FBI expands global fraud crackdown under Trump administration

FBI Director Kash Patel announced a worldwide effort to dismantle large‑scale scam compounds that target American seniors and funnel billions to transnational criminal syndicates. The initiative, described as a top priority by the Trump administration, builds on a playbook that includes operations such as Operation Blackout and the recent Operation Sand Dollar.

In Operation Sand Dollar, the FBI worked with Dubai Police and China’s Ministry of Public Security to shut down nine scam centers, make 311 arrests, seize thousands of devices and prevent roughly $54 million in losses to U.S. victims. Partners in Southeast Asia—including India, Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia—have also helped disrupt communications and financial channels used by the fraud networks.