UK gang jailed over $5.4 million crypto scam posing as police

Jul 16, 2026

Three men in the UK have been jailed for up to 11 years for a $5.4 million cryptocurrency scam. Anthony Ikenwe, Kevin Nwamma, and Hamza Bashir impersonated police officers and used fake websites to trick eight victims into transferring their funds. The stolen money funded a lavish lifestyle of luxury cars and international travel, which was uncovered by the Met's Cryptocurrency Team using blockchain analysis.

Crypto scam sentencing

▪Hamza Bashir, 23, was sentenced to six years and nine months for conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.
▪Three men—Anthony Ikenwe, Kevin Nwamma, and Hamza Bashir—were sentenced in London for a crypto scam worth over £4 million ($5.4 million).
▪The sentencing took place at Southwark Crown Court.
▪Anthony Ikenwe, 29, and Kevin Nwamma, 25, were each sentenced to 11 years in prison for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.

Fraudulent impersonation tactics

▪The gang impersonated police officers, telling eight victims their crypto assets were at risk unless transferred to "secure" police accounts.
▪The scammers created fake police websites to convince victims of their legitimacy before they transferred funds.
▪Stolen funds were laundered through a complex network and converted into prepaid payment cards for everyday shopping.

Blockchain investigation methods

▪On November 20, 2025, police conducted synchronized raids across London and Essex, seizing devices, crypto, and luxury goods.
▪Investigators used blockchain analysis combined with exchange records, emails, and banking data to identify the criminal network.
▪The investigation by the Met's Cryptocurrency Team began in January 2025 after victims reported the fraud.

Luxury lifestyle evidence

▪The scammers used the stolen funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including a £60,000 car and luxury goods.
▪The group traveled to destinations including Thailand, Japan, Paris, Mykonos, the Maldives, and the Seychelles.
▪One of the men had a declared annual income of just £444 while police found £500,000 cash in a Dubai safety deposit box.

UK crypto regulation tightening

▪The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has stated there are "no legally operated crypto ATMs in the UK" due to strict 2021 anti-money laundering rules.
▪The case is being used to support stricter crypto regulation in the UK, as authorities expand powers to trace transactions.
▪The Metropolitan Police now considers cryptocurrency to have an "endemic role" in organized crime.