The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against four people—Lu Zhang, Justin Walker, Hailong Zhu, and Joseph Wong—for allegedly laundering more than $80 million from crypto scams.
The accused, who lived in California and Illinois, used sophisticated techniques to launder money obtained through fraudulent crypto activities.
At the heart of their strategy is a deceptive scheme known as the ‘pig butchering scam.’ This elaborate ruse entails creating fake romantic connections on social media platforms to gain the trust of victims, who are then persuaded to invest in fictitious crypto ventures.
Scammers use emotional ties to manipulate victims into investing in fraudulent crypto platforms controlled by the perpetrators.
These platforms show false profits, which encourages victims to invest more, resulting in significant financial losses.
The quartet—Zhang, Walker, Wong, and Zhu—are said to have carried out this scheme in at least 284 transactions, laundering approximately $20 million through associated bank accounts.
While Zhang and Walker have been apprehended, if convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison. This legal action is part of the United States’ larger effort to combat crypto romance scams, with around $112 million seized in related cases earlier this year.
