A scammer impersonating a senior British police officer has stolen approximately $2.8 million in Bitcoin from a victim in North Wales. The fraudster deceived the victim into entering their wallet's recovery phrase on a fake website, claiming it was necessary to protect their assets. The funds were swiftly transferred out of the victim's account. Authorities have warned the public that police will never request cryptocurrency recovery phrases and advised anyone receiving such calls to hang up and verify through official channels. Blockchain security firm TRM Labs highlighted that over 80% of crypto asset thefts in the first half of 2025 were due to leaked private keys and mnemonics. Additionally, Europe is experiencing a rise in physical attacks on crypto holders, with France reporting at least 10 incidents involving attempted kidnappings and ransom demands.