Ten suspects arrested and charged following alleged cryptocurrency scam

Ten suspects have been arrested as part of an investigation into cryptocurrency fraud following a series of coordinated search warrants across Kent, Essex and London.

The men and women were then charged and remanded to court within 24 hours, as part of an investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).

It is alleged the suspects were part of an organised crime group linked to a scam which involved phone calls to multiple victims, from people purporting to be police officers and cryptocurrency companies.

Victims are reported to have been tricked into sharing important security details, including seed phrases, before discovering funds stored in their crypto wallets had been stolen. One of the victims is alleged to have lost more than £300,000.

Warrants and charges

On Wednesday (29 April) officers from ERSOU’s Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) forced entry to several addresses, during a series of simultaneous search warrants executed at 6am.

Arrests were made in areas including Chelmsford, Enfield and at addresses in south London during extensive enforcement action which was assisted by Kent Police, as well as officers from City of London Police and The Metropolitan Police Service.  

Further assistance was provided by Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit whose officers detained a suspect at an address in Wakefield.

All ten were taken into custody and later charged with conspiracy to defraud, and on Thursday (30 April) they were brought before Margate Magistrates’ Court.

Brandon Mingeli, 25, and Jami Durston-McDonnel, 28, both of New London Road, Chelmsford, and Louis Richards-Miller, 24, of Woolwich Road, Greenwich, London were remanded in custody until their next hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on 28 May.

The following seven suspects were bailed by magistrates to attend the same crown court hearings:

• Joseph Umoru, 24, of Bostall Lane, Greenwich, London.
• Adedeji Kujore, 24, of Wharf Road, Chelmsford.
• Abdul-Azeem Taiwo Adeola Yusuf, 24, and Abdul-Azeez Kehinde Adeolu Yusuf, both of Kidbrooke Park Road, Greenwich, London.
• Jayden Nakayama, 25, of Thornham Street, Greenwich, London.
• Samantha Gyabaa, 23, of Geffrye Court, Hackney, London.
• Chijindu Andre Ujah, 32, of Gilda Avenue, Enfield.

Advice to prevent crypto fraud

Police will never call you unexpectedly about your crypto or ask you to access your cold storage devices - this is a big red flag.

No legitimate company or police officer will ever ask for your seed phrase.

Never click links sent via unsolicited emails or calls.

Never share or enter your password anywhere except directly on your cold storage device during setup or recovery.

If you receive a call claiming to be from police, verify it yourself. Call 101, after waiting five minutes to clear the line. Or call from a different phone.

If you think you have been a victim of crypto fraud, report it here.