Beyond Scambaiting: YouTubers Help DOJ Bust a $65 Million Fraud Ring

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced federal indictments against 28 alleged members of a Chinese organised crime network accused of orchestrating a $65 million fraud scheme that preyed on thousands of senior citizens across the United States, including a 97-year-old San Diego widow who lost her life savings. According to the press release, twenty-eight alleged members are charged in four federal grand jury indictments with participating in a massive $65 million fraud scheme targeting thousands of seniors.

The indictments followed a weeklong nationwide takedown in California, New York, Texas and Michigan, with 25 of the defendants arrested; investigators recovered over $4.2 million from financial accounts and luxury vehicles such as a 2022 Mercedes-Benz G63, a 2024 Porsche Panamera and a 2025 GMC Yukon Denali.

Operating since at least 2019, the ring—primarily Chinese nationals, many in the U.S. illegally—collaborated with India-based scam call centres, with fraudsters posing as technical support agents, government officials or bank employees.

A notable element of the case was the role of cybercrime YouTubers, with Pierogi from Scammer Payback credited for documenting key evidence, including sting operations that helped identify high‑level conspirators Zhiyi Zhang, Dudu Chen and Huajian Chen, who are now named in indictments. Zhang admitted on camera to receiving packages for money, and was later arrested on 19 August 2025 at Los Angeles International Airport.