Cryptocurrency: Ethereum worth millions returned to scam victims

A GMP spokesman said 150 people based in the UK, US, Europe, China, Australia and Hong Kong had deposited money into what they thought was an online savings and trading service.

He said those behind the service had waited until a significant amount of money was deposited and then shut down the website, transferring the gathered funds into their own accounts.

Officers received intelligence that those running the scheme had been in Manchester and raids were carried out.

An encrypted USB stick containing about £7m worth of stolen Ethereum, the world’s second largest cryptocurrency after BitCoin, was seized, while a further £9m in cryptocurrency was located in an “online safe” a few days later, the spokesman said.

Urging anyone who believed they had been targeted by the scam to get in touch, Det Ch Insp Joe Harrop said trading online currency was “incredibly technical and needs in-depth knowledge in order to make sure your money is safe”.

“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” he said.