US prosecutors move to seize funds tied to Tinder crypto scam

US federal prosecutors in Massachusetts have filed a civil forfeiture action seeking to recover about $200,000 linked to an online cryptocurrency investment scam.

The funds were traced to losses suffered by a Massachusetts resident who was targeted through a Tinder match posing as an investor.

Court filings said the victim was encouraged to move conversations to WhatsApp and invest through what authorities believe was a fake trading platform.

Prosecutors said the victim transferred more than $500,000 before realising the promised crypto profits were fraudulent.

Investigators traced part of the losses to a cryptocurrency account that was seized in June 2025.

The case highlights the growing threat of so-called pig-butchering scams that combine romance fraud and fake investment schemes.

Authorities said crypto-related crime surged in 2025, driven largely by organised scam networks operating across borders.

Law enforcement efforts to recover stolen funds remain rare, as assets are often quickly moved or laundered.

If the funds are converted into stablecoins, it may be possible to attempt a freeze, but this process is very difficult and, in many cases, close to impossible.

Alex Katz said.

Katz added that recovery chances improve only if exchanges and police act swiftly, warning that cooperation is often limited across jurisdictions.