Increasing Reports of In-Person Robberies
In a recent post on October 10, he noted an increase in messages from individuals claiming to be victims of in-person crypto robberies, particularly in Western Europe, over the past few months. He previously mentioned this trend on September 27, sharing that several members of the crypto community had been threatened at gunpoint and had their assets stolen.
Data Breaches Fueling Targeted Attacks
ZachXBT has also discovered evidence involving an X user who lost $4.3 million in crypto during a June 2024 home invasion. This individual’s address and personal details were compromised in a data breach, enabling thieves to track them down.
The robbers conducted research on the victim and posed as package delivery personnel, entering the home armed with machetes. They coerced the victim into opening their ledger and transferring cryptocurrency to two wallet addresses, which remain inactive. He emphasizes that this serves as a warning and offers protective advice:
“Refrain from disclosing personal information or boasting about your crypto holdings to friends or on social media.”
GitHub Reports Alarming Statistics
According to GitHub, there have been at least 15 documented cases of offline crypto theft across various countries in the past year, with around 17 incidents reported in 2023 and 32 in 2021.
The platform has recorded incidents of in-person crypto theft since 2014, including an attempted extortion of computer scientist Hal Finney for 1,000 BTC, valued at $400,000 at the time.
High-Profile Incidents Highlight Risks
In a more recent incident, Nick Drakon, former CEO of crypto research and education platform Revelo Intel, revealed on September 5 that he was targeted and robbed by an organized group, who threatened his wife and eight-month-old son. Following this, he stepped down from his CEO position after being held at gunpoint and forced to transfer personal, company, and investor funds.
Additionally, on June 25, a Florida man was convicted for leading violent home invasions aimed at stealing cryptocurrency. Between December 2022 and July 2023, the gang employed violence, kidnapping, and threats to intimidate victims into transferring their crypto holdings to wallets controlled by the thieves.
Disclaimer: This content does not constitute trading or investment recommendations. It’s essential to conduct your own research before purchasing any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.
