A court-authorized international law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Department of Justice has disrupted SocksEscort, a large residential proxy network that allegedly exploited thousands of internet routers worldwide to facilitate cybercrime and financial fraud.
Authorities said the U.S. government executed seizure warrants against dozens of internet domains registered in the United States that were allegedly connected to the criminal infrastructure. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
According to court documents, the SocksEscort network infected home and small business routers with malware, allowing operators to redirect internet traffic through compromised devices
The network then sold access to these infected routers as proxy services to customers seeking to hide their true locations online.
Investigators said the service had been operating since at least the summer of 2020 and offered access to roughly 369,000 IP addresses at various points
As of February 2026, the SocksEscort platform listed about 8,000 infected routers available for purchase, including around 2,500 located in the United States.
Cybercriminals allegedly used the proxy network to conceal their identities while carrying out a range of fraudulent activities. These included account takeovers targeting U.S. bank accounts and cryptocurrency platforms, as well as schemes involving fraudulent unemployment insurance claims.
Authorities said the crimes caused millions of dollars in losses to victims. Among the cases cited by investigators was a New York resident who lost approximately $1 million in cryptocurrency from an exchange account
In another case, a manufacturing company in Pennsylvania lost $700,000, while current and former U.S. service members using Military Star credit cards were defrauded of about $100,000.
The operation involved coordinated action by international partners, with law enforcement agencies in Austria, France, and the Netherlands helping dismantle key SocksEscort servers.
The investigation is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Sacramento Field Office, along with the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Authorities said the operation highlights the growing importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime networks that exploit global digital infrastructure.
Your web3 identity + services + payments in one single link. Get your pay3.so link today.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Gate Daily Report (April 3): Bitcoin miner MARA lays off 15%; North Korea is accused of attacking Drift to profit 286 million
Bitcoin (BTC) gives back this week’s gains, temporarily trading at around $66,780 on April 3. Bitcoin miner MARA cut 15% of its workforce, shifting its strategy toward energy and digital infrastructure. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic says North Korean hackers may exploit a vulnerability in the Drift Protocol to profit $286 million.
MarketWhisper1h ago
US: The CFTC sues Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois, arguing it has exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit on April 3 against Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois, reaffirming its exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts and prediction markets, and seeking to have federal courts bar state-level interference with prediction market activities that comply with federal regulations.
GateNews1h ago
Trump appoints acting Attorney General who holds BTC, raising ethical questions about crypto enforcement policy
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as Acting Attorney General, and dissolved the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, issuing a memorandum to halt regulatory enforcement against the crypto industry. When Blanche signed this memorandum, he still held crypto assets, which allegedly violated ethical standards and sparked legal disputes; whether transferring his assets into his family’s name can eliminate the conflict of interest remains controversial.
MarketWhisper1h ago
CFTC sues in 3 states to reclaim jurisdiction over prediction markets, as a U.S. conflict landscape begins to take shape
The Trump administration has recently intervened in a lawsuit involving the CFTC and the regulators of gambling in three states, challenging the states’ authority to regulate prediction markets. The CFTC argues that, under the Commodity Exchange Act, it has exclusive jurisdiction over these markets, and accuses the states of overstepping their authority in an attempt to change the nature of the wagering event contracts. This lawsuit reflects regulatory actions by 11 states regarding prediction markets, each facing different legal challenges. If a federal court sides with the CFTC, it will help provide legal protection for prediction markets; otherwise, it will increase operational uncertainty.
MarketWhisper1h ago
ZachXBT Accuses Circle of Being ‘Asleep’ as Drift Hack Funds Moved Freely
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has once again slammed Circle and its CEO, Jeremy Allaire, following alleged inaction during the $280 million exploit tied to Drift Protocol.
He described the entire fiasco as a critical delay in response as funds were actively moved across chains.
Circle Under
CryptoPotato4h ago
CFTC sues 3 states over prediction market regulatory authority
The Trump administration is suing Illinois, Connecticut, Arizona, and their gaming regulators over the federal government’s right to regulate prediction markets.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the US Department of Justice filed separate lawsuits on Thursday against the three st
Cointelegraph6h ago
