FBI seizes record-setting $8 billion in cryptocurrency amid intercontinental 'scam compound' crackdown

FIRST ON FOX — The FBI says it has seized a record-setting $8 billion in cryptocurrency and arrested hundreds of suspects as part of an intercontinental crackdown on "scam compounds" and organized crime, including one group known as the "Democratic Karen Benevolent Army."

They have been blamed for a global wave of theft from Americans, including as much as $3 million from a single U.S. citizen who fell victim to an online scam. 

The FBI confiscated more than 127,000 bitcoin during the arrest of one leader, Chen Zhi, the CEO of a Cambodian enterprise called the Prince Holding Group. That's worth more than $8 billion — possibly more than $15 billion a the time of seizure — and officials are calling it the largest forfeiture in the history of the U.S. government's history. 

The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army is an armed militia named after a region in Myanmar with alleged ties to the Chinese mob and currently facing sanctions from the U.S. Treasury for prior large scale scamming operations. It has been designated a transnational criminal organization by the government. 

DEA, FBI SEIZE $10 MILLION IN CRYPTOCURRENCY 'DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE SINALOA CARTEL'

More compounds in Asia, Africa and the Middle East have allegedly been tied to Chinese organized crime and were specifically targeting Americans, and operations to dismantle additional centers remain underway globally, an FBI official told Fox News Digital Thursday. 

"Scam compounds are not just call centers. They are organized criminal enterprises built to steal from Americans, launder money, and exploit people at scale," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"The FBI has been leading the charge, from taking down Prince Group in Cambodia to Operation Sand Dollar in Dubai. We helped free nearly 2,000 trafficked workers, shut down more than $8 billion in scam center fraud, and arrested nearly 300 people," Patel said. "If you target Americans, we will find you, disrupt your network, and bring every available tool of the federal government down on you."

In Thailand, photos show the FBI seized thousands of smartphones, as well as office equipment from an operation there.

In Dubai, local police and the FBI arrested 275 people, six of whom will be extradited to the United States to face federal charges, the FBI said.

FBI RAIDS HOLLYWOOD MANSION IN $17.4M MORTGAGE SCAM TARGETING SENIORS, 11 ARRESTED INCLUDING IRANIAN NATIONAL

Each of the nine compounds raided there were allegedly taking in $6 million in fraud proceeds a year. 

The Prince Group is accused of running similar guarded compounds around the world, authorities said. 

Zhi faces federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. 

An FBI official told Fox News Digital that the bureau has been prioritizing crackdown on these groups for the past 12 months.

The official said the $3 million case involved one person who was the victim of a romance scheme, noting that other fraud schemes have been linked to several suicides, historically including extortion cases that were mostly targeting teenagers.

Some of the groups allegedly relied on human trafficking victims for labor, according to the bureau. Scammers often entice individuals with promises of good income and work visas to lure them into the scam operations, then force them to conduct scams by threat of beatings or other torture methods.

CONNECTICUT MAN LOSES LIFE SAVINGS IN CRYPTO SCAM

The FBI partnered with Starlink, providing the Elon Musk-owned satellite company with geolocation data to help identify scammers using Starlink terminals to engage in fraud. Through the partnership, Starlink suspended more than 7,000 terminals in Myanmar, according to the bureau.

The operation sprung from a series of complaints the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received in 2025. Over the course of the year, IC3 received nearly 72,000 complaints detailing losses of more than $7.5 billion related to cryptocurrency investment fraud. The FBI estimates those figures wildly underrepresent actual losses.

An estimate from the United States Institute of Peace suggests that criminal syndicates steal approximately $64 billion every year.

The overarching Operation Blackout included at least four separate operations including the aforementioned investigation into the Prince Holding Group, called Operation Zephyr Exodus. Other operations included Operation Sand Dollar, an investigation targeting scam compounds operated by organized crime elements throughout Asia that preyed on American citizens in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Another operation was Operation Haochen, an investigation into the Tai Chang scam compound in Kyaukhat, Myanmar, an area controlled by the DKBA. The compound was allegedly connected to Chinese criminal actors. The FBI seized $30 million tied to Tai Chang and other scam compounds.

The Shunda Compound Takedown involved a joint task force including the FBI and Thai partners. The investigation led to the arrest of two subjects in Thailand and the seizure of a Telegram channel used to recruit forced labor into a Cambodian law enforcement impersonation scam.

