UK Police Investigate £2.1 Million Bitcoin Scam
In a shocking development, UK police are actively pursuing a case involving a scammer who impersonated a senior officer to steal £2.1 million ($2.8 million) worth of Bitcoin. The North Wales Police Cyber Crime team announced on Tuesday that they are diligently investigating this sophisticated crypto theft, which underlines a worrying trend of targeting long-term crypto holders utilizing cold storage devices.
Advanced Scam Tactics Employed
The victim in this case may have been singled out following a data breach, making the scam highly targeted and advanced. This incident highlights the evolving tactics of scammers, who have been known to impersonate law enforcement or government officials to deceive victims. These fraudulent schemes range from simple payment requests to intricate, multi-layered cons designed to obscure the scam’s true nature.
Officer Impersonated in Crypto Theft
The North Wales Police revealed that the victim was approached by an individual masquerading as a senior UK law enforcement officer. The scammer claimed to have apprehended someone with the victim’s identification documents on their phone, suggesting that the victim was exposed to numerous potential security threats.
Exploiting the victim’s fear and urgency, the scammer instructed them to “secure their assets” by logging into their crypto cold wallet using a link provided by the impersonator. 
Believing they were following legitimate police instructions, the victim entered their seed phrase into what was a convincing fraudulent website. This gave the scammers full control over the wallet, enabling them to withdraw the entire $2.8 million worth of Bitcoin.
Cops Say to Verify, Not Trust
North Wales Police are actively working to trace and recover the stolen funds. They have also provided crucial advice to crypto holders on verifying the legitimacy of communications purportedly from law enforcement.
“Police will NEVER call you unexpectedly to discuss your crypto assets or ask you to take action on your cold storage device. This is a big red flag,” the team emphasized. They urged individuals to hang up on suspicious calls and independently contact the police to confirm the legitimacy of the communication, noting that police would never request a crypto seed phrase.
“Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics,” North Wales Police explained. “They are not just targeting new investors; they are crafting sophisticated social engineering schemes to trick even the most diligent holders.”
Police Warn of Other Impersonation Scams
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also warned of imposters posing as crypto exchange employees, contacting potential victims under the guise of account issues to extract sensitive information for unauthorized access. In May, the FBI reported that attackers were utilizing artificial intelligence-powered deepfakes to create voice messages impersonating senior US officials, primarily targeting current or former US federal and state government employees.
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