Crypto Scammers Use Fake Police Calls and Snapchat to Steal £5 Million

Crypto Scammers Use Fake Police Calls and Snapchat to Steal £5 Million

Source: UToday

Published:2026-07-19 10:37

BTC Price:$64655.7

#CryptoCrime #ScamAlert #BTC

Analysis

Price Impact

Low

This news is about crypto scams and arrests, which is negative for the general perception of crypto but does not directly impact the fundamentals or price of specific coins. it highlights risks, which can deter new investors.

Trustworthiness

High

Price Direction

Neutral

While negative for sentiment, the direct impact on major cryptocurrencies is minimal as it doesn't affect supply, demand, or technological advancements of these assets. it's a localized crime event, not a systemic market issue.

Time Effect

Short

The immediate aftermath might see a slight dip in overall crypto market sentiment, but this effect is likely to be short-lived as the market has seen such news before and tends to recover quickly.

Original Article:

Article Content:

Cover image via U.Today Posing as police officers Fake websites Fatal Snapchat messages Advertisement A sophisticated cryptocurrency fraud ring has been dismantled after stealing a whopping £5 million worth of crypto across the UK. Three criminals (Anthony Ikenwe, Hamza Bashir, and Kevin Nwamma) received a combined 28 years and nine months behind bars. Posing as police officers According to prosecutors, the scheme relied heavily on social engineering. HOT Stories What Could Ignite $100K Bitcoin Rally? Novogratz Names Three Factors XRP's Price Health Is on the Line, Did Shiba Inu (SHIB) Finally Bottom? Ethereum's (ETH) Mini-Golden Cross: Crypto Market Review The group allegedly purchased victims' personal information from dark web sources before contacting them by phone. Advertisement Victims were falsely told their digital assets were under immediate threat, which is why they needed to act urgently. Gullible victims were instructed either to disclose sensitive account credentials or transfer their cryptocurrency to the wallets that actually belong to the fraudsters. card Advertisement Authorities identified eight confirmed victims who collectively lost nearly £5 million worth of cryptocurrency. Fake websites The suspects gained the trust of their unsuspected victims and redirected them to  counterfeit websites that were designed to imitate legitimate cryptocurrency platforms. These phishing websites captured usernames, passwords and other authentication details. Members of the group also impersonated employees of cryptocurrency companies or introduced fake technical support representatives. Fatal Snapchat messages The video footage showing one suspect conducting a scam call was one of the most compelling pieces of evidence. During the call, the suspect attempted to persuade a victim to provide the password to a cryptocurrency account. Funding a luxurious lifestyle Police obviously used their ill-gotten funds to find an extravagant lifestyle. Uncovered CCTV footage showed members of the group making luxury purchases at Harrods. Additional evidence included photographs of the suspects posing with expensive vehicles. #Cryptocurrency Crime #Bitcoin News