Increasing kidnapping and ransom. Privacy is important.

[alani123]

just like nobody would ever go out shouting "I have 15 Million USD in the bank".

Why don't CEOs, their children or their wives and family members get abducted as often then?
To abduct a CEO sounds more of a movie plot these days. Whereas abductions of crypto executives have become seemingly common.

Criminals seem to have gotten wind of the irreversible nature of crypto transactions. Because even if a cash ransom wouldn't be reversible in a centralized manner, cash can still be "tainted" with advanced procedures such as micro particles in manners that the naked eye can never know.

Whereas crypto can be "washed" by virtue of just being deposited to an exchange that doesn't follow OFAC. And we know this keeps happening on the daily when in many countries exchanges have workers cooperating with the police on the daily just to block addresses and investigate accounts. I've seen so many ads hiring for Binance's KYC positions these days. I suppose it most have been kind of an unspoken prerequisite for EU feds to not completely shut them down.

I don't think there's any real preventative measure here. Sometimes complete secrecy isn't an option. Like if you own a company your name is going to be on some paper trail. Maybe even if it's just a private company some government worker could leak your information from private fillings. The only effective op-sec I can think of would be to seperate yourself from society in the same manner the ultra-rich do.

Live in discreet remote locations. Travel via private means only. Go to private schools, have your kids study abroad under aliases etc.
But the think with entrepreneurship also is that one may spend many years in a stage where they aren't anywhere near rich and able to afford such amenities.

[btc_angela]

@_act_, you can add this one to the growing list of kidnapping and ransom, Pakistani crypto trader kidnapped, pays $340,000 for freedom.

Pakistani crypto trader Mohammed Arsalan has been released after paying $340,000 worth of digital assets to his captors. According to a statement from the Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon mentioned that authorities have apprehended seven suspects linked to the crime.

Although this is happy ending, but probably this is just a small percentage that the criminals has been apprehended. So we should really be very careful specially in this time because Bitcoin and crypto is about to make another break through this 2025 and criminal now are targeting us, offline and in real-life.

[PrivacyG]

We are some times so used to living a decent life that we stop worrying about things that could go wrong.

If tomorrow a big economical crisis begins and you are caught in the middle of it with dozens or hundreds of people possibly becoming very hungry and poor all of a sudden, you become a target out of no where.  Why would you do this?

Even if you are very passionate about Bitcoin, it is extremely important to understand that any thing you say could end with very bad consequences.  Most of the people I know who praise about their Bitcoin holdings are people seeking attention on the Internet and looking in despair to be seen as 'cool guys'.  Nobody will care about your coolness when you are tied up and thrown hot oil at for ransom!

Keep sensitive information to yourself.

[God Of Thunder]

That is why people should never tell in real life that they have Bitcoin. Once, I thought about ordering a T-shirt with a Bitcoin logo but later decided not to because it is not a good idea to wear a T-shirt with a Bitcoin logo in public places. People will think I have Bitcoin, and who knows, someone may get interested and start following me. Even friends can try to steal your Bitcoin if they get a chance.

I have read such news multiple times so far, and I believe this will continue to happen. But people who care about their privacy are kind of safe. I guess you guys read about the $5 wrench attack. Protect yourself against $5 wrench attacks!!!

[Y3shot]

I know it is possible for anyone to fall victim of kidnapping but I will be living a private life when it comes to valuable asset helps a lot and prevent from people who may think of collecting valuable items from you. Sometimes we invite dangerous people to ourselves by our lifestyle and the conversation we make with people we don't even know better. Living a private life is one of the ways of protecting privacy to best. Most victim of kidnapping were never conscious of their privacy,  it never matter to them because feel so excited whenever they give people the impression of having so much in their life. What people don't know they can't tamper or to destroy it. Living private is one of the ways of preventing privacy from strangers.

[apogio]

Because nobody can rob your 15 milllion from the bank. But from your wallet, it is very easy to rob...

Well I disagree. In fact, I agree but let me explain 

I was talking about the chance of being kidnapped which, for me, is equivalent. I mean, a thief entering your house could kidnap you and request that you send a remittance or that you withdraw money and give them ransom in cash.

In any case, being kidnapped must be a terrible situation, so for me, it doesn't matter what the reason is (crypto or bank), but the situation itself.

