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3w ago

U.S. Prosecutors Move to Forfeit $200,000 in USDT Linked to Tinder ‘Pig‑Butchering’ Scheme

Prosecutors say the seized stablecoin reflects only part of a Cambridge victim’s losses in a romance‑investment fraud.

Dating apps warning. File photo dated 11/01/16 of a person using the Tinder app on a smartphone as the number of alleged crimes potentially involving people's use of dating apps Tinder and Grindr increased more than sevenfold in two years - including reports of rape, grooming and attempted murder. Issue date: Monday January 11, 2016. Experts said the findings were "shocking" and urged the authorities to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of meeting strangers on so-called hook-up sites. See PA story POLICE Tinder. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire URN:25204739
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Overview

  • The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts filed a civil forfeiture action this week seeking roughly $200,000 traced to the fraud.
  • Court filings describe a Tinder match using the name “Nino Martin” who shifted chats to WhatsApp and posed as a financial adviser.
  • The victim followed instructions to fund a purported trading site and transferred about $504,353 before contacting law enforcement.
  • Investigators opened the case in April 2025, traced part of the proceeds to a crypto account, and seized that account in June 2025.
  • Chainalysis reported a 162% rise in crypto crime in 2025, and despite targeted sanctions and arrests, experts say recoveries are rare due to rapid fund movements and uneven international cooperation.