The Scamdemic: U.S. launches Scam Center Strike Force — but will it work with real investigators?

When U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stood at the podium in Washington D.C. and called it a “Scamdemic,” I couldn’t help but feel déjà vu. For five years, I’ve used that same word to describe this global plague of crypto and Ponzi fraud. Now it’s finally being recognised as a national security threat.

Pirro’s statement cut deep: “This Scamdemic is a generational wealth transfer from Main Street, USA into the hands of Chinese organized crime.” She’s right. Families have lost everything—savings, homes, and even loved ones. The new Scam Center Strike Force, made up of the DOJ, FBI, Secret Service, Treasury, and State Department, claims it will dismantle the global scam networks behind this. But will they actually work with people like us who’ve been in the trenches for years?

*THE SCAM BEHIND THE SMOKESCREEN*

Across Southeast Asia, industrial-scale scam centres are running like digital sweatshops. Thousands of trafficked workers—many from Africa and Asia—are forced to defraud victims online. They target Westerners through fake trading apps, romance scams, and social media traps, stealing billions each year.

The U.N. has compared these compounds to modern-day slavery. Locked inside guarded facilities, victims are beaten or starved if they fail to meet quotas. Profits fund both organized crime and regional conflict.

Pirro revealed that U.S. authorities have already seized $400 million, with another $80 million set for return to victims. The U.S. Treasury also sanctioned the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, a Burmese militia protecting scam compounds — the first time a military faction has been officially linked to online crypto fraud.

*A WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT STRIKE*

The DOJ calls this a “whole-of-government” initiative — combining the FBI, Secret Service, Treasury, FinCEN, OFAC, and State Department into a coordinated task force. On paper, it’s the most ambitious anti-scam operation ever attempted.

The FBI says Americans lost $9 billion to crypto scams in 2024 — up 43% in one year. The Secret Service reported nearly $500 million in seized crypto from fake investment schemes. These aren’t isolated crimes; this is a global financial weapon.

*WHERE PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS COME IN*

For years, people like me have been exposing these operations independently — tracking wallets, archiving domains, interviewing whistleblowers, and naming the perpetrators. We’ve done this without government support, using open-source intelligence and persistence.

Now, as the DOJ promises “partnership with the private sector,” it’s time to see whether they truly mean it. If they’re serious, they should be reaching out to those already fighting this Scamdemic on the ground.

I could give them a list right now of YouTubers, TikTokers, and so-called crypto mentors promoting scams that originate from these same compounds. Names like Quentin Bradford, Marshonda Henderson, Megan Lynch, Ragan Lynch, Stephen McCullah, Scott Morris, Gary Wood, David Chandler, Troy Rejda, Marcus Davis, Mike Lucas, Mike Donaldson, Harvey Joseph Dockstader Jr, Mai Summer Vue, and Jharol Smith are tied to fake investment promotions across social platforms.

These people aren’t small-time — they’re the marketing arm of global fraud. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Zoom are enabling them to spread misinformation unchecked. If the DOJ really wants to clean house, they’ll start by holding these promoters accountable and cutting off the pipeline of recruitment.

*THE HUMAN COST OF THE SCAMDEMIC*

Behind every dollar lost is a story. A retiree who believed in passive income. A widow convinced she was investing safely. A young man who lost his savings and his life.

Pirro mentioned a case that hit hard: a victim who lost $272,000 to crypto fraud — his daughter said there wasn’t even enough left to pay for his headstone. This is what we’re fighting.

THE BIG QUESTION: WILL THIS STRIKE FORCE WORK?
Announcing a task force is one thing — enforcing its mission is another. The Scam Center Strike Force is a bold start, but success depends on whether they break the habit of working in silos and start collaborating with real investigators outside government circles.

For the victims, this can’t just be another headline. This needs to be the moment law enforcement, regulators, and independent investigators unite. Because the people running these scams aren’t slowing down — they’re expanding, adapting, and using technology faster than the justice system can respond.

If the U.S. is serious about ending the Scamdemic, then it’s time to bridge the gap between official agencies and those of us who’ve been fighting this alone for years.

*READ THE FULL INVESTIGATION*:

https://www.dehek.com/general/scam-fraud-investigations/the-scamdemic-u-s-launches-scam-center-strike-force-but-will-it-work-with-real-investigators/

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