US, UK, Canada Launch Operation Atlantic on Crypto Scams

• The US, UK, and Canada launched Operation Atlantic to disrupt approval phishing scams.
• The joint effort aims to warn victims, secure wallets, and help recover stolen funds.
• Approval phishing uses fake prompts to gain wallet access and move crypto assets.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada have started Operation Atlantic, a joint law enforcement effort aimed at crypto approval phishing scams tied to investment fraud. The operation began this week and brings together agencies across borders as criminals continue to target wallet users through fake prompts, malicious pop-ups, and false approvals.

The new push matters for crypto investors, wallet holders, and fraud investigators because approval phishing gives criminals direct access to digital assets. Authorities said the operation will focus on real-time disruption, victim warnings, wallet protection, and help for people trying to recover stolen funds.

Operation Atlantic Begins With a Cross-Border Law Enforcement Push

Operation Atlantic is being co-hosted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Ontario Securities Commission, the Ontario provincial police, and the U.K. National Crime Agency. Additional agencies involved include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the City of London Police, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority.

Officials said the goal is to identify victims who may have already lost crypto assets or remain at risk of further losses. The operation is also working with private industry partners, which shows that public agencies are trying to move faster by combining law enforcement tools with market and technical support.

A statement from the operation said that phishing and investment scams cost victims millions of dollars each year. Authorities added that the joint effort is meant to stop these scams in near real time and reduce the chance for criminals to keep moving stolen funds.

Approval Phishing Remains a Key Threat in Crypto Fraud Cases

This type of fraud is often linked to crypto investment scams, including schemes that promise high returns and then lead victims into fake platforms or fake wallet actions. Because blockchain transactions cannot be reversed, recovery becomes much harder after the assets leave the wallet.

Authorities said these scams are becoming more advanced, and they are using stronger tools and wider coordination to respond. The operation is designed not only to disrupt fraud networks but also to help people secure assets before more damage occurs.

Project Atlas and Earlier Work Shaped the New Operation

Operation Atlantic builds on Project Atlas, a 2024 Canadian-led effort hosted by the Ontario Provincial Police. The previous operation was targeting global networks of crypto investment fraud and demonstrated that concerted effort could have disrupted organized fraud.

Project Atlas is part of the efforts of the Cyber Enabled Fraud Team, a special unit formed in 2023 to research digital fraud. The unit is attentive to cryptocurrency, phishing, and other Internet fraud involving finances.

Operation Atlantic builds on this foundation by shifting from investigation toward faster disruption and direct outreach to victims. The initiative reflects a broader push by agencies to coordinate globally, recognizing that crypto fraud operates across borders and requires an equally coordinated response.

Related: South Korea Recovers $21 Million in Stolen BTC After Hackers Return It