A London Uber driver allegedly drugs a U.S. tourist and steals $123,000 in crypto, raising alarm over traveler safety and digital asset theft
An Uber driver in London drugged and plundered a U.S. tourist, escaping with $123,000 in cryptocurrency.
According to local media, the incident occurred while the victim, 30-year-old Jacob Irwin-Cline, was visiting the UK on a brief transit.
After a night out in Soho, he summoned an Uber to return to his hostel. However, he was redirected to a different vehicle with a driver who appeared to match the profile displayed in his app.
The driver, who identified himself as “Mohammed,” signaled him down by utilizing the name stored in the Uber app and appeared to be amiable enough to earn his confidence, Cline informed reporters.
Nevertheless, the vehicle did not correspond to the make and model specified on Cline’s phone. Upon entering the car, the driver presented him with a cigarette that Cline now suspects was tainted with a potent sedative.
He stated that he rapidly became disoriented and passed out. Upon awakening, he discovered himself on the street with his missing phone, which contained access to his crypto purses.
Cline verified the $123,000 loss, declaring he has little confidence in recovering the funds despite contacting the FBI’s cybercrime unit.
The incident contributes to a concerning trend of crypto-related crimes that prey on unsuspecting investors and vacationers. The risks associated with holding substantial quantities of digital assets on unsecured devices or mobile wallets are increasing as the popularity of these assets continues to grow.
Just weeks prior, a criminal organization in France abducted the father of the founder of a cryptocurrency exchange and demanded a ransom.
A distinct incident occurred in Paris, where the daughter and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat were the targets of an attempted abduction in broad daylight.
In response to a series of comparable assaults, French authorities implemented additional safeguards for crypto professionals and their families, such as priority police access and home security inspections.
In the meantime, three teenagers in Florida reportedly abducted a man after a crypto event in Las Vegas in the United States. They compelled him to transfer millions in digital assets before abandoning him in the desert.
