The victim reportedly lost $123,000 in the heist, although it isn’t clear how the thief knew of the wallet
A US tourist visiting London became the victim of a robbery involving cryptocurrency after getting into a car he believed was an Uber. Jacob Irwin-Cline, who was out for drinks one night, requested a ride through the Uber app but ended up leaving with a driver who wasn’t associated with the platform. The vehicle resembled the one he was expecting but turned out to be different — a fact he only realized after the incident.
Once in the car, the driver offered him a cigarette, which Cline believes was laced with scopolamine, a powerful sedative. Shortly after smoking it, he lost consciousness. When he came to, he was ordered out of the car. As he exited, the driver hit him with the vehicle and fled, taking his phone with him.
That phone held access to his cryptocurrency wallet, including private keys. Cline later confirmed that approximately $123,000 worth of Bitcoin was stolen. The case has drawn attention, not only due to the theft but also because of the method used to carry it out. Drugging victims and targeting their digital assets is a growing concern among law enforcement and crypto users alike.
This incident adds to a string of recent attacks on crypto holders and professionals. Earlier in May, French police rescued the father of a crypto exchange owner from a gang attempting to extort ransom. In another case, Pierre Noizat’s family members were nearly kidnapped in Paris during an attempted abduction in broad daylight.
The growing list of incidents has prompted more people in the crypto world to invest in added security, such as hiring private guards or using more secure methods of storing digital assets. Experts are warning crypto holders to avoid carrying sensitive information on mobile devices and to double-check all personal safety measures when traveling.
