UK Regulator Warns of Bitcoin Scam

The UK regulator warns of Bitcoin scam as email scams that solicit cryptocurrency have been gathering popularity among criminals worldwide.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the United Kingdom has issued a warning regarding a new scam that involves emails from fictitious attorneys requesting Bitcoin payments.

An email from the address “joyti.henchie@attwaters.co” claims to have copied all of the recipient’s data and threatens to disclose damaging videos unless a Bitcoin payment is made, according to an update on its website.

The solicitor’s identity is utilized in a fraudulent email.

A link to a Bitcoin wallet, which may contain malware, is included in the hoax email. It fraudulently asserts that it is affiliated with the legitimate firms Attwaters Solicitors and Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors and employs the name “Patrice Joyce.”

Nevertheless, the SRA has verified that it does not authorize or regulate a lawyer named Patrice Joyce.

The SRA underscores that the email domain “@attwaters.co” is not associated with the legitimate firms or individuals it regulates. This is true for any business or transaction. The email domains of the legitimate firm conclude with “@attwaters.co.uk” or “@attwatersjamesonhill.co.uk.”

Manjot Kaur Henchie, who goes by the name “Joyti” in the email address, is a legitimate solicitor employed by the legitimate firm Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. The firm and Henchie have verified that they are not affiliated with the fraudulent email.

If individuals receive dubious correspondence, the SRA recommends that they conduct due diligence. This entails confirming the individual or firm’s authorization by reviewing the SRA’s records and contacting the law firm directly through reliable means to verify the email’s authenticity.

Email extortion schemes

Another example of the significance of being vigilant against email schemes and ensuring that any requests for payment, particularly in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, are thoroughly investigated before action is taken is the alert issued by the UK regulator.

In 2019, a comparable email extortion scheme was implemented, which targeted website proprietors who utilized Google’s AdSense program. In exchange for purportedly safeguarding against an attack that would allegedly lead to suspending an AdSense account, scammers demanded Bitcoin.

In 2020, law enforcement in New Zealand issued a warning regarding a cryptocurrency hoax in which fraudsters threatened victims by asserting that they had access to information regarding their online pornographic activities.

The fraudsters threaten to disclose the victims’ purported pornographic activities if they fail to pay a Bitcoin ransom.