Crypto Theft Alert: U.S. Tourist Drugged and Robbed of $123K in London
A U.S. traveler on a brief layover in London was robbed of over $123,000 in cryptocurrency after falling victim to a sophisticated scam in the city’s West End.
Jacob Irwin-Cline, visiting from Portland, Oregon, called an Uber after a night out — but mistakenly entered a vehicle posing as his ride. The driver, who appeared to know his name, offered him a cigarette suspected to be laced with a sedative. While Jacob was incapacitated, the perpetrator accessed his phone and drained his crypto wallets.
In total, he lost $72,000 in XRP, $50,000 in Bitcoin, and additional smaller holdings. This form of theft is known in the crypto space as a "wrench attack" — where physical coercion, not digital vulnerabilities, is used to steal funds.
This disturbing event highlights a growing trend of real-world attacks targeting crypto holders across Europe. No suspects have been apprehended, and investigations are ongoing.
Key Reminder: While crypto is decentralized, your phone is not.
Always verify rides through official apps
Never share access to your phone or passcodes
Stay alert to your surroundings — especially while traveling
Let’s protect ourselves and each other. Stay vigilant.
