Offline crypto crimes, using weapons and force to get holders to transfer their wallets’ contents, have surged recently.
ZachXBT, a blockchain sleuth, has mentioned he has heard of numerous instances of crypto holders getting robbed in person in recent times. In an October 10 X post, they spoke of the incidents being reported at an increasing report, especially from Western Europe. “I have received messages (from) multiple other victims of home invasions in Western Europe over the past few months at a much higher rate than other regions.”
He has been alerting the community of such instances since late last month. A Telegram message he left on his channel ‘Investigations by ZachXBT’ spoke of the same plight in Western Europe. “The cases all involve known people in the crypto community where they were held at gunpoint.”
ZachXBT’s recent taking to X to warn users comes from his investigation identifying the perpetrators behind one in-person attack that involved thieves forcefully getting a holder to transfer $4.3 million in crypto. The user was robbed in June as the thieves made their way into his house with machetes, threatening him to transfer all the contents of his wallets. He explained they knew where he lived and the amount of holdings in his wallets. “They forced me to open my Ledger and transferred all of my crypto out.,” the victim posted on June 18. “Luckily I didn’t get stabbed.”
One of the thieves, who ZachXBT identified as Faris Ali, who also goes by Tommy, masterminded the plot by coming across the victim’s personal information and holdings through a data breach. He then planned the robbery with an accomplice, stalking the victim’s house and sharing a picture of their door over an instant messaging application. He then sent photos of the apartment complex during the robbery, mentioning he and two others were dressed as delivery drivers and would be going in to commit the crime.
ZachXBT received the perpetrator’s chat logs, likely from a police investigation. However, they have not confirmed how.
ZachXBT’s Tips to Stay Safe With Crypto Holdings
The blockchain sleuth warned users to remain vigilant, as crypto thefts are now going offline and turn out to be more traumatic than hacks. They asked users not to reveal private details or details of crypto holdings with friends and not to flex holdings on social media. Furthermore, they asked users to provide false information when private details are asked to prevent them from getting out and being breached.
