Scammer posing as UK cop steals $2.8M worth of Bitcoin

A cryptocurrency investor in the United Kingdom lost the equivalent of $2.8 million in Bitcoin after being deceived by a scammer posing as a police officer. North Wales Police announced on Tuesday that it is investigating the case, describing it as a targeted and advanced fraud.

According to authorities, the victim was contacted by an individual claiming to be a senior law enforcement officer. The scammer said they had arrested someone in possession of the victim’s identification documents, creating pressure and suggesting potential security risks.

The victim was instructed to secure their digital assets by accessing a link. Following the directions, the investor entered the seed phrase of their cold wallet on a fraudulent website, losing control of the funds.

Police believe the victim may have been identified through a data breach, turning the scam into a targeted operation. Authorities are cooperating with international agencies to trace the cryptocurrency flows and attempt to recover the stolen assets.