Interpol smashes billion-dollar fraud: $439 million seized!
On October 14, 2025, Interpol dismantled a massive financial fraud network that stole over $439 million through crypto fraud.

Interpol smashes billion-dollar fraud: $439 million seized!
Interpol dismantled a massive financial crime network that operated in over 40 countries between April and August 2025. The operation, known as HAECHI, helped secure more than $439 million in cash, cryptocurrency and other assets. This sum is the result of large-scale online fraud, money laundering and crypto fraud resulting from various scams.
As part of this comprehensive investigation, over 68,000 bank accounts were blocked and nearly 400 digital wallets were frozen. $16 million in stolen crypto alone was recovered. The work carried out by Interpol and its partners demonstrates the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating financial crime.
Variety of fraud methods
The HAECHI operation uncovered a variety of scams, including romance scams, phishing attacks, illegal gambling rings and complex business emails. Particularly disturbing is the discovery of a group in Portugal that diverted welfare payments from needy families. This approach shows how unscrupulous the perpetrators are.
In Thailand, police managed to seize $6.6 million from a business email scam. The target of this scam was a Japanese company that appeared to be the victim of a well-organized deception. The operation's success is seen as evidence of the importance of international exchange and cutting-edge techniques to combat financial crime.
Protection of the innocent and future challenges
Theos Badege, the director pro tempore of the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, highlighted the successes of the HAECHI operations. He called on all member countries to intensify their cooperation in the fight against cyber-enabled crime. Interpol officials emphasize that the use of blockchain forensics is making it increasingly difficult for criminals to remain undetected.
Still, there are concerns that fraudsters will quickly pivot to new platforms and tactics as enforcement becomes stricter. To counteract this development, ongoing cooperation between countries will be essential. Only through joint action can financial crime be combated effectively.