More than $ 200 million lost in the UK due to cryptocurrency fraud

Action Fraud, a UK-based research center, reported that the number of cryptocurrency crimes increased by 30% compared to 2020. Damage exceeded £ 146 million.

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data Police of the City of London, this year in the UK, losses from cryptocurrency fraud are more than £ 146 million ($ 200 million). Action Fraud, the national center for fraud and cybercrime reporting, said this is 30% more than last year.

“The number of reports of cryptocurrency scams has increased over the past few years. This is not surprising given that everyone is spending more time online. Criminals now have even more opportunities to interact with victims online, ”commented Chief Inspector Craig Mullish.

Since the beginning of this year, Action Fraud has received 7,118 cryptocurrency fraud reports. The average loss per victim was around £ 20,500. 11% of messages are from people 18-25 years old, 52% – from 18 to 45 years old. Often, scammers have created ads, emails, and websites to advertise fake investment opportunities, accompanied by images of celebrities. From April 2020 to March 2021, Action Fraud received 558 reports of similar fraud involving known persons.

In the United States, the Financial Crime Agency reported that the total amount of payments in cryptocurrencies to ransomware attackers was $ 5.2 billion in 2021.

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