Man charged after woman lost £154,000 in Bitcoin scam

A 28-year-old man has been charged with money laundering in connection with a Bitcoin fraud investigation.

A Bristol woman contacted Action Fraud in June 2024 to report that she had been scammed out of £154,000 worth of Bitcoin in a phone scam.

An investigation, carried out by Avon and Somerset Police’s Financial Investigations Unit, subsequently led to the seizure of £100,000 worth of crypto assets.

Omar Abdalla, from Islington, London, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was remanded in custody to next appear at Bristol Crown Court on February 24.