Five men have been arrested in London as part of an investigation into alleged crypto scams that may have cost victims more than £1m, police have said.
Detectives from the Met Police’s economic crime team said the scams allegedly involved several websites claiming to offer pre-sale investment opportunities in new cryptocurrencies.
Investors were promised cash returns that could more than double in value when listed on major exchanges, according to the police.
However, the websites rarely had any intention to list them on exchange websites and could not guarantee returns in cash, the Met said.
A London-based “boiler room” operation was then suspected of making follow-up calls to victims to encourage further investment.
Victims of the scam, both in London and further afield, may have lost millions of pounds, according to the police.
There are some steps you can take to protect yourself if you are considering investing in cryptocurrencies.
The Met Police recommends conducting “thorough research” before parting with your money.
It also suggests checking the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) warning list.
That is a list of companies that are not allowed to operate in the UK and includes crypto companies.
The Met Police also shared five tips in its Little Book of Crypto Crime:
1. Don’t be rushed into decisions: make sure you understand what you’re buying and where you’re buying it from.
2. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is: taglines that promise guaranteed returns or consistent profit should be treated with caution.
3. Don’t advertise how much crypto you have, just as you wouldn’t advertise traditional wealth because it can make you a target for criminals.
4. Be wary of unsolicited contact and don’t click on unsolicited links: login directly on sites rather than through links that are sent to you.
5. Check for subtle differences in web addresses, email addresses and contact numbers. Always check wallet addresses before transferring crypto.
The police named five websites allegedly linked to the arrests: DTX Exchange, Intel Markets, Cryptids, Algo Tech Trades and Unilabs Finance.
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They warned that some of the sites previously operated under different domain names, which makes them harder to track.
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“These websites are highly convincing and use professional-looking content, fake endorsements and aggressive marketing tactics to lure people in,” said Detective Sergeant Stephen Bourne.
“Once cryptocurrency is sent, it is almost impossible to recover. If you have any doubts, please do not invest.
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“Though we are still very much in the early stages of the investigation, we believe this crime is affecting victims in every corner of the world and strongly advise members of the public not to engage with or invest through the websites listed,” said DC Bourne.
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The men, aged between 21 and 37, were arrested in London earlier this month on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud.
They have since been released on bail.
