DOJ Hunts $200K in Tinder Crypto Scam Funds—Romance Fraud Meets Digital Heist

Another day, another crypto scam—but this one swiped right.

The Department of Justice is on the trail of $200,000, allegedly stolen through a cryptocurrency scheme that turned the popular dating app Tinder into a hunting ground. Forget catfishing for lonely hearts; this operation was fishing for wallets.

The Playbook: Swipe, Match, Extract

Authorities outline a familiar yet effective script. Scammers build trust through weeks of messaging before pivoting to 'investment opportunities' in digital assets. The hook? Promises of outsized returns from a market known for its volatility. Once funds are sent to a controlled wallet, the match goes cold—along with the victim's balance.

Why Crypto? The Perfect Getaway Car

Blockchain's core features—pseudonymity and irreversible transactions—make it a favorite for fraud. Funds can be laundered through mixers or bounced across chains in minutes, leaving a complex trail for investigators to untangle. The DOJ's asset recovery push signals a ramp-up in following that digital breadcrumb trail, no matter how scattered.

The Bigger Picture: A $200,000 Warning

This case is a tiny fragment of the billions lost to crypto fraud annually. Yet, it's a stark reminder: the intersection of social engineering and decentralized finance is a high-risk zone. While regulators play catch-up, the onus falls on users to vet 'opportunities' with extreme skepticism—especially those that come with a flirty emoji.

So, the next time a match talks about a 'can't-miss' token, remember: in the wild west of crypto, sometimes the only thing getting pumped is your loss. A little cynicism might just save your portfolio from a heartbreak.

DOJ seeks to recover $200k in USDT in Tinder crypto scam

According to the DOJ affidavit supporting the forfeiture request filed this month by FBI Special Agent Hannah Wong, the unnamed victim met a man on the dating app Tinder. The man claimed his name was “Nino Martin,” which could be an alias, as these criminals refrain from giving up their real names due to the chance that they might be caught in the act. After matching with her on Tinder, the suspect asked to MOVE things to WhatsApp, where he claimed they could talk better.

The pair moved things to WhatsApp, and they hit it off quite well. During introductions, the victim said Martin claimed to be a financial advisor who helps people make money through several crypto investments. He mentioned that he could also help her make money through crypto investments, telling her that they could make more than enough profits and be set for life. After several discussions, the victim was convinced and asked that they set up her account.

Marin told the victim that he had set up a Coinbase account for her, asking the victim to send funds into the account. A while later, he told her that he WOULD move the funds to a separate platform called onechainnm(dot)com, but the victim accidentally told Martin that they had a balance of about $500,000 in their bank account. According to the affidavit, the victim sent $384,4133 to several unhosted wallets they believed were connected to the platform that Martin suggested.

The agency says it will attempt a civil forfeiture

The victim claimed that they never met in person, as Martin always gave several excuses that sounded genuine because of the nature of his work. On one occasion, the DOJ said Martin told her that he had to fly to Florida to give a presentation, so they couldn’t meet. However, in March 2025, the investment platform had to change its name to onechainiy(dot)com, and the victim was restricted from their Coinbase accounts due to “sending suspicious transfers.”

A while after, unknown individuals claiming to be customer service from the investment platform allegedly then gave her a way to work around Coinbase and keep investing in the platform by wiring money from their bank account to account numbers they provided. The customer service said the victim could keep investing, leading them to send $112,253 in additional funds over the next few days, around the end of March 2025.

In April, the fake customer service agents claimed the victim owed an IRS tax of $200,000, which made the victim suspicious, so she stopped sending any money. In total, the victim claimed they transferred more than $500,000 to the platform, a figure that comprised most of their savings. The crypto account connected to the scheme was seized last June. Now, the DOJ is seeking to seize and recover most of these funds. The DOJ can seize properties or earnings if it is determined to be tied to criminal activities.

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