FinCEN Warns of Rising Digital Asset Investment Scams

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued an alert warning financial institutions of the growing threat of digital asset investment scams. According to the FBI, reported U.S. victim losses surged from $907 million in 2021 to $7.2 billion in 2025, fueled in part by criminal organizations using artificial intelligence to expand and refine their schemes.

The alert identifies key red flags credit unions should monitor, including:

• Suspicious payments: Members directed to purchase digital assets, gold, or gift cards, or make wire transfers under false pretenses, including fraudulent recovery services.
• Illicit digital asset transactions: Activity involving suspicious digital asset addresses, overseas scam operations, or marketplaces associated with money laundering.
• Money laundering patterns: Unusual stablecoin transactions, conversions between digital assets, and activity involving decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms with inadequate anti-money laundering controls.

FinCEN urges financial institutions to strengthen detection and reporting of suspicious activity linked to overseas scam centers and associated money laundering.

Read the full FinCEN Alert (FIN-2026-Alert005) for detailed red flags and reporting guidance.