The FBI also enacted a proactive measure, Operation Level Up, an initiative that identifies victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud and notifies them of scams. Through the operation, the FBI has already notified 8,935 victims, 77 percent of whom were unaware they were being scammed. The notifications have prevented $562 million in losses.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/J9DMUxg
via IFTTT

Rice, Shaw & McInnes among BBC Football Awards winners

For the first time, BBC Sport is handing out end-of-season football awards to the cream of the crop in English and Scottish football - and here are the winners.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/gbc8dHT
via IFTTT

NHL betting outlook focuses on two teams more familiar with each other in Game 4, ready for scoring

In case you missed it last night, the Vegas Golden Knights punched their ticket into the Stanley Cup Finals. In doing so, they eliminated the expected champion, the Colorado Avalanche. In fact, they swept them. Now we are looking for who they will face in the Finals. That comes down to the Hurricanes or Canadiens, who will play at least five games. Tonight is Game 4.

The Carolina Hurricanes finally seem like they've broken down that wall that has hindered them for a few seasons. It is hard to say the Hurricanes have been disappointing because they've been one of the best teams in hockey for multiple seasons. Unfortunately, they kept coming up short in the postseason. It is too soon to say they've fully conquered the demons, but they are just two games away from getting to the Finals.

They had another great regular season, going 53-22-7 for the year, and they were very good on the road at 24-12-5. This postseason has seen a hot Hurricanes team. They are now 10-1 in the playoffs with the lone loss coming in Game 1. I won't exactly call them overly dominant, because half of their wins have needed overtime, but winning is winning, no matter how or when it happens. After a shaky Game 1, Frederik Andersen has allowed two goals in each of the past two wins.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

The Montreal Canadiens are behind in the series, but being down 2-1 isn't that much different than being down 1-0 in a series. That was the situation they found themselves in during their last series against the Buffalo Sabres. The Canadiens won three of the next four before ultimately winning that series in seven games. They've had some very close matchups in the postseason and have played significantly more hockey than their opponents. At a certain point, fatigue may catch up, and it feels like that is happening now.

The Canadiens have played 17 games in the postseason, and they've gone into overtime in seven of those games. That's a lot of hockey. Now they are facing a fast and talented Carolina team with a goalie who has played well lately. Jakob Dobes, the Canadiens' goalie, has been admirable. He has allowed eight goals this series, and only in Game 2 did he have a lower-than-average save percentage.

I wouldn't describe this game as a must-win situation for the Canadiens, but it is certainly an important one for them to take. The Hurricanes would definitely prefer to take this game because they have the momentum now and don't want to lose that for any reason.

I think this is a game where we will see the goalies crack a little bit. By now, both teams are comfortable facing each other. The Hurricanes have finally gotten less pressure on themselves and now can attack relentlessly, perhaps taking chances they wouldn't have previously. The Canadiens will have to be aggressive to tie it up. Give me the over 5.5.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/djVnM6i
via IFTTT

Mensik collapses on court as heatwave continues

Jakub Mensik collapses on court and Novak Djokovic swelters for almost four hours as players are made to work hard on another hot Paris day at the French Open.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/BQKpPRm
via IFTTT

'Like the Eiffel Tower at night' - Osaka sparkles in French Open outfit

Naomi Osaka continues her tradition of serving jaw-dropping looks at Grand Slams with an outfit that reminds her of "the Eiffel tower at night".

from BBC News https://ift.tt/JkpU0Ga
via IFTTT

Thekla weaves her way to AEW Double or Nothing win, retaining women's championship

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) women’s world champion Thekla seemingly had the odds stacked against her going into a four-way dance with her title on the line at Double or Nothing on Sunday.

Thekla squared off against Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida for the title. And quickly, her opponents jumped her as soon as the bell rang. The thinking was to keep the "Toxic Spider" in her own web while the other three tried to get the upper hand on each other.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Statlander and Shida were more aligned with each other than Hayter was with anyone else. It didn’t last too long, though. Shida hit Statlander with a kendo stick to break up a pin attempt. Statlander and Shida then came to blows after Shida slapped her tag team partner across the face.

Thekla would not be deterred. Despite being pushed out of the match a few times, she bided her time until the right moment to strike. Hayter and Shida were outside of the ring and collided as they each tried to hit a double clothesline on each other.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

It was Thekla’s moment to shine with Statlander in the ring alone. Statlander was dazed and confused when Thekla nailed her with a nasty stomp. She pinned Statlander for the win to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship.

The Austrian-born AEW star won the title from Statlander on "Dynamite" in February. She’s since made six successful title defenses.

