Europol | The Spanish National Police, working with the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, disrupted operations of the “Black Axe” international criminal organization.

Criminal networks are quick to apply new technology — like AI — to activities such as scams and fraud. Meanwhile, law enforcement faces 10- to 15-year implementation timelines.

Business Insider | The FBI reports that scammers stole more than $333 million from victims using Bitcoin ATM fraud in 2025.

The Diplomat | Jacob Sims writes that Western strategic missteps, absent U.N. accountability, a gutted civil society, and Thai aggression are providing cover for a Hun Sen’s weakened leadership.

OCCRP | When police raided hotel sites in Palau, they encountered scenes that looked much like those inside the scam compounds in Myanmar and Southeast Asia.

Wall Street Journal | Chinese money launderers have moved more than $300 billion in illicit transactions through U.S. banks and other financial institutions in recent years.

Reuters | Meta accepted high levels of fraudulent ads from China in order to minimize the “revenue impact” of preventing scam ads.

CTV News | An investigation looks into why the people making scam calls targeting Canadians seem to be so willing to scam people out of their life savings.

W5 | Canadians are being aggressively targeted by scammers using AI-generated videos and images to get them to invest in cryptocurrency scams.

CA.gov | Governor Gavin Newsom has named Erin West, founder of Operation Shamrock, to the California Innovation Council’s Countering Tech Fraud working group.

Chainalysis | Asset Reality’s Aidan Larkin and Hugo Hoyland discuss solutions to manage seized digital assets and their strategic partnership with Operation Shamrock.

Asset Reality | CEO Aidan Larkin sits down with Erin West and Matthew Hogan of Operation Shamrock to talk about the global scamdemic that’s devastating victims and fueling organized crime,

Hard Reset | Tech both enables and profits from the scam industry. Billionaire leaders have some of the world’s most advanced tech, yet do little to stop scams or support victims.

ITIF | The United States can close the gaps in public-private coordination through bipartisan legislation, including the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act and the SCAM Act.

ICIJ | Crypto businesses have empowered a shadow economy that profits from crime. Meanwhile, scam victims have little hope of justice or recovering stolen money.

The New York Times | Crypto is gaining mainstream acceptance. But at least $28 billion tied to illicit activity has moved into crypto exchanges over the last two years alone.

The New York Times | Fraud losses involving crypto ATMs totaled $246.7 million in 2024. By the end of July 2025, losses had already reached $240 million according to FBI estimates.

Chainalysis | Erin West joins the Public Key Podcast to discuss traveling to Southeast Asian scam compounds and investigating the transnational criminal organizations stealing the life savings of hard-working people.