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Federal authorities in Boston have launched an effort to reclaim 327,829.720952 USDT following a sophisticated dating app scam that victimized a Massachusetts resident.
On Monday, the US Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts submitted a civil forfeiture petition seeking to confiscate 327,829.720952 USDT. The legal action stems from an alleged romance-based fraud operation that unfolded during 2024.
The fraudulent scheme involved an individual using the pseudonym “Linda Brown”, who initiated contact with the victim through a dating application. After multiple weeks of building trust through regular communication, Brown introduced what was described as a lucrative crypto investment opportunity.
According to the attorney’s office, the victim transferred funds believing the investment was legitimate. However, when the victim attempted to access and withdraw returns, they discovered they had been defrauded.
“Under the guise of legitimately investing the victim's money, Brown instead tricked the victim into sending funds to wallets controlled by Brown and/or their co-conspirators,” the attorney’s office said.
Law enforcement officials said the stolen assets were transferred through a series of cryptocurrency wallets. The funds were then converted into USDT and used in transactions intended to launder money.
The Department of Justice said portions of the victim’s funds were traced to several unhosted cryptocurrency wallets, which federal authorities seized in August 2025.
The case reflects a broader trend of romance-oriented cryptocurrency fraud schemes. Earlier this year, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Ohio issued a public advisory titled “Cupid Doesn’t Ask for Crypto” ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Federal prosecutors warned that fraudsters use social media platforms and messaging applications to establish relationships before requesting financial transfers. These operations are often referred to as “pig butchering” scams.
The Federal Trade Commission has documented romance scam losses exceeding $1 billion within a single year. The FBI has also classified crypto-related investment fraud as the category responsible for the highest financial losses.
The article also points to Tether’s technical ability to immobilize its stablecoin by placing specific wallet addresses on a blacklist. Tether has reportedly used this mechanism in situations identified by law enforcement agencies.
In February, Tether immobilized approximately $544 million allegedly connected to illegal gambling operations and money laundering activities following a request from Turkish law enforcement authorities.
A company representative told Reuters that Tether has frozen roughly $4.2 billion in USDT linked to suspected illicit activities beginning in 2023.
The civil forfeiture filing asserts that all cryptocurrency holdings within the confiscated wallets constituted property involved in money laundering operations.
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