UAE-Led Operation Uncovers $39 Billion in Fraud-Linked Funds, Thwarts Millions of Online Scams
An international operation spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates, with the participation of Interpol and law enforcement agencies from 30 countries, has identified over $39 billion in funds and digital assets linked to fraud. The initiative, which ran from July 1 to September 30, 2026, also successfully thwarted more than 123 million online fraud attempts.
The findings underscore the pervasive nature of cross-border digital crime. Authorities are now focused on recovering the identified assets and dismantling the networks that exploit online platforms, financial services, and cryptocurrencies.
Operation Confrontation Ghost, led by the UAE’s Ministry of Interior, specifically targeted artificial intelligence-enabled fraud, financial scams conducted via digital platforms, and online sextortion. According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the operation prevented at least 123.71 million online fraud attempts globally.
During the operation, law enforcement apprehended over 960 suspects and conducted raids on 29 fraud centers. Investigators identified more than 3,500 suspects and 15,500 victims. Additionally, 4,126 bank accounts were frozen, and over 570 social media accounts were shut down. Participants also shared more than 9,000 pieces of intelligence.
Interpol and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance collaborated in the operation, joined by 13 private companies including Crypto.com, Meta, Mastercard, and TikTok, WAM reported. The operation also noted that tokenization technology played a role in securing over four billion transactions monthly, thereby reducing fraud risks and enhancing data protection.
The results were presented at a side event organized by the UAE during the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime in Vienna.
Colonel Dana Al Marzouqi, director-general of the Interior Ministry’s International Affairs Bureau, highlighted the importance of real-time intelligence sharing in enabling agencies to detect suspicious activities more rapidly and trace illicit financial flows.
Dr. Monica Juma, executive director at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, lauded the operation as a model for international cooperation. She emphasized that the increasing use of AI, bank accounts, and cryptocurrencies by criminals to move and conceal funds necessitates enhanced countermeasures and closer coordination.
In related developments, the U.S. Justice Department’s Scam Center Strike Force seized the Telegram-based scam marketplace Xinbi Guarantee in September, restraining approximately $52 million in crypto assets in a single day. This action brought the total value of crypto restrained by the Strike Force since its inception in November 2025 to roughly $938 million. Federal data indicated that crypto investment fraud losses reached $8.65 billion in 2025, an 89% increase from 2023. The FBI, however, considers these figures to be “significantly underrepresented” due to the common practice of fraud victims not reporting their losses.
Leave a Reply