What’s next for Thekla is unclear. She suggested in the post-show scrum that she’s keeping a close eye on the Owen Hart Women’s Tournament and picked her Triangle of Madness teammate Skye Blue to win it.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/c2vAhy6
via IFTTT

England's batters are giving me T20 World Cup headache - Edwards

England have three T20s against India to come before the World Cup starts, with some question marks over their batting line-up for head coach Charlotte Edwards to answer.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/q9Ck4Jr
via IFTTT

Khanna torches Democrats for running 'status quo' candidates, admits working-class voters were ‘shafted’

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said Sunday that Democrats have failed to connect with working-class voters because the party too often backed "status quo establishment candidates" unwilling to challenge what he described as a rigged economic system.

Speaking on "Meet the Press," Khanna weighed in on a newly released Democratic National Committee autopsy report examining the party’s 2024 election loss and broader struggles with voters.

"We do need to recognize that the status quo has failed," Khanna said. "This is a system that has created massive inequality. That the economy is lopsided and unfair, and it’s not working for many working-class and middle-class Americans. And too often we’ve run status quo establishment candidates who have been unwilling to call out an economic and political system that has failed."

DEMOCRATS IN RETREAT, WITH VOTERS SAYING THAT THE PARTY IS NO LONGER A ‘FRIEND OF THE WORKING CLASS’: REPORT

Khanna made the remarks after NBC's Kristen Welker cited a passage from the DNC report arguing Democrats have focused too heavily on "winning arguments" while Republicans focused on "winning elections."

The California Democrat rejected the idea that Democrats should abandon reasoned debate but acknowledged the party needs a stronger economic message aimed at voters struggling financially.

"I don’t think we need to give up reason," Khanna said. "I think more Americans probably want reason debate in this country."

DEM PARTY BLAME GAME: ACCUSATIONS FLY AS TO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HARRIS' MASSIVE LOSS TO TRUMP

Khanna also reflected on former Vice President Kamala Harris and the report's conclusion that the White House did not do enough over several years to improve her standing before Democrats switched nominees.

"In retrospect, had she been in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio talking about the economy and been the lead for the president’s economic policies — the Inflation Reduction Act, the American Rescue Plan, the CHIPS Act — perhaps we would have done better," Khanna said.

Still, Khanna argued Democrats must now focus on rebuilding support among working-class voters heading into future elections.

"We need to have an economic message that actually is talking to the working-class folks who have been shafted," he said, "and that’s taking on a system that has been rigged."

DEMOCRATS' 'COMEBACK RETREAT' SUGGESTS PARTY TO 'EMBRACE PATRIOTISM' TO WIN BACK WORKING-CLASS VOTERS

Khanna also defended the DNC Chair Ken Martin as some Democrats call for his resignation following backlash over the handling of the autopsy report.

"No," Khanna said when asked whether Martin should step down.

Khanna pointed to Martin’s opposition to super PAC involvement in Democratic primaries and his criticism of superdelegates selecting party nominees as positions he supports.

"Ken Martin is a Paul Wellstone Democrat," Khanna said. "There are two things he’s done that I actually agree with."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Khanna added that Martin could have handled the autopsy process better and should work more closely with state parties ahead of the 2026 and 2028 election cycles.

"Could he have handled this autopsy better? Absolutely," Khanna said. "Should he be working more with state parties to make sure they’re funded into ’26 and ’28? Absolutely. But I don’t believe he should resign."

The DNC report was commissioned after Democrats’ losses in the 2024 election cycle and was reportedly delayed before its public release amid internal disagreements over its findings and political fallout.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/1ZxIoWN
via IFTTT

Trump tells US negotiators 'not to rush' into deal with Iran

The deal under discussion would involve a 60-day ceasefire extension during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, according to US media.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/oYq2wHe
via IFTTT

Liberal NY Times columnist roasts Dem election autopsy as 'ridiculous,' says AI could have done a better job

New York Times opinion columnist Michelle Goldberg blasted the Democratic National Committee’s long-awaited 2024 election autopsy Friday, deriding the report as "mysterious," "anticlimactic" and "ridiculous" after months of internal party drama over its release.

"The document, it’s now clear, was kept under wraps not because it was impolitic, but because it’s a disaster," Goldberg wrote, criticizing Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin for changing his rhetoric regarding the report.

"What’s most striking is its utter lack of substance," she continued, noting that the words "Israel" and "Gaza" appear nowhere in its 192 pages.

"It offers little insight into why the Democratic Party lost large numbers of Black and Latino men, or its failure to speak to disconnected, irregular voters... I wondered if it was written by A.I., though A.I. probably would’ve done a better job," she added.

DNC CHAIR RIPPED FOR DOWNPLAYING UNRELEASED 2024 AUTOPSY AFTER DEM LOSSES: 'SELF-INFLICTED CRISIS'

When vying for the DNC chairmanship, Martin ran on releasing the autopsy but, with time, said it would not be released after all.

