The US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network published an alert and financial trend analysis urging financial institutions to detect and report suspicious activity linked to overseas digital asset investment scam centers, which are operated largely by transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Asia. Its analysis covered 33,904 Bank Secrecy Act reports filed from Sept. 8, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2025, involving approximately USD 12.7 billion in reported suspected activity. The figures may include attempted transactions, duplicate flows and activity predating the review period. Money services businesses, predominantly in the digital asset sector, and depository institutions filed 96% of the reports. FinCEN highlighted red flags involving victim payments, guarantee marketplaces and laundering techniques, including shell companies and money mule accounts, rapid on-chain transfers, decentralized finance protocols and stablecoin transfers to non-US exchanges. Professional money launderers use these channels to convert and integrate scam proceeds into the formal financial system. Financial institutions filing related suspicious activity reports should use the keyword “FIN-2026-SCAMCENTERS,” select “Fraud-Other” and specify “Scam Centers.” Reports should include relevant transaction, blockchain and cyber indicators, while institutions are strongly encouraged to share eligible information voluntarily under Section 314(b) of the USA PATRIOT Act.

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