10.09.2025 22:24

Here's a rewritten version of the news article, incorporating varied sentence structures and focusing on the key details:

**US Authorities Seek to Recover $12 Million in USDT Linked to Crypto Fraud**

Utilizing civil forfeiture proceedings, U.S. federal prosecutors are actively pursuing the recovery of over $12 million in USDT, the popular stablecoin Tether, connected to a deceptive investment scheme. The complaint, lodged last Friday, singles out balances associated with digital wallets used by a manipulated trading platform. As highlighted in a Justice Department statement released on Tuesday, the initiative details how victims were manipulated into making off-platform deposits.

The scheme's modus operandi involved unsolicited text messages, a tactic used to lure unsuspecting individuals into conversations about purported investment avenues. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the victims, many of whom spoke Mandarin, were subsequently guided to a fake trading platform, ShakepayEX. The platform was meticulously designed to mimic a legitimate Canadian exchange. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) findings confirm the details.

Once the victims had deposited funds, they were abruptly blocked from withdrawing their assets. The perpetrators employed various tactics, including the imposition of fictitious fees and new withdrawal prerequisites. Simultaneously, the scammers persistently pressured the victims to provide additional funds. The total financial losses stemming from this fraudulent operation are estimated to surpass $10 million, as reported by the prosecutors.

This action underscores the growing reliance of U.S. authorities on civil forfeiture as a crucial instrument for intercepting funds on stablecoin networks. These efforts signify increasing collaboration between prosecutors and issuers, with a clear goal of freezing assets before they vanish into less-trackable channels.