BitcoinTheft

American tourist robbed of $123K in Bitcoin and XRP in London.
Fake Uber driver allegedly used scopolamine to drug victim. Victim’s phone and crypto wallets accessed during abduction. Metropolitan Police and FBI investigate; recovery unlikely. Incident highlights growing violent crypto-related crimes.
#Bitcointheft #cryptorobbery #Londoncrime #scopolamine

An American tourist was drugged and robbed of $123,000 in cryptocurrency by a fake Uber driver in London’s West End on May 9, 2025. Jacob Irwin-Cline, a 30-year-old former software developer from Portland, Oregon, lost his life savings in Bitcoin and XRP after a night out at The Roxy nightclub in Soho.

Irwin-Cline ordered an Uber around 1:30 AM. A dark sedan pulled up, and the driver, who called himself Mohammed, matched the profile shown in the app. The vehicle was not the Toyota Prius listed. Irwin-Cline accepted a cigarette from the driver and soon felt disoriented, suspecting it was laced with scopolamine, known as “Devil’s Breath,” a sedative causing blackouts and compliance.

The driver allegedly abducted Irwin-Cline, manipulated him into unlocking his phone, and accessed his crypto wallets. The attacker drained $73,000 in XRP to under $1,000 and $50,000 in Bitcoin to less than $10. Irwin-Cline’s laptop was remotely wiped, and his Uber account was locked.

Upon returning to his hostel, Irwin-Cline discovered the theft. He reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police, Action Fraud, the FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit, and Uber. Uber refunded £6 for the canceled trip and called the incident “unacceptable,” launching an investigation.

CCTV footage from The Roxy, obtained under GDPR laws, confirmed the vehicle was a dark sedan, not the listed Prius. Irwin-Cline believes the driver used a legitimate Uber account linked to an accomplice’s vehicle. He spent days searching for his stolen phone, which held his private crypto keys, but it was never recovered.

Irwin-Cline remains in London, staying at an Airbnb in Clapham to assist with the police investigation. Authorities note recovery of the funds is unlikely due to the nature of cryptocurrency transactions. Bitcoin was trading at $109,858 at the time of the theft, according to CoinMarketCap.

Rising Crypto-Related Crimes

This incident is part of a growing wave of violent crimes targeting cryptocurrency holders. Criminals exploit the anonymity and irreversibility of blockchain transactions, making recovery difficult. The Metropolitan Police report a surge in such cases, with wealthy crypto investors increasingly at risk.

In a similar case, a Las Vegas woman was charged in February 2025 for drugging and robbing elderly men via dating apps, stealing bank and crypto assets (CNN). Another incident in the Philippines saw a Bitcoin trader lured and drugged during a fake car sale, highlighting global trends in crypto theft.

Scopolamine, suspected in Irwin-Cline’s case, is a potent drug known for rendering victims compliant. Its use in robberies is rare but effective, as it causes memory loss and disorientation. The FBI warns of rising physical attacks on crypto holders, urging secure storage practices like cold wallets.

Impact on Victims and Industry

Irwin-Cline described the loss as devastating, stating his life savings were wiped out overnight. He believes the attack was opportunistic, not targeted, as he used an alias on Uber. His case underscores the vulnerability of storing private keys on mobile devices.

Uber has emphasized rider safety, advising users to verify vehicle and driver details before entering. The company cooperates with law enforcement but faces challenges regulating fake drivers exploiting platform trust.

Irwin-Cline’s ordeal serves as a warning for crypto investors traveling abroad. Authorities continue their investigation, but the stolen funds remain untraceable. The incident highlights the need for heightened vigilance in an era of rising digital wealth.

The crypto world witnessed a major shock this weekend after a suspicious Bitcoin transaction worth over $330 million ignited a frantic laundering operation — and sent Monero (XMR) prices soaring.
On-chain investigator ZachXBT revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that roughly 3,520 BTC, valued at approximately $330.7 million, was transferred on Sunday in what is believed to be a significant theft event.

How the Bitcoin Theft Unfolded

According to ZachXBT, the enormous transfer originated from a potential victim's wallet and was sent to an address identified as "bc1qcry...vz55g."

But what really raised eyebrows was what happened next:

The stolen Bitcoin was quickly laundered through more than six different exchanges.
The perpetrators converted large portions of BTC into Monero (XMR), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency known for its ability to obfuscate transaction histories.

This rapid and aggressive movement created chaos across liquidity pools, especially given the sheer size of the swaps relative to Monero’s available liquidity.

Monero (XMR) Skyrockets Amid Laundering Frenzy
The laundering operation had an immediate and dramatic impact on the Monero market.

XMR price spiked by 50% almost instantly as demand overwhelmed thin liquidity across platforms.Over the past 24 hours, Monero surged by 35%, trading at $308.50 at the time of writing.

The sudden rally highlights both the vulnerability of small liquidity assets to large transactions and the ongoing reliance on privacy coins for laundering operations in the crypto space.
Why Monero?

Monero has long been favored by those seeking privacy in blockchain transactions. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, where transaction histories are publicly visible, Monero employs advanced cryptographic techniques to hide:

The sender
The receiverThe transaction amount
While this technology provides legitimate users with privacy protection, it also unfortunately makes Monero a prime tool for illicit activities, as seen in this recent incident.

A Wake-Up Call for Crypto Security

This $330 million Bitcoin theft is a powerful reminder that crypto security remains a pressing issue in the industry. Even as technology advances, large-scale thefts and sophisticated laundering tactics continue to challenge platforms, users, and law enforcement agencies alike.
As blockchain adoption accelerates, expect calls for stronger security practices, better exchange compliance monitoring, and perhaps even new debates about the role of privacy coins like Monero in the broader ecosystem.

Stay vigilant, stay informed, and always prioritize security in your crypto journey.

#BitcoinTheft

North Korean cyber group TraderTraitor has struck again, stealing $308 million worth of Bitcoin ($BTC ) from Japan-based Bitcoin.DMM.com. Here’s how this massive cryptocurrency heist unfolded—and what it means for the industry:

🔑 Key Highlights
1️⃣ Attack Details:
Hackers used social engineering on LinkedIn to target a Ginco employee with access to Bitcoin.DMM’s wallet system.A malicious Python script on GitHub served as the entry point for the breach.The result: unauthorized transfer of 4,502.9 $BTC valued at $308M.
2️⃣ Sophisticated Techniques:
LinkedIn Phishing: Cybercriminals posed as recruiters to gain trust.GitHub Exploitation: The victim unknowingly executed malware disguised as a coding test.Session Hijacking: Hackers leveraged compromised credentials to impersonate the employee and intercept transactions.
3️⃣ Global Investigation:
Collaboration between the FBI, Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA), and the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3).Authorities are tracking funds and identifying TraderTraitor’s patterns to mitigate future risks.
🌍 Why It Matters
Rising Threat: North Korea continues to use crypto theft as a strategy to bypass international sanctions.Social Engineering: Professional platforms like LinkedIn and GitHub are becoming critical attack vectors.Industry Impact: The incident highlights the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity practices in the crypto space.
💡 How to Stay Safe
Verify Contacts: Always double-check LinkedIn messages, especially from unknown recruiters.Avoid Unknown Scripts: Never execute code or open links without verifying their source.Strengthen Security: Use two-factor authentication and monitor for suspicious account activity.

#CryptoSecurity #BitcoinTheft #LinkedInScam #TheCoinRepublic #CryptoNews