FBI and Brooklyn Prosecutors Shut Down 241 Websites Tied to Crypto Scams

US authorities have shut down 241 websites and seized 112 servers linked to an alleged cryptocurrency investment scam network that stole tens of millions of dollars from Americans, many of them Russian speakers.

The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the FBI carried out the operation last week after a three-year investigation. Companies in the United States and Eastern Europe hosted the servers. No arrests were announced. Prosecutors said disabling the infrastructure cut the alleged operators off from victim records, website content, and tools used to run the schemes.

Investigators said the network attracted victims through Russian-language Facebook advertisements promoting investment opportunities. Supposed investment advisers contacted respondents and guided them through setting up cryptocurrency accounts and transferring money to investment platforms. The sites allegedly presented the investments as legitimate.

The operation also targeted alleged recovery scams. After victims lost money, they were reportedly approached again with false promises that they could recover their funds, exposing them to further losses. Authorities said the network had taken tens of millions of dollars from victims.

The case comes amid continued growth in reported cryptocurrency fraud. The FBI cited in its report that Americans lost $11.4 billion in crypto-related frauds in 2025, up 22% from 2024.