The move, Goldberg said, made the report "an object of suspicion and fascination."

FORMER DEM MEGADONOR BLASTS 2024 AUTOPSY AS WASTE OF TIME, SAYS REASONS FOR LOSS ARE OBVIOUS

"Some thought he was protecting Kamala Harris ahead of 2028. Many progressives were convinced that the D.N.C. quashed the autopsy because it would show Harris was done in by Gaza. Rob Flaherty, who’d been deputy director of both the Harris and Joe Biden campaigns, speculated that it didn’t even exist," she wrote.

Over at The Washington Post, conservative opinion columnist Ramesh Ponnuru focused on what wasn’t in the report: "There’s nothing about President Joe Biden’s age and voters’ worries about it. Nothing about the border crisis the Democrats first caused through their policies and then denied in their rhetoric. Nothing about the party’s declining appeal to religiously observant voters. Nothing about the boutique left-wing views — such as support for taxpayer-funded sex changes for illegal immigrants and prisoners." 

The report was ultimately released Thursday and initially covered by CNN, argues the party weakened its infrastructure through declining voter registration, cuts to state party support and a failure to listen to certain voter groups.

DEMOCRATS HAVE HIT 'ROCK BOTTOM,' PARTY LEADER SAYS; HERE'S HIS UNORTHODOX REBOUND PLAN

The report also notes that the party must have a renewed focus on voters in Middle America and the South.

It has already created internal tensions within the party, with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin publicly distancing himself from the autopsy, saying it doesn’t meet his standards.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

"I am not proud of this product; it does not meet my standards, and it won’t meet your standards," he said, adding that he could not "in good faith put the DNC’s stamp of approval on it."

He added that the report was released for the sake of transparency "as I received it – in its entirety, unedited and unabridged – with annotations for claims that couldn’t be verified."

Fox News Digital reached out to the DNC for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Fox News' Madison Colombo contributed to this report.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/mEfUh5d
via IFTTT

'Too high a mountain' for Leinster as Bordeaux lift Champions Cup

After their previous European final defeats came down to "fine margins", Bordeaux's thrashing of Leinster in Bilbao highlighted a gulf between the sides

from BBC News https://ift.tt/KkMIapf
via IFTTT

Teen boys' racist murder sentences to be referred to Court of Appeal

Kamran Aman was killed by Marcus Staniforth and another boy outside his mother's home.

from BBC News https://ift.tt/hJ9ypoT
via IFTTT

Dog saved from ISIS by Army veteran 'kidnapped' from family yard by local authorities

An 11-year-old dog that survived ISIS and helped a U.S. Army veteran during wartime is now being held at a Virginia animal shelter after being taken away by authorities. The family is asking the public for help as they await word on the dog’s fate.

Brendan Jones, a military veteran and Arabic linguist, rescued his dog Lucy while deployed in the Middle East. He said that after the birth of his son, he struggled with returning to deployment. Lucy changed that for him.

"That’s not the headspace you want when you’re overseas in danger. When you have to be focused on the mission," Jones said on "The Sean Hannity Show" Wednesday. "Lucy helped me get over that. Because she filled that void that was missing."

He found Lucy in 2015 while deployed near the border with Islamic State-controlled territory. In a post on X, he said he had to bribe a Jordanian officer to get the dog veterinary care before bringing her home.

US MARINE PROTECTED PUPPY WHILE DEPLOYED, NOW HOPES TO BRING HER HOME

But nearly a decade later, trouble with neighbors began after the family moved onto their multi-acre farm in Strasburg, Va. Dolly Jones, Brendan’s wife, said neighbors were upset with their way of life, and that the family has faced over a dozen police calls, multiple visits from authorities and court complaints over things like animal sounds.

"So when that incident with Lucy happened, that really was the weapon they needed to wield against us," Dolly Jones said.

The family said Lucy had been declared "dangerous" a year earlier after she nipped a passerby. They said the behavior was out of character for the dog, who had recently come out of surgery and was groggy.

PEANUT THE PET SQUIRREL TAKEN AWAY BY NEW YORK STATE OFFICIALS FROM ADOPTED HOME, MAY BE EUTHANIZED

Though they disagreed with the designation, the family said they went along with the demands to appease their neighbors. They said this unknowingly set up what they described as a legal trap.

Three weeks ago, Lucy temporarily slipped out of her collar while on a morning walk and barked at a neighbor. The family insists the dog never left their property and did not bite or touch anyone.

PEANUT THE SQUIRREL TOUCHES OFF SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM AFTER NEW YORK OFFICIALS EUTHANIZE BELOVED RODENT

However, because of strict rules surrounding the dangerous dog registry, the incident allowed neighbors to call authorities. Hours later, the family said authorities removed Lucy from their property.

