DOJ Seeks Forfeiture of $327K in USDT Linked to Romance Scam

The DOJ's move is part of ongoing efforts to target online frauds that increasingly use cryptocurrency to move and hide funds. Investigators say the stolen funds were routed through intermediary wallets and converted to USDT, a common tactic used by scammers to obfuscate the origin and movement of illicit proceeds.

Under U.S. civil forfeiture law, property traceable to illegal activity may be seized by the government and returned to victims if the court finds it to be proceeds of crime. The Justice Department's action allows third parties with a legitimate interest in the property to file claims before any forfeiture is finalized.