Operation ATLANTIC

16 Mar 2026 03:29 PM

Operation ATLANTIC is an ongoing initiative by the National Crime Agency, working alongside the United States Secret Service, Canadian Law Enforcement and Regulators, aimed at identifying and contacting individuals who may have been affected by cryptoasset fraud.

Law enforcement is working alongside Virtual Asset Service Providers operating in the UK to reach potential victims by telephone and email, explaining the risks involved and what steps can be taken to reduce or prevent further harm.

The operation focuses on identifying people who may have lost – or are at risk of losing – cryptoassets through a method known as “approval phishing”. This technique is frequently used in online investment fraud, sometimes referred to as “pig butchering”, where victims are manipulated into sending increasingly larger sums of money to scammers.

If you are contacted by any Operation ATLANTIC officers and wish to verify that the call or email is genuine, or if you have other concerns, you may contact the National Crime Agency:

• NCA officer verification: https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/contact-us/officer-verification
• Telephone (available 24/7): 0370 496 7622

If you wish to report an incident, please report to Report Fraud and quote ‘Operation ATLANTIC’:

• Website: https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/
• Telephone: 0300 123 2040

For American victims, please contact US law enforcement: http://www.secretservice.gov/OperationAtlantic

For Canadian victims, please contact Canadian law enforcement: http://www.opp.ca/atlas

Approval Phishing

Approval phishing occurs when scammers trick individuals into granting them control of their cryptoasset wallets.

• Victims receive a fraudulent request to “approve” access to their wallet. This may appear to come from a trusted source through fake websites, apps, or pop‑ups delivered via compromised links or emails.
• By clicking to approve, the victim unknowingly hands over control of their wallet to the scammer.
• The scammer can then transfer the victim’s cryptoassets into another wallet in an attempt to avoid detection and hinder tracing.

How to Protect Yourself

To help safeguard your cryptoassets, consider the following advice:

• Act quickly: Timing is critical in cryptoasset-related thefts.
• Be wary of unsolicited investment approaches: Fraudsters often pose as legitimate advisers, companies, friends, or romantic interests.
• Check URLs before approving transactions: Approval phishing relies on users granting scammers wallet access. Always double‑check the site and transaction details.
• Use multi‑factor authentication on exchange accounts.
• Monitor wallet approvals: Tools such as www.Revoke.cash and www.Etherscan.io allow you to review and revoke unnecessary permissions.
• Stay informed: Follow updates from financial regulators, police forces, and cybersecurity specialists.

What to Do If Your Wallet Is Compromised

If you believe your wallet has been compromised, take immediate action:

1. Stop communicating with scammers. Do not respond to calls, emails, or messages. Scammers may try to obtain more money or personal information.
2. Secure your accounts. Update passwords for your wallet, exchanges, and email. Enable Two‑Factor Authentication (2FA).
3. Revoke unauthorised token approvals. Use Etherscan’s Token Approval Checker or Revoke.cash:
   • Etherscan:
     • Connect your wallet via the “Connect to Web3” button
     • Review token approvals
     • Revoke any unauthorised access (fees may apply)
   • Revoke.cash:
   • Use a browser with your wallet extension installed
   • Navigate to revoke.cash
   • Connect your wallet
   • Select the approvals to revoke and follow the on‑screen instructions
4. Check for unauthorised transactions and report suspicious activity to your cryptoasset platform or wallet provider.
5. Beware of recovery scams. Be cautious of anyone offering to recover stolen crypto for a fee. Operation ATLANTIC participants will not offer recovery services.
6. Notify your bank. If bank accounts were used to fund fraudulent transactions, report this and ask about potential reversals.
7. Report the incident to Report Fraud: https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/
8. Once reported, you will be passed a Fraud Report reference. Do not disclose this to Operation ATLANTIC officers; they will confirm this with you.