2 Nigerians, one other jailed in UK after stealing almost £5m in police impersonation scam

Three men, including two Nigerians, have been jailed in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of orchestrating a sophisticated fraud scheme that stole nearly £5 million in cryptocurrency from victims. The defendants, Anthony Ikenwe, 29, Hamza Bashir, 23, and Kevin Nwamma, 25—were sentenced to a total of 28 years and nine months in prison following convictions for conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering. The sentencing took place at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday. The trio operated under a carefully constructed deception, posing as law enforcement officials to manipulate victims into divulging sensitive financial information or transferring their digital assets. During these interactions, they claimed that victims' cryptocurrency accounts had been breached and instructed them to transfer funds to so-called secure accounts. In reality, these accounts were controlled by the perpetrators. The scammers used a combination of tactics, including obtaining victim data from the dark web and creating counterfeit websites that mimicked legitimate cryptocurrency platforms. To enhance the credibility of their operation, the fraudsters also fabricated identities as employees of cryptocurrency companies and established fake technical support lines. These measures helped maintain the illusion of legitimacy throughout the scam. A video recovered by investigators revealed one of the suspects engaging in a fraudulent call with a victim while simultaneously receiving real-time guidance from another conspirator via Snapchat. One of the messages exchanged during this interaction read: “Tell him to try with old pass,” highlighting the coordinated nature of the operation. The stolen cryptocurrency was used to finance extravagant expenditures, including luxury vacations, high-end watches, vehicles, and purchases at prestigious retailers such as Harrods. Although eight individuals are confirmed to have lost approximately £5 million, authorities suspect the actual number of affected victims could be significantly higher. The investigation, which began in January 2025, involved a thorough examination of blockchain transactions, communication logs, financial records, and internet service provider data. Investigators meticulously analyzed aliases, phone numbers, websites, cryptocurrency wallets, and spending habits to trace connections among seemingly unrelated incidents. The probe led to the identification of an organized criminal network that operated across multiple jurisdictions and platforms. Detective Inspector Geoff Donoghue of the Metropolitan Police’s Cryptocurrency Team emphasized the complexity of the case, stating that the perpetrators exploited victims’ trust by impersonating law enforcement. He noted that the police team employed a variety of investigative methods to trace the illicit funds and dismantle the network. Donoghue also stressed that fraud has serious consequences, often resulting in severe financial hardship for victims. Each defendant received concurrent sentences. Ikenwe, based in East Tilbury, was given six years for conspiracy to commit fraud and five years for money laundering. Bashir, from Wimbledon, received three years and nine months for the same charges. Nwamma, residing in Watford, was sentenced to six years for conspiracy to commit fraud and five years for money laundering. Authorities have issued warnings to the public, urging caution when receiving unsolicited calls regarding financial matters. Victims are advised to terminate such calls immediately and contact their banks or financial institutions directly before providing any personal or financial information.