Crypto Crime Crackdown for Aberdeen Scam

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Following news that a 75-year-old Scottish pensioner in Aberdeen lost cryptocurrency worth a six-figure sum in a scam in 2024, police have now announced that two suspects have been arrested and charged.

A 36-year-old Mexborough man and a 54-year-old, both from Coventry, England, were arrested in connection with the crime. Police Scotland was quick to urge caution when dealing with crypto transfers and to report any concerns to the police.

The growing popularity of cryptocurrencies has seen a rise in investments from people who are keen to secure their future. Security is a key factor for new investors with many choosing to use a high-quality Bitcoin wallet to store investments.

While crypto wallets can increase crypto security, consumers are still open to scams from criminals who gain trust and encourage users to send crypto willingly. Many sophisticated techniques can be used to gain the trust of the victim, with websites being created in some cases to imitate real crypto launches or exchanges.

Confidence scammers can take a lot of time to lure people into their traps, starting off slowly to build relationships over time. Many can get in contact claiming to be financial experts, bank fraud team workers, or merely people looking for friends on social media. They then gain the trust of the victim and can encourage them to pass over sensitive data or transfer crypto.

Many scammers have moved towards crypto schemes as it can be significantly more difficult to trace funds after they are sent. The anonymity afforded by crypto also makes it easier for criminals to avoid detection in comparison with traditional banking methods.

This news will not only come as a relief to the victim who thought he had lost his nest egg, but it also bolsters confidence in the crypto market, knowing that the police are working hard to tackle criminals who try to exploit it.

In this case, Police Scotland received help from Police in South Yorkshire and the West Midlands to arrest the two suspects. The arrest came on February 18th and the case will now be dealt with by the Procurator Fiscal. 

Details of the case are yet to emerge and the nature of how the criminals extorted the cryptocurrency from the victim hasn’t been revealed yet. This comes after another pensioner was targeted in Aberdeen where a six-figure sum was stolen in traditional currency. This case saw the criminals pretend to be the bank’s fraud department in order to get information so they could access his account.

In most cases, the police will want to publicise how the scam worked to help people avoid it in the future. However, as an active case, they must keep some elements private until they go to trial.

As crypto adoption continues to grow in 2025, consumers must be aware of the threats and work with authorities to expose any potential scams. Traditional online security procedures should continue to be followed, but the public must also exercise caution if they are contacted by anyone who asks for details or tries to steer conversations towards investment opportunities.