US prosecutors announced on 27 October 2026, in a release published by the US Secret Service, that the Justice Department's Scam Center Strike Force had charged six Africa-based scammers with connections to Southeast Asia and China.

According to affidavits unsealed that day, a group linked to Malaysia and China opened scam compounds in Madagascar in early 2025, likely after law enforcement action in Cambodia. Scammers posed as women on US dating sites, persuaded victims to connect their crypto wallets to fake NFT investment sites, and then pulled money from the wallets without their knowledge. The FBI identified about 74 crypto wallets associated with about 800 victims, and funds moved to accounts associated with Chinese-based actors; websites used in the scheme were seized.

Chui Kok Wa was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud as the leader. In August 2026 the FBI helped Madagascar police take down 13 compounds and seize more than 3,200 devices, but the release says Madagascar repatriated numerous suspects to China before the investigation was complete.

The Strike Force says it has restrained $1,006,460,156.82 in crypto overall. The Record (27 Oct) reports losses of more than $516,695.