Greater Manchester Police force has salvaged millions in stolen cryptocurrency scam after apprehending international scammers who were passing through the region.
A sum of $22.25 million (equivalent to just over £16 million) was seized by specialist officers from the Economic Crime Unit after intelligence found USB sticks containing huge amounts of Ethereum (the second largest cryptocurrency after BitCoin).
GMP said that scammers had duped people into investing millions in fake savings and trading services – and officers are now in the process of returning the currency to rightful owners.
According to police, victims based in the UK, USA, Europe, China, Australia and Hong Kong had deposited money into what they thought was an online savings and trading service using Binance Smart Chain – which stores and records transactions made in cryptocurrency confirming their movement and value.
The scammers had apparently waited until a significant amount of money had been deposited before shutting down their website and transferring the funds into their own accounts.
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#SCAM GMP rumbles international multi-million pound crypto-currency scam as GMP rumbled the fraud as it passed through #Manchester. Read more here: https://t.co/h96PSezSrH Learn about how to spot these scams from GMP's Detective Chief Inspector Joe Harrop: pic.twitter.com/Uqt6Xl4Idr
A 23-year-old male and a 25-year-old female were arrested for fraud and money laundering offences, but have since been released under investigation.
GMP’s Economic Crime Unit later found a further $12.7 million after locating a Cryptograph safety deposit box -effectively an online safe – and the code to access it.
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Cryptocurrency saving and trading services are becoming increasingly popular – and GMP says that criminals are finding ways to exploit the trend.
Detective Chief Inspector Joe Harrop of Greater Manchester Police’s ECU, said: “Our lives are increasingly moving online or onto our phones, and currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are often seen as the future when it comes to money and trading.
“With that comes a new type of crime and we’re seeing a rise in opportunist criminals looking to exploit these trends as well as any gaps in the technology that can be manipulated.
“It’s vital that we as a force adapt to what is an emerging type of crime, and demonstrate that there will be repercussions, regardless of the platform this fraudulent activity takes place on.”
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A sum of $22.25 million (equivalent to just over £16 million) was seized by specialist officers / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
He continued: “Organised crime is getting increasingly sophisticated in faking websites and services.
“Most of us can say we’ve got a text message from a seemingly known brand or bank, and it [is] harder than ever to tell if it’s the real deal.
“This latest case shows the huge sums we’re dealing with, and the reach these organised outfits can now achieve – a whole world is potentially vulnerable to this kind of exploitation, as shown in this case.
“We urge anyone involved [with] these platforms to use extreme caution, and know that there are still significant vulnerabilities and risks that could put their savings at risk.”
If you believe you’ve been affected by this particular cryptocurrency scam, please get in touch with Greater Manchester Police at [email protected] with the following details:
The name of the savings and trading service invested in
The name of the law enforcement you reported the crime to, and officer details
Wallet addresses and documentation to prove ownership
Featured Image – Pixabay
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
The Manc -
12th August 2021 