[Taskford]

In France, police rescued a 56 year old man doused in gasoline. The attacker broke into his home and tied him and his wife up. Took the man away and demanded for ransom fro m his son. If not because he shouted for help in the car he was, police would not have known and intervened. I guess the two captors demanded for crypto from his son.

In Pakistan, seven individuals including a Counter-Terrorism Department officer were arrested on 3rd of January for kidnapping a local crypto trader. The victim was Mohammed Arsalan who was kidnapped on 25th of December and he was forced to transfer 340,000 on his Binance account.

In Australia, a Saudi royal was lured into a kidnapping plot through a dating app. The Daily Mail reported that Catherine Colivas, a 24-year-old woman, lured the royal to her home, where three men, including her boyfriend, ambushed him. The victim was tied up and threatened with having his fingers cut off unless he transferred $40,000 in Bitcoin.

Toronto police are investigating the kidnapping of Dean Skurka, CEO of WonderFi, a Canadian crypto exchange. Skurka was abducted in downtown Toronto during rush hour on Nov. 6 and released after a $1 million ransom was electronically paid, according to CBC News.


https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-s-record-breaking-year-sees-spike-in-kidnappings-and-ransom-schemes

Not surprising that number of crimes related to this matter is increasing since the fame of crypto is increasing. Some jerks around would really think that once you are a crypto user then automatically you are reach for those people who doesn't know. That's why those criminal minded people will do those crimes and possibly take whatever they can get from their victims.

That's why it always good for us crypto users to stay low key all the times and don't flaunt out balances online or give a hint that we have crypto holdings since there are evil eyes watching around and we don't know on when they attack us. So safety should be our main priority on this situation and better be silent on our financial dealings.

[Felicity_Tide]

That is why people should never tell in real life that they have Bitcoin.

This statement looks very short, but many people have no idea that it can prevent them from facing casualties, especially when it has to do with finance/Bitcoin. I don't think kidnappers are into guessing games, thereby making guesses on those that holds Bitcoin and those that don't. The truth is, they always get the right and accurate information on their victims.

There is this current story that is still buzzing on the internet, though it's not a hostage situation, but it is related to Bitcoin theft. The victim was actually among those that bought Bitcoin in the early days, and he was quite known for it. After following up with the story, I realized that those who carried out the operation where able to do so, not just because the victim wasn't smart enough to tell that he was being scammed, but because victim's privacy had long gone. I think the case is still in court, and it will resume this coming week if I remember correctly.  Here is the video: https://youtu.be/GqPeE_7Nlqg?si=QA95KlgSHmopHzGL

I guess you guys read about the $5 wrench attack. Protect yourself against $5 wrench attacks!!!

I haven't read about this attack, but will do that right away.

[NotATether]

Buy one of these:



https://www.amazon.com/XYTEC-Head-Mounted-Infrared-Binoculars-Observation/dp/B0DJRC3F7L

and get a good automatic gun.

Self-defense is important. Don't expect the cops to do it for you.

These night-vision goggles are useful if the lights are out and the assailants break in at night.

Pepper spray would be great too if it's just a single guy. You don't want anybody coming into your home and causing a ruckus just because they want your money.

And don't go to strange places, that's how you solve the problem of getting kidnapped while abroad.

Jameson Lopp takes his personal security seriously - so should you.

[Marvelockg]

Kidnappers demanding for ransom in cryptocurrency is not a new thing and sadly as mass adoption increases, so will the rate at which it is used by bad actors to perpetrate evil increase. As it is right now, I think it will be for our own good to protect ourselves by keeping our crypto activities discreet and to avoid living a flamboyant lifestyle. As this will not only keep us safe but also help not to put the lives of our loved ones in jeopardy.

the issue here is not that they are targeting those holding crypto alone, most of the kidnap cases i have read about have to do with just a regular person but the kidnappers on their own end will demand that the ransom be paid to a crypto wallet which they can trade without easily being caught. the thing is that, with increase adoption comes a surge in the numbers of persons that would want to make use of it in the wrong way because the bad eggs are regularly looking for ways of carrying out their dubious activity effortlessly without being caught. the highest we can do is to strive never to be victim of kidnappers because with or without crypto, they will still device a means of getting their ransom. armed robbers are currently making use of point of sales machine in robbing victims on a motor vehicle, should the point of sales machine be banned because some guys choose to use it for the wrong cause?

