U.S. prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of 327,829.720952 USDT tied to an alleged online romance fraud. The $327,829 seizure effort highlights how stablecoins continue to feature in cross-border scam and laundering cases.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston filed a civil forfeiture complaint Monday targeting the Tether (USDT) funds. Authorities said the investigation began in fall 2024 after a Massachusetts resident was persuaded by an individual identified as “Linda Brown” on a dating app to invest in a purported crypto opportunity. Prosecutors allege the victim transferred funds to wallets controlled by Brown or associates before discovering withdrawal requests failed.
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According to the complaint, the stolen funds were routed through multiple wallets, converted into USDT, and later used in money-laundering transactions.
“Under the guise of legitimately investing the victim’s money, Brown instead tricked the victim into sending funds to wallets controlled by Brown and/or their co-conspirators,” the attorney’s office said.
The case reflects a broader enforcement focus on so-called “pig butchering” schemes that combine emotional manipulation with fraudulent investment pitches.
Federal agencies have warned that romance-related crypto scams are accelerating. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Ohio issued a public alert titled “Cupid Doesn’t Ask for Crypto,” cautioning that fraudsters often build trust over weeks before requesting digital asset transfers. The Federal Trade Commission has previously reported more than $1 billion in annual romance scam losses, while the FBI has identified crypto-linked investment fraud as its largest loss category.
Civil forfeiture allows authorities to pursue digital assets even when criminal charges are pending or defendants remain overseas. Stablecoins such as USDT are frequently used in these schemes because they can be transferred quickly across borders while maintaining dollar parity. The next phase of the case will hinge on whether investigators can definitively trace wallet ownership and secure court approval to permanently seize the funds.
