British police have revealed how they worked alongside international partners to secure the conviction of three men involved in cryptocurrency fraud.

A trial heard the men had impersonated police officers to defraud eight people of more than £4 million ($5.4 million) worth of crypto.

Police found financial records which showed cryptocurrency linked to the offending was routinely converted into payment cards, London Metropolitan Police said.

The force said the defendants took regular shopping trips to designer stores including Harrods, Hermes and Louis Vuitton, and treated themselves to hotels, restaurants and other lifestyle expenses, despite them having little or no verified income.

The men were linked to various overseas locations,…