Three men have been jailed in the UK over a cryptocurrency fraud worth about £4 million, or roughly $5.3 million, after authorities said they pretended to be police officers to deceive victims. Investigators said the scheme targeted eight people and led them to hand over their digital assets.

According to the brief details released, the group built fake police websites to make the scam appear legitimate. By posing as law enforcement, they were able to gain victims’ trust and convince them to transfer their cryptocurrency.

The Metropolitan Police said the stolen funds were later used on luxury purchases, including Rolex watches and high-end holidays. The case highlights how fraudsters are combining online impersonation tactics with the complexity of crypto transactions to carry out large-scale theft.

The jailing of the three men marks a significant outcome in a UK crypto fraud case that centered on identity deception and fake official websites. It also underscores the growing risks facing cryptocurrency holders when criminals use convincing digital tools to imitate trusted institutions.