[notocactus]

In France, police rescued a 56 year old man doused in gasoline.
In Pakistan, seven individuals including a Counter-Terrorism Department officer were arrested on 3rd of January for kidnapping a local crypto trader.
In Australia, a Saudi royal was lured into a kidnapping plot through a dating app.
Toronto police are investigating the kidnapping of Dean Skurka, CEO of WonderFi, a Canadian crypto exchange

Privacy matters but many people don't care about their privacy which relates not only to their money, but their lives.

Many physical attacks reported so far, and cases shared above are new ones to the list. Human instinct is almost the same, and many people will continue their ignorance on importance of privacy on their lives.

[1] https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks
[2] https://github.com/demining/Physical-Bitcoin-Attacks

If your privacy and life matter with you, you will never share your private information like "I am a Bitcoin investor, a cryptocurrency investor" and show your wealthness to public eyes.

[Porfirii]

There is an ever-growing list here in Jameson Lopp's website: https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks, reporting cases of physical attacks for crypto.

It's a huge problem and we should never discuss our holding with anyone, just like nobody would ever go out shouting "I have 15 Million USD in the bank".

Totally agree. I always was very private about my crypto holdings. Many people doesnt even know I invest in crypto.

Saying "I have 15 million USD in the bank" is much safer than saying "I have 15 million USD in bitcoin".

Because nobody can rob your 15 milllion from the bank. But from your wallet, it is very easy to rob...

Yes, in fact, many people in certain social circles don't have to say it to imply it through ostentation, but as bit mover just said, it is much more safe to say it when you don't have the direct custody of your funds.

On the other hand, I thought that only crypto millionaires would have that kind of problems, but looking at the numbers in the OP (especially the case of the 40k) I think that many holders are not entirely free of danger even if they don't have a great fortune inside their keys, if you accept the expression. Which is surprising because many cars are worth more than that, and I don't hear of people being extorted to take from them their car keys, except perhaps a very specific case.

Buy one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/XYTEC-Head-Mounted-Infrared-Binoculars-Observation/dp/B0DJRC3F7L

I'm afraid that I'd be tagged somehow just by visiting this link

Perhaps when my sats are worth millions I will take my personal security as seriously as Lopp, but thanks for the info NAT.

[Wiwo]

There is an ever-growing list here in Jameson Lopp's website: https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks, reporting cases of physical attacks for crypto.

It's a huge problem and we should never discuss our holding with anyone, just like nobody would ever go out shouting "I have 15 Million USD in the bank".

If you check all those cases a very good investigation will always review that the crypto holder himself is responsible for his privacy and letting out information that is used to carry out the crime against them, it is very important to know the basic features of Bitcoin which are privacy and we need to practice that privacy, you can never hear me discussing anything related to cryptocurrency in my environment reason is that there is already a stereotype belief about cryptocurrency that anyone holding it must be a wealthy person most especially bitcoin.

The rising cases of crimes and random demands I'm crypto have exposed the level of knowledge that the bad guys have about cryptocurrency and privacy right now so the best we can do is not to let out any traces. No one should identify you as a cryptocurrency trader and what the heck. Low key and high privacy.

[Callido]

Privacy is important but some people still neglect this phase of security, not just your Bitcoin but also your live is important. These are just some of the known stories with happy endings after the kidnappers have been apprehended, what about those that were not caught in the act, news that are not also published in the internet.

Victims like this, are commonly those who display publicly as a crypto trader, Bitcoin investor or having as much relation with cryptocurrencies and this creates awareness and open location for those who would one day draft on how to steal your assets. Remaining anonymous will always save our live and assets. 

[bitmover]

There is an ever-growing list here in Jameson Lopp's website: https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks, reporting cases of physical attacks for crypto.

It's a huge problem and we should never discuss our holding with anyone, just like nobody would ever go out shouting "I have 15 Million USD in the bank".

Totally agree. I always was very private about my crypto holdings. Many people doesnt even know I invest in crypto.

Saying "I have 15 million USD in the bank" is much safer than saying "I have 15 million USD in bitcoin".

Because nobody can rob your 15 milllion from the bank. But from your wallet, it is very easy to rob...

Yes, in fact, many people in certain social circles don't have to say it to imply it through ostentation, but as bit mover just said, it is much more safe to say it when you don't have the direct custody of your funds.

