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Operation Atlantic Freezes $12 Million in Crypto Scam Funds

The coordinated effort signals a longer campaign to disrupt approval‑phishing networks.

Overview

  • Authorities said Thursday the week‑long March operation froze more than $12 million and flagged a further $33 million for follow‑up.
  • The crackdown targeted approval phishing, where a pop‑up tricks a user into approving access that lets thieves drain a crypto wallet.
  • Investigators linked more than 20,000 wallets to victims in over 30 countries and disabled more than 120 scam domains.
  • The UK’s National Crime Agency co‑hosted the action with the U.S. Secret Service, Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Securities Commission.
  • Private partners supplied live screening and intelligence, with Chainalysis mapping about $45 million in suspected fraud and Binance saying no funds were frozen on its platform.