{
  "id": 5357301,
  "title": "Joint operation by police, crypto exchanges stops scam victims from losing almost $9 million",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/joint-operation-by-police-crypto-exchanges-stops-scam-victims-from",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-03T15:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/almost-9-million-in-scam-losses-foiled-by-police-and-crypto-exchanges"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore police and digital payment token (DPT) service providers successfully thwarted cryptocurrency scams, preventing over $8.94 million in losses in July and August, according to a joint operation statement released on September 3. This marked the fourth anti-cryptocurrency scam operation by the Singapore Police Force’s Cyber Command and DPT service providers, including Coinbase, Coinhako, DTCPay, Gemini, Independent Reserve, OKX, StraitsX, and Upbit.\n\nThe Cyber Command and participating DPT service providers utilized advanced blockchain analysis tools from Chainalysis and TRM Labs to identify scam victims, which included impersonation scams involving government officials and investment/jobs scams. DPT service providers supplied customer information, enabling officers to intervene over the phone and in-person, thwarting millions of dollars in potential losses. The police also shared blockchain intelligence with foreign law enforcement agencies, like the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation and New South Wales Police Force, which helped identify 50 overseas scam victims.\n\nThe police emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships and international collaboration in combating scams, stating that the operation's success highlights the effectiveness of combining investigative and technical capabilities with cooperation from DPT service providers and foreign law enforcement agencies. The police vowed to continue working closely with these partners and other stakeholders to combat cybercrime.\n\nIn previous operations, the police and exchanges have shown their commitment to protecting the public. For example, in June, the third anti-scam operation saved over 130 victims from losing more than $2.9 million. The police advised the public to protect themselves against scams by following the \"ACT\" steps: Add security features, Check for signs, and Tell the authorities and others about scams.",
  "summary": "Advanced blockchain analysis and timely information-sharing helped the police identify scam victims.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}