Yeah, that's the point

If you have 15 million in a bank, you can't even withdrawal it anytime. There is liquidity problems, assets allocated which can't be transferred,  bank must be informed first...

And transactions can be reversed.

Bitcoin is way simpler to rob

[Findingnemo]

Abduction is very common so it's not specifically related to crypto but more of your financial success status so it's our responsibility to protect ourselves from such crimes. Like many suggested never share your wealth status to strangers especially on the dating apps that's the place these criminals lurke for their prey.

And don't keep all your funds in single wallet in case of such incidents you can get away with losing let's say 25% of your wealth instead of 100%.

[CryptSafe]

With all these happenings, it is enough to tell us to take our safety and security very seriously. Our privacy matters as to financial dealings when it comes to crypto and bitcoin deals. On several occasions on this platform, people have created a post on kidnap and armed robbery attacks as it involves crypto exchange for ransom in their various countries and as such we should be able to protect ourselves by not being too open to public engagement as it relates to crypto. Try not to expose yourself to the public with your crypto activities. In my country, a boy was kidnapped because of him being too noisy about his crypto involvement, it was clear he did not know how to keep quiet about sensitive matters. He keeps talking anyhow and where he is not supposed to talk about crypto and his portfolio till he was kidnapped and ransom was paid in crypto to release him. Ever since he had that encounter, nobody has seen or heard from him till this moment as he relocated from the place he used to live to another city after he was released by the kidnappers.

Take your crypto privacy very seriously, not everybody deserves to know you are into crypto and bitcoin as you do not know who can turn the leaf against you at any moment to plan an attack. You just have to be cautious and not show anything related to Bitcoin in your home or surroundings, you can be as discrete as you can just for your safety and security.

[Die_empty]

Buy one of these:



https://www.amazon.com/XYTEC-Head-Mounted-Infrared-Binoculars-Observation/dp/B0DJRC3F7L

and get a good automatic gun.

Self-defense is important. Don't expect the cops to do it for you.

These night-vision goggles are useful if the lights are out and the assailants break in at night.

Pepper spray would be great too if it's just a single guy. You don't want anybody coming into your home and causing a ruckus just because they want your money.

And don't go to strange places, that's how you solve the problem of getting kidnapped while abroad.

Jameson Lopp takes his personal security seriously - so should you.

Self-defence has become very important because of the increase in criminal activities. All these items you have mentioned are okay except for the automatic gun. In my country, individuals who are not security operatives cannot own such a gun. However there have been agitations by some legislators that guns should become legal since these criminals usually have access to guns.

Before now I usually tell people about Bitcoin investment just to promote Bitcoin awareness. But these days I am selective about the people I speak to and I never tell them that I own Bitcoin. We need to be careful since we don't know who is who.

[taufik123]

-snip-
Even if you are very passionate about Bitcoin, it is extremely important to understand that any thing you say could end with very bad consequences.  Most of the people I know who praise about their Bitcoin holdings are people seeking attention on the Internet and looking in despair to be seen as 'cool guys'.  Nobody will care about your coolness when you are tied up and thrown hot oil at for ransom!

Keep sensitive information to yourself.

"Cool guys" really describes some of the current people who are trying to Flexing to attract more followers on Twitter(X) and other social media.
For some reason they never learn to protect themselves from bad things that will happen just for the sake of their social media engagement and for the sake of the followers they will get.

Even though the influencers who are actually doing their job don't flex their wallets with millions of dollars, or those who do that may not be able to find their identity and some people who have been doxxed have never provided information related to personal wallets.

But some fools who have Doxxed Flexed with wallets that are easy to know.

You probably already know the excitement that is happening in Pump.fun and many of them are live-streaming to get a lot of buyers on their coins and then dump.
Seeing the teenager who was streaming which was then supported by his mother then dumping made a lot of unexpected reactions from the whales so that he pumped back the coins he made, eventually people doxxing and all his family got into trouble because he did the rugpull.

[sunsilk]

It's also important to remain lowkey at these times. The cons don't choose anyone anymore who they will target. As long as someone has mentioned crypto or Bitcoin on their feed, they'd probably part of their list.

Be careful who you trust and don't be too vocal with your achievements. While it's fine to be proud of it but make sure that you don't expose the biggest successes that you have.

This opens the idea to the bad guy that you've got plenty of money that they can extort from you. I remember a few years ago, there have been cases like this and it seems they're ballooning up to this point.