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
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A FREE family-friendly lantern parade is returning to Altrincham this Christmas
Thomas Melia
There’s a family-friendly lantern parade making its way back to Altrincham town centre this Christmas and it’s completely free.
If you thought the Christmas season couldn’t get any better, you were wrong, as now you can have your very own Rapunzel moment as Altrincham welcomes the return of its lantern parade.
Before these dazzling paper creations light up this Greater Manchester town, there will be a very exciting Nativity Trail spread across various locations starting at Stamford Square.
Not only this, you can also expect a range of family-friendlyactivities running throughout the day featuring everything from live music and storytelling.
And if you’re after getting stuck in yourself rather than just watching from the sidelines, there’ll be lantern making workshops taking place on the day.
Although these classes will be free for all to enjoy, any families looking at attending will still need to book a ticket to create and design their own lantern at at OYEZ Arts in Altrincham Town Hall.
Previous lantern parades that have been held in Altrincham have seen lots of exciting and fun festive surprises with live donkeys trotting through the town last year.
The event itself encourages parade-goers to gather in Goose Green from 4pm before the official walk and lighting takes place from 4.45pm.
This illuminated walk includes a full Nativity cast, local schoolchildren, lantern puppets alongside a live soundtrack courtesy of Sale District Scout and Guide Band.
With the lantern parade finishing in Stamford Square and expected to last just under one hour, there will be a live Nativity performance happening at 5.30pm.
Mandy White, Director of Altrincham BID, said: “The Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey truly capture the spirit of Christmas in Altrincham. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, explore the town and celebrate the festive season.”
Altrincham’s Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey returns on Saturday 13 December from 12pm with lantern lighting at 4pm onwards – all events and further info. HERE.
Featured Images – Supplied (via Altrincham BID)
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‘Disgraceful’ Manchester sex offender jailed after messaging several young girls under 16
Emily Sergeant
A sex offender from Manchester has been charged with 35 offences, including messaging several young girls while on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
William Howarth, from the Miles Platting area of Manchester, appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison – with a further six years on licence.
The 23-year-old’s sentencing follows an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023.
Howarth was subject to routine checks due to him being an already-registered sex offender managed by GMP through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and it was here where he had to register his mobile device and hand it over to his offender manager from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits.
After Howarth’s phone was seized by police, forensic analysis revealed a number of messages were sent to several young girls under the age 16.
#JAILED | On Thursday at Manchester Crown Court, William Howarth (28/7/2002), of Miles Platting, was sentenced to 15 years & 8 months with a further 6 years on licence – after previously pleading guilty to the 35 offences involving messaging young girls pic.twitter.com/HrYKCVay2l
An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, GMP managed to trace the children Howarth had been in communication with – who ‘bravely’ agreed to give their accounts.
Police say Howarth displayed ‘controlling’ behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests.
When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images to him, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online.
In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court last week (10 November 2025), Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences – including 11 counts of breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and possession and making of indecent images of children.
Speaking following Howarth’s sentencing, Detective Constable Joshua Cresswell, from GMP’s Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT), commented: “I’d like to thank the brave child victims in supporting our investigating through agreeing to give us their harrowing accounts of how Howarth came in contact with them.
“Howarth is a disgraceful predator and belongs behind bars away from causing further harm to children.”
The Manc -
12th August 2021 
