Six charged in international crypto romance scam affecting Washington area victims

Federal authorities announced charges against six men accused of running an international cryptocurrency and romance scam, according to FOX 5 DC. The suspects allegedly posed as attractive women on dating websites to gain victims' trust and convince them to connect their cryptocurrency wallets to fraudulent NFT investment sites.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the scammers, based in Africa with ties to Southeast Asia and China, stole funds from victims after gaining access to their wallets. FBI investigators linked about 74 cryptocurrency wallets to roughly 800 victims nationwide, including individuals in the Washington, DC area, the report said.

Officials explained that the scammers maintained detailed contact lists with personal information about their U.S. victims. They also directed human models to produce videos and voice notes to lure targets. The scheme reportedly operated out of Madagascar, and authorities have requested extradition of the suspects.

Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, described the scam as a global epidemic that causes severe financial and emotional harm to victims, many of whom feel ashamed and reluctant to report the crime.

Authorities continue to pursue legal action against the six men as part of efforts to combat this sophisticated form of cryptocurrency fraud affecting local residents.