The Massachusetts Attorney's Office is requesting the seizure of $327,829 USDT related to a romantic scam involving cryptocurrency investments dating back to 2024.
Prosecutors from the U.S. District Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts are asking the court to allow the civil seizure of 327,829 USDT, the stablecoin issued by Tether , in connection with a romancescam targeting users of an online dating app.
The case began in November 2024, when an individual using the fake identity of “Linda Brown” approached a victim residing in Massachusetts, spending weeks building trust before presenting a cryptocurrency investment opportunity disguised as legitimate. The victim only discovered the scam when attempting to withdraw funds and was unable to do so.
According to the complaint, the victim's funds were transferred through multiple wallets before being converted to USDT to conceal their origin. Prosecutors determined this constituted a violation of federal money laundering laws, as the transaction was deliberately designed to hide the nature, origin, and control of the proceeds from the crime. At least a portion of the assets was traced and seized in August 2025.
Legal procedures and increasing pressure from authorities.
Before proceeding with seizure and return to the victim, the U.S. government must prove, according to the probability balance of evidence, that the property is subject to seizure. Civil proceedings also open the door for third parties to make claims to the property, further complicating the return process.
The filing came just weeks after U.S. prosecutors issued a public warning about romance scams involving cryptocurrency ahead of Valentine's Day. This model, dubbed the "fatten and slaughter" scheme by analysts, is characterized by a trust-building phase lasting weeks to months before the scammer strikes.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice filed for the seizure of a record $225 million related to cryptocurrency scams following a similar pattern, highlighting the increasing scale and organization of this type of crime as the cryptocurrency market continues to expand.
