A US tourist lost $123,000 in Bitcoin after entering a fake Uber in London. The incident involved Jacob Irwin-Cline, who had been drinking at a bar before requesting a ride through the Uber app.
He did not verify the vehicle details and mistakenly entered a different car that resembled an Uber.
Inside the vehicle, the driver offered Cline a cigarette. He accepted it. Cline later said the cigarette likely contained scopolamine, a strong sedative. He became sleepy and passed out for about 30 minutes.
When he woke up, the driver ordered him out of the car. As he exited, the driver hit him with the vehicle and drove away. The driver took Cline’s cellphone, which stored access to his Bitcoin wallet.
Stolen Crypto Wallet Contained Private Keys
The stolen device had access to Cline’s entire crypto portfolio. The Bitcoin theft amounted to $123,000. Cline said the funds represented his life savings. He reported the crime to the police but has little hope of recovering the lost Bitcoin.
Scopolamine, the drug believed to be used in the crime, causes memory loss and makes victims highly suggestible.
The method used in this crypto crime in London resembles tactics seen in other scopolamine robberies. Cline was not hospitalized but confirmed that he lost control and memory for a brief time.
Local police have not yet located the fake Uber driver. Authorities are investigating, but no arrests have been made. The suspect’s vehicle remains unidentified.
Crypto Crime in London Part of Growing Pattern in Europe
This Bitcoin theft is part of a wider trend in crypto attacks in Europe. On May 3, French police rescued the father of a crypto exchange owner.
Organized criminals had taken him and demanded ransom. Police raided the location and freed the hostage.
Another attempted kidnapping took place in Paris. Pierre Noizat, CEO of Paymium, reported that his daughter and grandson were attacked. Masked assailants tried to force them into a car during the day. They managed to escape with the help of a second person. The attackers fled the scene.
Incidents like this raise concerns about personal security in the crypto sector.
Crypto crime in London and other cities targets individuals with large digital holdings. Victims lose access to their funds when private keys are stolen.
Investigations are ongoing. No confirmed links between the cases have been reported, but each event involves digital asset theft or extortion.
Disclosure:This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Kriptoworld.com accepts no liability for any errors in the articles or for any financial loss resulting from incorrect information.
