Key Notes
- Scammers in Kent used stolen data to trick victims into sharing crypto wallet seed phrases.
- Over £1 million was stolen from nine victims.
- Kent Police warn never to share wallet seed phrases.
In Kent, England, scammers have stolen more than £1 million ($1.2 million) from nine residents after stealing their personal information in a data breach.
Kent Police issued a public warning on March 1st, advising residents to be on guard against ongoing cryptocurrency scams. The fraudsters exploited the stolen personal data to fabricate fake reports from Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting service.
These fake reports were then used by scammers to impersonate law enforcement, informing victims they were under investigation and would soon receive a call from a “crypto wallet host” regarding their case.
Victims Coerced into Sharing Wallet Seed Phrases
The victims of the Kent scam received a second call from someone posing as a “security officer,” who manipulated them into disclosing their crypto wallet seed phrases, a set of words that grant access to their digital assets.
Using the stolen seed phrases, the fraudsters were able to access and drain the wallets, transferring the funds in a way that makes them unrecoverable, as confirmed by local police.
Police Issue Warning Against Sharing Personal Information
Detective Sergeant Darryll Paulson warned residents not to share personal information with anyone claiming to be law enforcement or crypto service providers over the phone.
“Scammers are becoming increasingly clever at exploiting urgency to pressure victims into handing over sensitive information, making it essential to stay cautious and skeptical,” Paulson advised.
The total amount lost in the scam, which stemmed from the data leak, exceeded $1.2 million across nine victims.
Detective Sergeant Paulson stressed that victims should report such scams promptly without feeling embarrassed, as “a brief lapse in attention can make anyone susceptible to fraud.”
Crypto users are strongly advised never to share their wallet seed phrases, as this gives scammers full access to the funds, enabling them to transfer or withdraw assets freely.
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