TLDR
- Three UK men were jailed over a £4 million crypto scam.
- The gang posed as police officers to target eight victims.
- Fake police websites were used to steal crypto account details.
- Police recovered about £1 million linked to victim funds.
- Luxury cars, Rolexes, cash and crypto assets were seized.
A UK gang has been jailed after impersonating police officers and stealing more than £4 million in cryptocurrency from eight victims.
Fraudsters Used Fake Police Websites
Three men were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after a police investigation into a crypto fraud network. The group called victims while pretending to be police officers and warned them that their cryptocurrency was at risk.
The victims were then persuaded to share account details or move funds into accounts they believed were controlled by police. Those accounts were fake, and the stolen cryptocurrency was quickly moved through a wider laundering network.
Police said the gang created convincing police-style websites to support the fraud. The websites helped the group gain trust and make the victims believe they were dealing with real officers.
The investigation began in January 2025 after victims reported the fraud. Officers then reviewed blockchain records, communications, financial data, crypto exchange records, and internet service provider information.
Three Men Sentenced in London
Anthony Ikenwe, 29, of East Tilbury, was sentenced to six years for conspiracy to commit fraud. He also received five years for money laundering, with both sentences running at the same time.
Kevin Nwamma, 25, of Watford, received the same sentence. He was jailed for six years for conspiracy to commit fraud and five years for money laundering, also running at the same time.
Hamza Bashir, 23, of Wimbledon, was sentenced to three years and nine months for conspiracy to commit fraud. He also received three years for money laundering, with both sentences running together.
Ikenwe and Nwamma pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to defraud and money laundering offences. Bashir initially denied involvement but changed his plea during trial after prosecutors presented further evidence.
Police Traced Crypto and Luxury Spending
Officers arrested the three men in coordinated warrants at seven addresses across London and Essex in November 2025. Police seized digital devices, including 40 mobile phones, luxury goods, and cryptocurrency assets.
Investigators recovered about £1 million directly linked to victim funds. They also traced more than £1 million in cryptocurrency to wallets controlled by Ikenwe.
Police said the stolen funds supported a luxury lifestyle. The group bought designer clothes, Rolex watches, cars, and high-end goods despite having little or no verified income.
One defendant had recorded yearly income of only £444. Officers also found records linked to a car worth almost £60,000 and about £500,000 in cash held in a Dubai safety deposit box.
The group also spent money on travel to Thailand, Japan, Paris, Mykonos, the Maldives, and the Seychelles. Luxury goods recovered during police searches were valued at more than £26,000.
Detective Inspector Geoff Donoghue said,
“This was a highly complex investigation into a group of calculated manipulators who exploited victims’ trust by pretending to be police officers.”
He added that the Met’s Cryptocurrency Team traced millions of pounds and used several investigative methods to disrupt the network. Police said they continue working with UK and international partners to identify others linked to the conspiracy and recover more assets for victims.
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