The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil forfeiture action seeking to recover approximately $456,000 in Tether's USDT stablecoin, funds allegedly connected to cryptocurrency investment scams that targeted victims through dating platforms and Facebook. The legal action aims to recover suspected fraud proceeds, though recovery for victims is not yet guaranteed.

According to the reported allegations, scammers established contact with individuals through dating websites and Facebook before introducing fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities. The case highlights how criminals can use personal relationships to persuade victims to transfer money into fraudulent schemes. Such schemes typically rely on gaining a victim's trust before requesting financial transfers, after which the money may be routed to wallets or platforms controlled by the scammers.

The DOJ's filing seeks to recover assets believed to be connected to this activity. However, the filing of a civil forfeiture complaint does not establish that every allegation has been proven in court, and the government's claims will be tested through the judicial process.

How the Alleged Scams Targeted Victims

The allegations describe a fraud method that combines emotional manipulation with misleading investment promises. Scammers may initially approach victims through dating websites, social media, or messaging platforms. After developing a relationship, they introduce what appears to be a profitable cryptocurrency investment. This pattern is commonly known in law-enforcement terminology as a "pig butchering" scheme — a term U.S. agencies such as the FBI have used in consumer advisories to describe frauds in which online trust is cultivated before victims are steered into fraudulent investments.

Victims may be directed to websites that imitate legitimate trading platforms. Some fraudulent platforms display fabricated account balances or investment gains to encourage additional deposits. When victims attempt to withdraw their funds, they may encounter unexpected fees, delays, or demands for further payments — all common warning signs of investment fraud.

In this case, the DOJ is seeking approximately $456,000 in USDT allegedly connected to such activity. USDT is a dollar-pegged stablecoin widely used for cryptocurrency transactions. Although stablecoins can facilitate legitimate payments, scammers can also misuse them to move fraud proceeds. The presence of USDT in a transaction does not, by itself, make that transaction fraudulent.

The filing was highlighted by Cointelegraph in a post on X:

TODAY: The DOJ filed a civil forfeiture action to recover about $456K in USDT tied to romance scams that lured victims on dating sites and Facebook into fake crypto investments. pic.twitter.com/P8Y2JURic4
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) November 10, 2026

Can the DOJ Recover Funds for Victims?

The case represents an attempt to use legal procedures to recover suspected criminal proceeds. Civil forfeiture is a mechanism that allows the government to seek ownership of assets allegedly connected to unlawful activity. If the court approves forfeiture, recovered funds may potentially become available through applicable victim compensation or remission procedures.

Repayment, however, is not automatic. The legal process can take considerable time, and the final outcome depends on the evidence presented and the course of court proceedings. Under federal civil forfeiture rules, parties claiming an interest in the assets may come forward to contest the action, and the government must substantiate its claims in court before funds can be forfeited. Subsequent filings in the case — including any contested claims and the court's rulings — will show whether victims ultimately receive compensation through remission procedures.

The case also underscores the importance of recognizing suspicious investment offers. People should be cautious when someone they meet online quickly introduces cryptocurrency trading opportunities or promises unusually high returns. Verifying investment platforms independently and avoiding transfers to unfamiliar wallets can help reduce exposure to fraud. This case fits into a broader landscape: the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has repeatedly ranked cryptocurrency investment fraud among the costliest categories of reported cybercrime, with annual losses running into the billions of dollars.

For now, the DOJ's effort to recover approximately $456,000 in USDT highlights the continuing risks of romance-based cryptocurrency investment scams, in which trust built online is exploited to funnel victims into fraudulent investment platforms.