TL;DR: Two Maine residents lost more than $800,000 to a cryptocurrency investment scheme. The FBI seized cryptocurrency traced to their payments, the U.S. Attorney's Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint, and the district court ordered the funds forfeited. On March 13, 2026 the Department of Justice announced $470,735 returned to the victims. It is a real recovery, though not a full one.
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What happened
The U.S. Attorney's Office for Maine announced on March 13, 2026 that two Maine residents had lost more than $800,000 to a cryptocurrency investment scheme. The FBI traced and seized cryptocurrency linked to the victims' payments, with assistance from Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin.
How the recovery worked
The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that the seized funds were traceable to wire fraud and involved in money laundering offences. The U.S. District Court ordered forfeiture to the United States, and the Department of Justice then returned $470,735 to the victims.
That is a substantial amount, but it is less than the more than $800,000 the pair lost. Crypto recoveries are usually partial because scammers move funds quickly and only what is still sitting in traceable wallets can be seized.
What this means for crypto scam victims
- Recovery is possible but uncertain. Read realistic expectations for crypto scam recovery before you spend money on any 'recovery service'.
- Report fast. Funds that stay in a wallet long enough to be traced can sometimes be frozen.
- Beware second scams. People who lost money are often targeted again by fake recovery firms. See investment and trading app scam recovery.
Report it
In the United States, file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and keep every wallet address, transaction hash and screenshot. For the wider picture, see crypto scam statistics for 2026 and romance investment (pig butchering) scams.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Maine victims lose and recover?
They lost more than $800,000. The Department of Justice announced on March 13, 2026 that $470,735 was being returned to them.
How was the cryptocurrency recovered?
The FBI seized cryptocurrency traced to the victims' payments. The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint, the district court ordered forfeiture, and the funds were returned to the victims, with assistance from Tether.
Why was it not a full recovery?
Only the funds that investigators could trace and seize were recovered. Scammers typically move money through many wallets, so the amount still reachable is usually less than the original loss.
Where should I report a crypto investment scam in the US?
Report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov and keep all wallet addresses and transaction records.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice: Return of $470,735 to Victims of a Cryptocurrency Investment Scheme (Mar 13, 2026)
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)