"When they actually came and kidnapped her off our property, the kids were outside playing and the cop came up and removed her from the field," she said. "They don’t remember a day without her. They miss her, asking questions to us if she’s going to be put down, and we’ve not had these answers for them."

Dolly Jones said the family has tried to get Lucy back and accused the neighbors of plotting against them, adding that they are fighting for their "rights to exist on our own property without fear."

The Jones family has launched the #SaveLucy campaign in hopes of saving the dog they’ve owned for more than a decade. "We're hoping that her life is bookended by miracles," Brendan said. "One to get her here, to save her from the Islamic State, and one to get her out of the hands of our own state."

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/Wn27u8H
via IFTTT

Hamilton says he has no plans to retire from F1

Lewis Hamilton says he has no thoughts about stopping racing in Formula 1 and insists he will "be here for quite some time".

from BBC News https://ift.tt/3pwkjAI
via IFTTT

Jeff Bezos confronted on Washington Post layoffs, argues paper must be profitable regardless of his wealth

Billionaire Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos on Wednesday responded to criticism of the brutal round of layoffs at his paper earlier this year, saying it needs to maintain relevancy and turn a profit regardless of his wealth.

Several departments were gutted, including its sports, metro and books sections, as well as its foreign correspondents and photojournalists. The massive headcount reduction stunned the media industry, although the paper's heavy financial losses were no secret.

Bezos sat down with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, who bluntly asked, "The company laid off about 30 percent of its staff, and there are a lot of people out there who said, ‘Jeff’s super wealthy, he’s talked about this being a public trust, something that he bought early on, how much you care about that piece of it. Why lay people off? Why fire people? Why don’t you subsidize the business?"

"The Post needs to be a profitable enterprise that stands on its own two feet," Bezos shot back. The Amazon founder is among the world’s richest men with an estimated net worth of around $270 billion, according to Forbes.

WASHINGTON POST’S DAILY DIGITAL READER BASE SHRUNK DURING BIDEN YEARS BY NEARLY 90%, INTERNAL DATA REVEALS

"But does it? Some people say it should be a trust," Sorkin said.

"Let me tell you why. It’s a measure of its relevance. If people won’t pay for our product, it’s not a good enough product," Bezos said.

"It would be like poetry without rhyming. It’s too easy," Bezos added. "So, it’s got to be something that people will pay for, because that’s a signal. It’s a signal that we’re providing a relevant service."

Bezos then pointed out that The New York Times, where Sorkin also serves as a financial columnist, makes "a ton of money."

BEZOS DEFENDS WAPO ENDING PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENTS AS THE 'RIGHT' CHOICE: 'I'M VERY PROUD OF THE DECISION'

"You guys are doing very well financially, and you’re providing a service that people are willing to pay for. We can do that, too," Bezos said.

"And guess what I told them when we were planning those layoffs. I didn’t pick who was going to get laid off or which departments. I said, ‘Follow the data,’" Bezos continued. "Follow the data, and I said there is one exception to this… don’t follow the data on investigative reporting."

Bezos said the "heart of the Post is investigative reporting," and suggested the unit will continue to thrive.

"Our newsroom today, after the layoffs, is still larger than when we did Watergate and the Pentagon Papers," Bezos said. "The Post is going to continue to be an important institution, in fact, it’s going to be a more important institution because of this financial discipline."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Bezos pointed to a recent Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, which is considered the most prestigious of awards. The Post won the 2026 edition for in-depth coverage of the Trump administration's efforts to transform the federal government.

"It needs to be relevant to readers, it needs to stand on its own two feet," Bezos said.

Sorkin also asked Bezos point-blank if he wanted to own the paper.

"Do you want to own it? And the reason I ask is you’ve talked about how you are, by default, to some degree a conflicted owner, given you own all of these other businesses," the CNBC host asked.

"When I bought The Post, it was very unprofitable when I brought it. The newsroom was even smaller than it is today. We turned it around in two years, it was profitable for six years. I put all that money back in The Post and grew the newsroom, so we’ve shrunk it back some now. But we haven’t shrunk it back to what it was when I bought it," Bezos responded.

He said the Post didn't adapt, and the news environment has changed a lot over the years.

Bezos bought the Washington Post in 2013 for $250 million. The paper thrived during the first Trump administration, but it has struggled in recent years with subscriber losses and bruising layoffs.

Bezos took particular heat in 2024 when he yanked the liberal editorial board's planned endorsement of Kamala Harris, shortly before her loss to President Donald Trump.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/qmMw4y0
via IFTTT