FBI: Fraudsters use couriers to steal money in crypto scams

The FBI warns that criminals conducting cryptocurrency investment and romance scams are increasingly using couriers to pick up cash from victims after convincing them to convert funds; scammers authenticate couriers with passwords or specific dollar bill serial numbers and perpetuate the scheme by showing simulated wallet balances and demanding more money. The advisory urges due diligence on crypto platforms, avoiding sharing addresses or handing cash to unknown individuals, and reporting incidents to the FBI; the report references large aggregate losses from investment scams reported in the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report.