#StaySafeCryptoCommunity 🗞️American Tourist Drugged by Fake Uber Driver in London, Robbed of $123K in Cryptocurrency
An American tourist, Jacob Irwin-Cline, was reportedly drugged and robbed of approximately $123,000 in cryptocurrency during a visit to London on May 9, 2025. After a night out at The Roxy nightclub in Soho, he ordered an Uber, but was picked up by a fake driver who called out his alias and appeared legitimate. During the ride, the driver offered him a cigarette suspected to be laced with scopolamine, also known as "Devil’s Breath," a powerful sedative. Under its influence, Irwin-Cline became semi-conscious and unknowingly gave the driver access to his phone, including the passcode and crypto apps. He was later abandoned in a London suburb without his phone. When he regained access to his accounts, he found that about $73,000 in $XRP and $50,000 in $BTC had been stolen, some of which was traced to exchanges like MEXC and BTSE, though recovery chances remain slim. This case highlights the increasing threat of physical scams targeting crypto holders and raises concerns about personal safety and digital security. Authorities are investigating, but no arrests have been made. The incident underscores the importance of verifying ride details, avoiding unsolicited items from strangers, securing devices, and keeping digital asset ownership private.
