Meta-Led Operation Removes 1.4M Scam Accounts, 63 Arrested
A sweeping anti-scam operation coordinated by Meta, the FBI, and the Department of Justice has resulted in the removal of approximately 1.4 million scam-related accounts from Facebook and Instagram, the arrest of 63 individuals, and the freezing of over $3 million in cryptocurrency, officials announced Tuesday. Described by Meta as the largest anti-scam operation in its history, the two-week effort represents an unprecedented collaboration between technology companies, financial platforms, and international law enforcement.
Unprecedented Scale and Collaboration
The operation, which ran from May 18 to June 1, 2026, brought together the DOJ’s Scam Center Strike Force — led by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro — along with the FBI, the Royal Thai Police, Microsoft, Coinbase, and Starlink, the satellite internet division of SpaceX. Law enforcement agencies from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand also participated, according to Fox News.
“Protecting people around the world from scams is one of our highest priorities,” said Chris Sonderby, Meta’s vice president and deputy general counsel, in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with industry and DOJ, FBI, Royal Thai Police, and other law enforcement agencies in taking this global fight directly to these Asia-based scam centers at their source.”
Key Results Across Partners
Meta removed approximately 1.4 million scam accounts, pages, and groups from its platforms. The Royal Thai Police arrested 63 individuals allegedly connected to scam centers. Coinbase froze more than $3 million in cryptocurrency assets tied to criminal networks. Microsoft disabled roughly 20,000 accounts linked to scam operations, and Starlink disconnected thousands of internet terminals associated with the networks, as Engadget reported.
Authorities also identified dozens of previously unknown scam compounds and criminal networks, which have been referred to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.
A Dramatic Escalation in Enforcement
This marks the third joint operation between Meta and the DOJ Scam Center Strike Force since December 2025, and the scale has grown exponentially. In December 2025, the first pilot operation removed 59,000 scam assets. By March 2026, a second operation disabled over 150,000 accounts and led to 21 arrests. The current operation represents a 9x increase from March and a 24x increase from the initial effort. Across all three operations, Meta has now removed more than 1.6 million scam accounts, pages, and groups, with intelligence leading to 84 total arrests by the Royal Thai Police.
Targeting Southeast Asian Scam Centers
The operation targeted criminal scam networks operating from Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, where organized crime groups run full-scale fraud operations. These compounds are often staffed by human trafficking victims forced to carry out fraud under armed guard, according to authorities. The scams include “pig butchering” — in which fraudsters build trust with victims through online relationships before convincing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms — as well as romance scams and law enforcement impersonation.
Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement Colin McDonald noted that the task force has undertaken over 450 major law enforcement actions within 52 days, including search warrants, arrests, and convictions. He emphasized the crucial role of state cooperation and public whistleblowers in bringing justice to those who prey on the elderly and vulnerable.
The Scam Center Strike Force
The DOJ Scam Center Strike Force was created in November 2025, as detailed in a DOJ press release. Led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, the Strike Force combines the resources of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the DOJ Criminal Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service. It has already seized and forfeited $401.6 million in cryptocurrency from these schemes.
The scam industry defrauds Americans of nearly $10 billion per year from Southeast Asian compounds alone. Americans lost a record $15.9 billion to scams in 2025, according to the FTC, as USA Today reported.
Broader Implications
The operation demonstrates a new model of public-private partnership in combating transnational cybercrime, bringing together technology companies, financial platforms, infrastructure providers, and law enforcement across multiple jurisdictions. Beyond removing accounts, the operation targeted the physical and digital infrastructure of scam networks — freezing cryptocurrency assets, suspending internet connectivity, and identifying previously unknown scam compound locations.
Meta has been ramping up its anti-scam efforts, removing 159 million scam ads and 10.9 million accounts tied to criminal scam centers over the course of 2025. In March 2026, the company also announced new protective tools, including Facebook alerts for suspicious friend requests, WhatsApp device linking warnings, and advanced AI scam detection on Messenger.
What’s Next
Authorities have not disclosed specific charges against the 63 arrested individuals or the jurisdictions in which they will face prosecution. However, the operation’s success in identifying new scam compounds suggests further enforcement actions are likely. The participating companies have stated they remain committed to continuing this collaboration to protect people online.
As scammers adapt their tactics, law enforcement and technology companies face an ongoing challenge. But the dramatic escalation in scale — from 59,000 accounts removed in December to 1.4 million in this latest operation — signals that international cooperation against scam networks is accelerating.