust, encouraging larger investments. The operation then cut contact, leaving investors with massive losses.
Scam Details and International Operation
Ngo’s network, led by a Turkish national, included 35 Vietnamese accomplices and over 1,000 staff across 44 fraudulent call centers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The group used celebrities and influencers to promote the scheme, creating an illusion of legitimacy through seminars and marketing events.
Investigators found that Ngo laundered her share of the profits through real estate investments in Vietnam. While hiding in Thailand, she received funds via mule accounts in Vietnam, transferred to Vietnamese nationals in Thailand, and withdrawn as cash in amounts of about 1 million baht per transaction to evade detection.
Thai Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police, working with Vietnamese authorities, tracked Ngo to a hotel in the Klong Tan Nuea area. Two Vietnamese men, Ta Dinh Phuoc, 38, and Trong Khuyen Trong, 41, were arrested with her for overstaying their visas. Both claimed to be her bodyguards.
During questioning, Ngo admitted to her role in the fraud but said the Turkish leader received the largest share of the profits. She faces charges of misprision in Vietnam, which carries penalties of up to seven years in prison under Article 174 of the 2015 Criminal Code. Online fraud charges under Article 290 could add up to seven years and fines of up to $40,000.
The scale of the scam highlights the growing threat of cryptocurrency fraud. The Vietnam Blockchain Association reported that over 17 million Vietnamese owned crypto assets in 2024, many lacking knowledge of common scams like “rug pulls” and “pump and dump” schemes. Authorities urge investors to verify platforms before investing.
The arrest marks a significant step in combating transnational crypto crime. Thai and Vietnamese police continue to investigate the network’s operations, seeking to dismantle remaining call centers and recover stolen funds.

In the context of a rapidly growing cryptocurrency market, ensuring safety for investors and participants is extremely important. Recently, police #morocco arrested Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a 24-year-old French citizen of Moroccan descent, who is believed to be the mastermind behind a series of kidnappings targeting wealthy individuals in the crypto space in France. This arrest, reported by Le Parisien, demonstrates the efforts of authorities to crack down on crimes related to digital assets.