In a shocking cybercrime incident, fraudsters in Kent, England, stole more than £1 million ($1.2 million) from nine victims after exploiting personal information obtained from a data breach. The Kent Police have issued a warning to residents, urging them to remain vigilant against cryptocurrency-related scams.
According to authorities, cybercriminals misused stolen personal data to fabricate fraudulent reports via Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting center. The scammers then posed as law enforcement officers and reached out to the victims, falsely claiming they were under investigation.
To further manipulate the victims, the scammers orchestrated a follow-up call from a supposed “crypto wallet security officer.” During this call, victims were coerced into revealing their seed phrases—a crucial set of 12 or 24 words used to access and recover crypto wallets.
“With that information, the fraudsters were able to rebuild the wallet, steal the funds, and transfer them beyond recovery,” stated the police in an alert.
Scammers Use Urgency to Deceive Victims
Detective Sergeant Darryll Paulson of Kent Police cautioned the public against sharing sensitive financial information over the phone. He emphasized that scammers often create a false sense of urgency, pushing victims into quick decisions that lead to financial losses.
“Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics, using deception to convince victims that their funds are at risk and immediate action is required,” Paulson explained.
Authorities stress that no legitimate police officer or financial institution will ever request sensitive financial details or seed phrases over the phone.
Ongoing Efforts to Prevent Further Fraud
In total, the nine victims lost over £1 million due to this fraudulent scheme. Police are urging anyone who may have been targeted by such scams to report them immediately, without fear of embarrassment.
Paulson reassured the public that falling victim to these schemes can happen to anyone and emphasized the importance of spreading awareness to prevent further incidents.
Crypto users are strongly advised never to share their seed phrases with anyone, as doing so grants complete access to their funds, allowing fraudsters to steal and transfer assets beyond recovery.
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