The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a public service announcement on Monday, June 15, warning that scammers are deploying couriers to collect cash from victims in person, a tactic designed to circumvent bank detection systems that normally flag wire transfers.
The fraudsters initially approach targets – frequently older adults – through social media, text messages or fake cryptocurrency investment profiles, the bureau stated. [1] After building trust, the scammers propose investing in cryptocurrency and direct victims to download specific trading applications and create accounts, according to the FBI.
Victims are shown websites displaying fictitious returns, which encourages them to deposit additional funds. When legitimate financial institutions flag wire transfers as suspicious and block them, the scammers instruct victims to hand over cash directly to a courier who arrives in person, the agency said. [1]
How the Scheme Operates
Once a courier collects the cash and departs, victims see an increase in deposits reflected in their virtual wallet on the scammer's investment platform, the FBI explained. When victims attempt to withdraw what they believe are profits, the scammers demand payment of fraudulent taxes and penalties – again using couriers for cash pickups to perpetuate the fraud. [1] This method allows criminals to bypass the anti-fraud algorithms that banks and credit unions have implemented to detect large or unusual electronic transfers.
The scheme is not entirely new. In 2024, the FBI issued an alert about couriers being used by scammers who had convinced victims to liquidate assets into cash or precious metals, often by posing as tech support or government officials. [2]
The current iteration specifically targets cryptocurrency investors, luring them with promises of high returns through fake trading platforms. The scammers often exploit social media and dating apps to establish initial contact, according to the bureau. [3]
FBI Advice and Warning Signs
The FBI urged the public to protect personal information, including banking details, and to never meet unknown individuals to hand over cash or valuables as part of any investment scheme. The agency specifically warned about "love bombing," a manipulation technique in which scammers quickly shower victims with praise and attention to build false trust before exploiting them. [1] [3]
The bureau also advised consumers to verify investment platforms through official sources before depositing funds, and to be skeptical of unsolicited investment opportunities presented via social media or messaging apps. The FBI noted that legitimate financial institutions will not send couriers to collect cash for investment deposits. Individuals who suspect they have been targeted should report the activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the agency said. [1] [2]
Crypto Scam Statistics and Victim Demographics
According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, the IC3 received 181,565 complaints regarding cryptocurrency schemes in 2024, a 21% increase from the previous year. Losses from these complaints exceeded $11.36 billion, with an average loss of $62,604 per report. The report indicated that 18,589 individuals lost more than $100,000 each. [1]
Victims aged 60 and older filed the largest number of complaints and suffered the highest total losses, amounting to over $4.43 billion. [1] This demographic is frequently targeted by sophisticated fraud networks, some of which are run by transnational criminal organizations.
In a separate operation, federal authorities in February 2026 froze and seized more than $580 million in cryptocurrency linked to Southeast Asian scam networks tied to Chinese transnational criminal groups, according to a March 2026 report on NaturalNews.com. [4] U.S. authorities also seized over $225 million in cryptocurrency from an international fraud network in June 2025. [5]
Conclusion: Context and Ongoing Risk
The FBI emphasized that scammers continually adapt their methods to evade detection, and the use of couriers represents an effort to bypass financial safeguards designed to protect consumers. While cryptocurrency itself is a decentralized tool that can offer privacy and autonomy, its misuse in fraud schemes highlights the need for investor caution and due diligence. As author Mo Lidsky observed in his book "Selling Snake Oil," the same innovations in communications and social media that connect people also allow impostors to reach those who would normally avoid them. [6]
Authorities recommend verifying the legitimacy of any investment platform before committing funds, maintaining control of one's own digital assets through secure wallets, and reporting suspicious activity to the IC3 at ic3.gov. [1] The blockchain technology underlying most cryptocurrencies has not been successfully attacked at the protocol level, as noted in "Blockchain For Dummies," but central systems such as exchanges and wallets remain vulnerable to fraud and hacking. [7] The FBI's alert serves as a reminder that while financial innovation can empower individuals, it also creates new avenues for exploitation that require constant vigilance.
References
- Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times. "Crypto Scammers Using Couriers To Collect Cash, Avoid Detection: FBI". ZeroHedge. June 17, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "FBI warns of Phantom Hacker scams WIPING OUT senior citizens life savings". November 9, 2023.
- Belle Carter. "FBI warns of AI powered romance scams surging ahead of Valentines Day victims lose over 1B to fake love". NaturalNews.com. February 13, 2026.
- Laura Harris. "Strike force freezes 580 million in crypto linked to Southeast Asian scam networks". NaturalNews.com. March 2, 2026.
- Ramon Tomey. "Crypto crime wave US seizes digital assets worth 225M in historic crackdown on global fraud networks". NaturalNews.com. June 22, 2025.
- Mo Lidsky. "Selling Snake Oil".
- Laurence Tiana. "Blockchain For Dummies".
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