Crypto crime this week: Oct 12–18, 2026

275 stories this week · most active: Scams & Consumer Fraud (68), Hacks & Exploits (66), Law Enforcement Actions (45) · 3 official releases

Official actions

NCA hosts international law enforcement and tech industry crackdown on fraud and scamsUK National Crime Agency News · Oct 13Official release
The Department of Justice Announces Results of Law Enforcement and Private Industry Joint Disruption Week Targeting Online Scam Accounts and Transnational Criminal Networks Operating in West AfricaDOJ Justice News · Oct 13Official release
Austin Couple Indicted for Running Fake ID WebsitesDOJ Justice News · Oct 13Official release

Scams & Consumer Fraud 68 stories

UK chances of keeping £3.8bn bitcoin haul rise after High Court rulingFT Crypto · Oct 13
Courts convict AI investment scammers in South Korea, complicate fund recovery - CHOSUNBIZChosunbiz · Oct 17
UK Man Sentenced to 2.5 Years for SIM-Swap Crypto Theft That Funded Gold Grills and Dubai TripsBigGo Finance · Oct 12
Three Canadian soldiers arrested in Toronto crypto kidnapping investigationcrypto.news · Oct 15

Hacks & Exploits 66 stories

The Crypto devices built to foil hackers came with spies insideThe Economic Times · Oct 18
Bybit Hack Forensics Show North Korean Hackers Stole $1.5 Billion in Largest Crypto Heist by Exploiting SafeWallet DeveloperCoinMarketCap · Oct 15
Ledger reveals how hidden chip stole recovery phrases in $93M hackCryptopolitan · Oct 13
Ledger says 'spy' chip inside CryptoBilis Ledger devices transmitted wallet keys over mobile networkCoinDesk · Oct 13

Revoke, document, report, freeze, trace: the emergency playbook for the hours right after a drain.

If this happened to youHow to Report Crypto Theft to the FBI: A Complete IC3 Walkthrough

What IC3 is, what to include in your report, and what actually happens after you submit.

What to do nextCan a Scammer’s Crypto Be Frozen? How Freezes Really Work

Who can freeze stolen crypto (exchanges, Tether, Circle), what they need, and how to give a freeze the best chance.

Law Enforcement Actions 45 stories

Crypto bro Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prisonMashable · Oct 18
New Crypto: A UK Court Rules on 61,000 Seized BTC, and Analysts Eye 1000x for Pepeto Before It ListsopenPR.com · Oct 17
Seven foreigners claim trial over Forest City crypto scamNST Online · Oct 16
UK High Court Rules Chinese Law Governs Claims Over 61,000 Seized Bitcoin: What It MeansKalkine Media · Oct 14

Litigation, Insolvency & Asset Recovery 22 stories

Bitcoin price drops below $81K as analyst warns of fall to $65Kcrypto.news · Oct 15
Bitcoin risks another leverage shakeout if US CPI runs hot, analysts warncrypto.news · Oct 14
Ethereum Price Prediction: Tom Lee Warns of ETH Drawdown After Kospi BloodbathCryptonews · Oct 14
Ethereum Derivatives Flash Mixed Signals as Bulls Hold the EdgeBitcoin.com News · Oct 17

Policy, Regulation & Compliance 21 stories

Latvia eyes crypto tax payments in 2027 as parliament overhauls crypto taxationCoinDesk · Oct 18
French Assembly Backs Tax on Crypto-to-Stablecoin Swaps by One VoteThe Defiant · Oct 17
Australia releases draft bill to adopt OECD crypto tax reporting frameworkCointelegraph · Oct 15
Ex-Trump crypto adviser profited after helping pass stablecoin bill: WSJCointelegraph · Oct 15

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