Three-country operation in Dubai dismantles crypto romance fraud rings, 276 arrested
Chinese, U.S. and UAE law enforcement carried out a coordinated operation in Dubai that targeted romance-based crypto fraud, resulting in mass arrests and the closure of multiple fraud centres [2].
Authorities from China, the United States and the United Arab Emirates conducted a joint law enforcement operation in Dubai, with the U.S. Department of Justice saying the action was coordinated by the FBI, Dubai Police and China’s Ministry of Public Security and announced on April 29, 2026 [1].
The raid dismantled nine fraud compounds and led to the arrest of 276 suspects accused of running romance-based crypto scams; investigators say perpetrators built fake romantic relationships on social media and then pushed victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency projects [2] [3].
Officials described the operation as an unprecedented three-country crackdown on crypto romance scams and said the investigation and related law-enforcement efforts are ongoing [1] [4].
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Citations
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- 1China, U.S. and UAE Police Dismantle Dubai Crypto ScamNFTenex• May 17, 2026
- 2China, US, and UAE Launch First Joint Crackdown on Crypto Romance Scams in DubaiBlockonomi• May 17, 2026
- 3China, US and UAE team up in rare Dubai crypto scam raidcrypto.news• May 17, 2026
- 4China, US and UAE Conduct First Joint Crackdown on Crypto Romance Scams in DubaiMoneyCheck• May 17, 2026
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