February 15, 2025

Kent Police financial investigators have successfully recovered nearly £1 million for a Canadian victim who was tricked into transferring the money to a fraudulent British investment company.

The operation, part of a nationwide crackdown on fraud, was carried out under Operation Henhouse, an initiative aimed at arresting fraudsters and disrupting economic crimes across the UK.

How the Scam Was Uncovered

The Economic Crime Unit at Kent Police launched an investigation into a company registered in North Kent after spotting suspicious financial transactions.

The firm claimed to be a ‘software publishing and technology consultancy’, but its financial flows did not match its stated operations.
Around £960,000 was frozen across four company accounts due to irregular activity.
Investigators worked with UK and international partners to trace the victim in Canada, who had unknowingly transferred the money to what they believed was a legitimate British investment firm.

Funds Recovered and Returned

On February 5, 2025, financial investigators successfully applied to return the frozen funds to the victim at a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court.

The case highlights the growing sophistication of international fraud schemes and the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies across borders.

Nationwide Crackdown on Fraud Under Operation Henhouse

The successful recovery of funds comes amid a broader fraud enforcement effort under Operation Henhouse, a National Economic Crime Centre initiative in partnership with City of London Police.

Between February 2 and 10, officers:

Arrested seven suspects involved in various frauds, including impersonating police officers, solar panel scams, and credit card fraud.
Issued cease-and-desist letters to suspected rogue traders and online vehicle fraudsters.
Released six individuals pending further investigation, while another was released without charge.

Kent Police: “We Will Relentlessly Pursue Fraudsters”

Detective Inspector Marc Makin, of Kent Police’s Economic Crime Unit, emphasized the force’s commitment to tackling fraud:

“The return of nearly £1 million to a fraud victim in Canada shows the lengths our investigators will go to while investigating crimes that often cross borders and lead financial trails around the world.

The further arrests we have carried out this week show we will be relentless in pursuit of those who try to scam others and profit from lies and deception.

We will continue to work with other forces through Operation Henhouse to bring fraudsters to justice and, where possible, return stolen money to victims.