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Florida Recovers Record $5.4 Million From AI-Driven Romance Crypto Scam

The effort underscores a playbook built on tracing digital wallets for faster paybacks.

Overview

  • Florida officials, who announced the case Tuesday in Ocala, called the $5.4 million crypto seizure the largest single-state recovery.
  • Investigators say scammers used dating sites, social media, and AI-made photos to pose as partners before steering victims into fake investments.
  • Authorities plan to return $700,000 to Floridians and $1.3 million to Massachusetts victims, with checks expected next month.
  • Marion County detectives traced a key digital wallet, helping recover money for a man who lost $450,000 and never filed a report.
  • The state’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit reports $3.3 million recovered in early 2026, $7.2 million since launch, and $12.6 million frozen in cases still in court, with unmatched funds supporting future recoveries.