How the U.S. Is Responding to Online Romance & Scam Networks

1. A Dedicated Strike Force Against Overseas Scam Centers

The U.S. government recently announced a coordinated “Strike Force” that specifically targets large cyber scam compounds in Southeast Asia — places linked to romance frauds, investment scams, and fake crypto schemes that have stolen billions from Americans. Estimates show U.S. residents lost at least $10 billion in 2024 alone to these scams. The Strike Force is led by agencies like the U.S. Secret Service and involves criminal investigations and law enforcement actions meant to disrupt these operations at their source.

2. Sanctions on Transnational Fraud Networks

The U.S. Treasury Department has used sanctions as a tool to put pressure on scam operators in countries like Myanmar and Cambodia — designating key individuals and entities as blocked from the U.S. financial system because of their roles in organized online fraud and related human rights abuses, including forced labor. By cutting off access to U.S. dollars and financial services, these sanctions aim to make it harder for criminal networks to profit from stolen funds.

3. International Law Enforcement Cooperation

The U.S. works with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and international partners to investigate cross-border fraud. Under laws like the SAFE WEB Act, the FTC can share investigative information and work with foreign consumer protection agencies to pursue fraud cases involving people and organizations outside the United States. This kind of cooperation helps build cases and leads to more coordinated global enforcement.

4. Congressional Attention and Pressure on Platforms

U.S. lawmakers — from both political parties — have publicly highlighted how online scammers routinely use American-owned platforms (like social media and dating apps) to contact victims. Committees in Congress are urging federal agencies and tech companies to take stronger steps to identify and stop these scams at the earliest point of contact.

5. Targeted Efforts Against Crypto-Linked Scams

Because many romance and investment scams now flow through cryptocurrency and virtual assets, the U.S. Department of Justice and financial regulators have launched specialized task forces targeting crypto fraud. One such task force has already recovered hundreds of millions for victims and continues enforcement actions aimed at criminal groups that exploit emerging technologies to defraud people.

6. Public Education and Reporting Channels

Beyond law enforcement, U.S. federal agencies encourage victims and the public to report suspected scams to platforms like the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). These reports help build a national picture of scam trends and pressure platforms and policymakers to improve detection, prevention, and consumer education.

What This Means in Practical Terms

• The U.S. is no longer treating these scams as isolated “internet annoyances” — they’re being viewed as cross-border organized crime with real economic and human consequences.

• Efforts are now multi-faceted: legal actions, sanctions, law enforcement cooperation, and tech-industry pressure.

• The government is also trying to educate the public and build better reporting systems so victims can come forward without shame, which leads to stronger enforcement overall.