British scammer fails with fake refund request worth 4.7 million USD in cryptocurrency

In a case combining traditional fraud and digital finance, British con artist Timothy Barnes falsely claimed to own 4.7 million USD in cryptocurrency, promising to use it to compensate the victims. The 69-year-old man faces 39 charges related to fraud and theft, ultimately pleading guilty to 34 offenses.

Barnes embezzled approximately 2.6 million USD through various schemes, often impersonating legitimate organizations to demand tax payments, mortgages, or loans. While primarily using traditional fraud methods, he introduced cryptocurrency to aid his defense and potentially influence legal proceedings.

Before the trial, he claimed to own a huge cryptocurrency stash, but the UK court confirmed that this was entirely fabricated. The case shows that cryptocurrency is influencing both methods of fraud and legal strategies in the UK.