FOLLOW US

America February 7, 2022 2 mins read

British Authorities Seized NFTs For the First Time , In a $1.9 million Fraud Probe

America ı By Rochdi Rais

0 Comments

Tower Bridge, London, United Kingdom U.K.

Britain’s tax watchdog has seized three NFTs (non-fungible tokens) in what is considered to be the first seizure of NFTs by a U.K. law enforcement agency.

Officials at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs say they seized the NFTs during an investigation into a suspected value-added tax (VAT) fraud case worth £1.4 million ($1.9 million). Three suspects have been arrested for allegedly attempting to defraud the taxman.

The suspects were accused of trying to claim back more VAT — a type of sales tax — than what they were owed by relying on a mix of stolen identities, false invoices, and unregistered phones to cover their tracks. The scheme involved 250 alleged fake companies, according to HMRC.

“Our first seizure of a Non-Fungible Token serves as a warning to anyone who thinks they can use crypto assets to hide money from HMRC,” Nick Sharp, HMRC’s deputy director of economic crime, said in a statement Monday.

“We constantly adapt to new technology to ensure we keep pace with how criminals and evaders look to conceal their assets,” Sharp added.

The interest in NFTs has surged to record highs last year. The total sales of suck tokens topped the $40 billion mark in 2021 with assets sold for as high as $60 million. However, the market is still in its infancy and is still prone to scams and thefts.

David Carlisle, head of policy and regulatory affairs at crypto compliance firm Elliptic, said the NFT seizure shows that criminals “can’t hide in the world of crypto.”

“Enforcement agencies are able to track and trace criminals’ transactions, and seize NFTs and cryptoassets used in illicit activity, robbing criminals of their profits,” he said in an emailed comment Monday.

 

 

Previous Article

68% of Investment Execs Think Clients Should Not Own Cryptos, survey finds

Read More
2772 Posts

Rochdi Rais

Rochdi Rais is the Head of Growth and financial and legal writer at USA Herald. He has been writing and editing financial, legal and U.S. news for years with over +4000 articles published during his career.

Discussion

No comments yet. Be the first to join the discussion!

Don’t Miss It
America September 24, 2026
New York Sues Polymarket Over Alleged Illegal Gambling
By – Samuel Lopez
America September 24, 2026
She’s Alive LLC, and Manager of…

What’s Driving the Parton Estate Fight A Nashville judge granted…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 23, 2026
Path Clear for Immediate Sale of…

What California Drivers Need to Know California already legalized E15…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 23, 2026
California Bar Examinees Reach $1.35 Million…

What California Bar Examinees Need to Know California bar examinees…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 23, 2026
Roblox widow alleges $6 million scam,…

The Roblox widow says a former companion took $6 million…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 23, 2026
Admiral to Cut 500 Jobs in…

Admiral is preparing to cut about 500 jobs in the…

By – Rachel Moore
America September 23, 2026
Gundlach Bundschu Winery Files Chapter 11…

A historic Sonoma winery is fighting to keep its doors…

By – Rachel Moore
America September 23, 2026
Gundlach Bundschu Winery Files Chapter 11…

A historic Sonoma winery is fighting to keep its doors…

By – Rachel Moore
America September 23, 2026
Mark Frisbie Crop Insurance Fraud Probe:…

A southwest Florida farm manager could spend years behind bars…

By – Rachel Moore
America September 23, 2026
AISA to End Athletics After 2026-27…

The Alabama Independent School Association is preparing to blow the…

By – Tyler Brooks
America September 23, 2026
Apple $250M Settlement Opens Claims for…

The wait is over for some iPhone owners who say…

By – Tyler Brooks
America September 23, 2026
UPG Files for Chapter 11 as…

Steel distributor UPG Enterprises has turned to bankruptcy court as…

By – Tyler Brooks
America September 23, 2026
Weinstein Sentenced to 15 Years in…

Some legal sagas stretch on so long they almost lose…

By – Tyler Brooks
America September 23, 2026
Bessent Threatens Global Shutdown of Iranian…

What Readers Need to Know Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 22, 2026
Physical AI Increases Strain on Network…

Network planning has traditionally focused on a familiar problem: ensuring…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 22, 2026
Network Traffic Challenges May be Reshaped…

Network traffic has traditionally moved in one dominant direction: from…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 22, 2026
Brook LeBlanc’s Husband Hunt has People…

Online Dating standards, social media scrutiny and technology converge The…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 22, 2026
Nolan Wells: No Indictments, Cause of…

PASCAGOULA, Miss. — A Mississippi grand jury unanimously declined to…

By – Michallie Harrison
America September 22, 2026
Ellison’s CNN Deal Comes With a…

LOS ANGELES — Paramount Skydance’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros.…

By – Michallie Harrison
America September 23, 2026
From ‘Star Wars’ to UAPs: How…

Signals Behind the Strategy The United States has now publicly…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 22, 2026
Iran Threatens New Weapons As Congressman…

A Tennessee congressman is floating a very different explanation for…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 22, 2026
Clavicular Charged With Rape In Massachusetts…

What Matters Now Braden Peters, known online as Clavicular, faces…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 22, 2026
VP JD Vance and Dr. Oz…

Insurance Impact at a Glance CMS says it canceled 315,000…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 22, 2026
Ellison’s CNN Deal Comes With a…

LOS ANGELES — Paramount Skydance’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros.…

By – Michallie Harrison
America September 22, 2026
Russia’s Rassvet Is No Starlink Yet…

Mission Brief Russia has launched 32 production Rassvet satellites in 2026,…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 19, 2026
Iranian Government Holds Rally as War…

The Iranian Government organized its allegedly largest rally since the…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 19, 2026
Businesses Face Rising ADA Lawsuits Over…

Key Takeaways Website-accessibility litigation is surging, with 432 new digital…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 18, 2026
Cher Wins Procedural Victory As Conservatorship…

Key Takeaways Cher secured a procedural victory in her renewed…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 15, 2026
Massachusetts AG Joins 21-State Coalition Suing…

Key Takeaways Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell has joined attorneys…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 14, 2026
TMZ Ties Itself to the Hayden…

Key Takeaways TMZ is reporting that law enforcement sources believe…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 13, 2026
Bayer’s $7.25 Billion Roundup Settlement Faces…

Key Takeaways Bayer’s Monsanto unit will ask a Missouri judge…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 21, 2026
Gilbert Goons Defendant Arrested Again for…

A Gilbert Goons defendant awaiting trial in the 2023 death…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 20, 2026
Caleb Williams Injury Ends Bears QB’s…

Some plays end with a first down. This one ended…

By – Rachel Moore
America September 20, 2026
Saquon Barkley Injury Sidelines Eagles Star…

Football fortunes can flip on a single play — and…

By – Tyler Brooks
America September 20, 2026
Meta Connect 2026: AI Glasses, Mixed…

Meta Connect 2026 is set to bring CEO Mark Zuckerberg…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 19, 2026
Kelsey Mitchell Breaks WNBA Scoring Record…

Kelsey Mitchell made WNBA history Friday night, scoring 33 points…

By – Jackie Allen
And More September 14, 2026
Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun Celebrate…

Sydney Sweeney celebrated her 29th birthday with a public declaration…

By – Jackie Allen

No posts found.

No posts found.

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter