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Key takeaways
- On November 9, 2026, the US Attorney's Office in Massachusetts filed a civil forfeiture complaint to take ownership of about 456,602 USDT (Tether), a dollar stablecoin worth about $456,602. Prosecutors allege the money came from romance scams that found victims on online dating sites and Facebook, in Massachusetts and elsewhere.
- Prosecutors describe a familiar pattern: build trust online, introduce crypto, steer the victim to a fake investment platform that shows fake profits, then demand "fees" and "taxes" when the victim tries to withdraw. The money was traced to two crypto wallets and seized.
- The complaint's details are allegations. A forfeiture case lets other people file claims to the money first; only after those claims are resolved can it be forfeited and returned to victims. If you've been targeted, report it to the FBI's IC3 or the office's cyber tip line, and never pay to "unlock" a withdrawal.
Federal prosecutors in Boston have seized about $456,602 in crypto they say was taken from people who thought they had found love online, and now they want a court to make the seizure final. The case, filed November 9, 2026, is small next to the billion-dollar headlines, but it's a clear look at a scam pattern that keeps catching ordinary Americans: a romance that turns into a fake investment.
What happened
The US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts filed a civil forfeiture action for 456,602 USDT, also called Tether, a stablecoin designed to stay worth one dollar. The office puts the current value at approximately $456,602. It alleges the money is proceeds of romance fraud schemes that targeted people in Massachusetts and elsewhere through online dating sites and Facebook.
The court filing, case number 26-cv-15037, names two pots of USDT: approximately 398,889 USDT at one wallet address and approximately 57,704 USDT at another. Those two amounts add up to about 456,593 USDT, slightly less than the 456,602 figure in the office's announcement. Prosecutors say the scam money was traced to those two wallets and seized. The case was announced by US Attorney Leah B. Foley together with Ted E. Docks, who leads the FBI's Boston field office.
How the scam worked, according to prosecutors
- Trust first. Scammers built a relationship of trust with victims online.
- Then crypto. Once trust was in place, they introduced the victim to crypto and encouraged them to invest on what turned out to be fake platforms.
- Fake profits. Victims believed they were using a real investment site and earning money. In reality, their deposits went to unhosted crypto wallets, meaning wallets not held at a crypto exchange.
- The withdrawal trap. When victims tried to take money out, they couldn't, even after paying extra money for so-called fees and taxes. That's when they realized it was a scam.
This pattern is often called "pig butchering," because the scammer spends weeks or months "fattening up" the victim before taking everything. Our pig butchering guide walks through it step by step.
What happens next
Civil forfeiture is a case against the money itself. The office says it lets third parties assert claims to the property, and those claims have to be settled before the government can take final ownership and send the money back to victims. The office also notes that the complaint's details are allegations. This is one of several similar cases it has filed against crypto traced to fraud aimed at Massachusetts victims.
What this means for you
- Online romance plus crypto is the warning sign. A match or new friend you've never met in person who brings up investing is the start of this scam, no matter how real the relationship feels.
- A "fee to withdraw" means the money is already gone. Real platforms take any withdrawal fee out of your balance; they don't make you send new money before you can take yours out. Stop paying.
- Only use exchanges you found yourself. Never a site or app someone sent you a link to. Check any platform with our Scam Check.
- Report it. The Massachusetts office asks victims of crypto and other cyber scams to email USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov. Anyone can also file a report at ic3.gov, the FBI's online crime complaint site. The FBI's advice to victims is to cut off all contact with the scammer right away.
- Beware of "recovery" offers. After a loss, scammers pose as lawyers or investigators promising to get your crypto back for a fee. See our recovery scams guide.
The takeaway
Prosecutors in Boston are asking a court to take about $456,602 in USDT they say came from dating-site and Facebook romance scams, so it can eventually go back to victims. The scam they describe is one anyone can be pulled into. If love and crypto investing show up in the same conversation, step back. This is education, not financial or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is civil forfeiture?
It's a court case against property, not a person. Here the government is asking a federal court in Massachusetts to transfer ownership of the seized USDT to the United States. The office says third parties can assert claims to the property, and those claims must be resolved before it can be forfeited and returned to victims. This filing is a civil case against the money, not criminal charges against a person.
I lost money to a scam like this. Can I get it back?
Maybe, if your money is part of the seized funds. The office asks people who believe they are victims of cybercrime, including crypto scams, to contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov. You can also report to the FBI at ic3.gov. Be careful: anyone who contacts you first offering to recover your crypto for a fee is almost always running a second scam.
Who is behind USDT?
The complaint describes USDT as a stablecoin worth about one US dollar each, and says Tether is the company that manages its smart contracts and the reserve funds behind it. Payments made with USDT are recorded on a public blockchain, which is part of how investigators can trace where scam money goes.
How do I spot this scam?
Watch for an online friend or romantic match you've never met in person who brings up crypto investing, sends you to a trading site or app you've never heard of, shows big quick profits, and then says you must pay a fee or tax before you can withdraw. Any one of those is a reason to stop and check.
Sources
- United States Attorney's Office Files Civil Forfeiture Action to Recover Cryptocurrency Involved in Romance Fraud Schemes (November 9, 2026) (opens in a new tab) — US Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts
- Verified complaint for forfeiture in rem, United States v. approximately 398,889.105675 USDT and approximately 57,703.699757 USDT, No. 26-cv-15037 (D. Mass.) (opens in a new tab) — US District Court, District of Massachusetts (via Justice Department)
- Romance scams (opens in a new tab) — FBI
Published November 10, 2026 by Dave McNaught. Educational content, not financial, legal or tax advice. Spot an error? Request a correction.
Dave McNaught
Dave McNaught has worked in IT since 1999 and founded All Business Technologies (ABT) in 2003, a Boston-area firm providing Managed IT, Cybersecurity, Managed AI, Web Design and App Development. He publishes The Crypto Guide.