British sprinter CJ Ujah was among 10 suspects arrested and charged in an alleged cryptocurrency seed phrase scam that police say caused losses exceeding £300,000, with the case now headed to crown court later this month.
The charges behind CJ Ujah’s arrest
The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) said 10 suspects were arrested after coordinated search warrants across Kent, Essex and London. All 10 were charged within 24 hours with conspiracy to defraud.
ERSOU named Chijindu Andre Ujah, 32, of Enfield among seven suspects bailed to attend Chelmsford Crown Court on 28 May 2026. Ujah, a relay sprinter who has represented Great Britain at international level, has not publicly commented on the charges.
All 10 suspects appeared at Margate Magistrates’ Court before the bail decision, The Guardian reported. Reuters separately confirmed that British Athletics declined to comment on the matter.
The charges remain allegations at this stage. Three of the 10 suspects were remanded in custody rather than granted bail.
How the alleged seed phrase scam worked
A seed phrase is a series of 12 or 24 words that serves as the master key to a cryptocurrency wallet. Anyone who obtains it gains full control over the funds inside, similar to phishing attacks that target crypto credentials through social engineering.
Police alleged the suspects posed as police officers and cryptocurrency company representatives in phone calls to victims. The callers allegedly pressured targets into sharing their seed phrases and other wallet security details.
ERSOU had flagged this exact phone scam pattern months earlier. A March warning from the unit described fake calls across the eastern region that used the same impersonation tactics to steal wallet access.
Why this case matters for crypto holders
The financial damage extended well beyond a single victim. ERSOU said one person allegedly lost more than £300,000 after the group obtained their wallet credentials.
A separate Northumbria victim lost £30,000 in a connected incident, and ERSOU’s March advisory identified at least four additional intended victims. The Bedfordshire case, where the largest loss occurred, dated back to July 2025, suggesting the alleged operation ran for months before the arrests.
The case is a UK criminal enforcement matter rather than a regulatory action tied to any specific token or digital asset market development. It underscores a growing pattern of social engineering attacks targeting individual crypto holders rather than exchanges or protocols.
Detective Inspector Sherry Pugh of ERSOU warned crypto holders directly in the March advisory:
“Never share wallet keys or seeds phrases, transfer crypto under pressure, or allow remote access to your phone or computer.”
Detective Inspector Sherry Pugh, ERSOU
Seed phrase theft remains one of the most effective attack vectors because, unlike exchange hacks, it requires no technical exploitation. Victims hand over access voluntarily under false pretenses, a method that mirrors the broader regulatory conversation around consumer protection in digital asset markets.
The next hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on 28 May 2026 will determine how the case proceeds against the seven bailed suspects, including Ujah.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
