Three men are behind bars after orchestrating a fake-police crypto scam that fleeced eight victims out of more than £4 million. Anthony Ikenwe, 29, and Kevin Nwamma, 25, each got six years for conspiracy to commit fraud and five years for money laundering — to run concurrently. Hamza Bashir, 23, received three years and nine months for fraud and three years for money laundering, also concurrent. Southwark Crown Court handed down the sentences on 16 July 2026.
How the scam worked
The trio impersonated Metropolitan Police officers, going as far as setting up fake police-branded websites. Victims were tricked into authorising crypto transfers, believing they were dealing with legitimate law enforcement. The fraud relied on the authority of the Met badge to gain trust — then drain wallets.
The investigation and arrests
Met Police started looking into the scheme in January 2025 after victims came forward. By November 2025, they were ready to move. Coordinated raids hit seven addresses across London and Essex, netting three suspects along with 40 mobile phones, crypto holdings, and luxury goods. The haul included a car bought for nearly £60,000 and items valued above £26,000.
What was recovered
Investigators traced roughly £1 million linked to victim funds. They also located about £500,000 in cash sitting in a Dubai safety-deposit box — a reminder that crypto crime often leaves a traditional paper trail. The proceeds-of-crime case is still being worked, but the sentences already send a message: pretending to be a cop to steal crypto will land you in real handcuffs.
