El Paso County Sheriff recovers $147,000 for fraud victims with digital asset partnership. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office announced on Aug. 12 that it has expanded its ability to assist victims of financial fraud across the United States through a partnership with Asset Reality, a digital asset management and recovery platform. This technology enhances the Sheriff's Office's capacity to identify, track, and recover funds lost through increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes. Financial fraud investigations frequently extend beyond Colorado's borders, with detectives often identifying additional victims while pursuing original cases. By coordinating with law enforcement agencies nationwide and utilizing advanced digital asset recovery tools, investigators have strengthened their ability to trace illicit funds and return money to victims. Since implementing Asset Reality's digital asset recovery capabilities in 2026, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office has recovered nearly $147,000 for six victims of crypto-fraud schemes located in Colorado and across the United States. The scheme types include romance, lottery, investment, suspicious bank activity, pop-up scams, and warrant-related frauds. In addition to these recoveries, deputies have seized approximately $24,500 connected to multiple fraudulent operations. "Financial fraud investigations are among the most complex and time-consuming cases our detectives handle," said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. "These investigations require persistence, attention to detail, and strong partnerships across jurisdictions. I am incredibly proud of our detectives for their dedication to following every lead, recovering stolen assets, and helping victims rebuild after these crimes. Their work sends a clear message that the El Paso County Sheriff's Office will relentlessly pursue those who exploit others for financial gain." The office noted that public awareness remains one of the most effective tools for preventing victimization as fraud schemes continue to evolve. Community members are encouraged to remain cautious when receiving unsolicited communications requesting money or personal information and are advised never to send money or cryptocurrency without verification or allow unknown individuals remote access to devices. Anyone who believes they have been targeted by a fraud scheme is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency promptly. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office stated it remains committed to protecting the community by investigating financial crimes and pursuing opportunities for asset recovery through partnerships with technology providers.

The application from National Maritime Services in partnership with Asset Reality Ltd was disqualified from the running, due to not meeting some of the qualifications.