- A 74-year-old man from Voiron stated his kidnappers held him captive for 16 hours and demanded 3 million euros in cryptocurrency from his son.
- In one other incident, kidnappers in Burgundy detained a lady and her 11-year-old son and demanded $400,000 in cryptocurrency.
- French authorities stated crypto-related kidnappings have been on the rise since 2025, with anti-organized crime prosecutors already dealing with 13 circumstances this 12 months.
France is going through a sharper and extra violent wave of cryptocurrency-related kidnappings, with current incidents exhibiting attackers not solely focusing on traders but additionally their mother and father, spouses and kids.
A 74-year-old man kidnapped in January from Voiron, southeastern France, stated his kidnappers held him captive and tortured him for 16 hours to pressure him handy over 3 million euros in cryptocurrency to his son. The sufferer stated three males broke into his residence round 6 a.m., instantly beat him, after which claimed his son was a billionaire and instructed him they have been there to get cryptocurrency entry codes.
The person stated his captors reduce his fingers and cheeks, staged a suffocation scene utilizing a big plastic bag, and recorded a video to stress his son into paying. No ransom was paid. After the sufferer was launched within the woods later that night time, police arrested three suspects, ranging in age from 19 to 23. They now face costs together with torture and barbaric acts.
New case in Burgundy: Kidnappers are focusing on households
One other incident this week adopted the same sample. Armed, masked assailants broke right into a home within the Yonne space of Burgundy, tied up a father, stole money, jewellery, small silver bars and firearms, and kidnapped a mom and the couple’s 11-year-old son. Prosecutors stated the group requested $400,000 in cryptocurrency transfers.
After his father was launched, he managed to inform the authorities. Investigators tracked the hostages to a resort room in Boissy-Saint-Léger, close to Paris, the place they have been rescued the subsequent morning. Seven folks have been detained after the operation, which concerned round 100 navy police, together with an elite unit of GIGN.
French authorities say these incidents are not remoted. The Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Workplace introduced earlier this month that it’s already dealing with 13 crypto-related kidnapping circumstances.
Investigators imagine a broader crime sample is forming
The Voiron incident gives a clearer image of how these teams function. Investigators say the attackers typically work as low-level enforcers, following orders from distant organizers. Within the January incident, police imagine the ringleader operated from abroad and directed the violence over the telephone, whereas the abductors continued to ship photos and movies to the sufferer’s son.
Officers additionally stated many victims have been recognized via database leaks, social media publicity, and deep open supply intelligence investigations. Within the Voiron case, the sufferer’s son reportedly appeared in information held by a cryptocurrency firm that was hacked and resold. In different circumstances, criminals have used public information and on-line life-style alerts to create maps of targets and their family members, investigators stated.
The broader context factors to growing stress on crypto-related crimes in Europe. One other worldwide incident occurred this week, with the arrest of a suspect in Ukraine in a cyber fraud and cash laundering investigation involving greater than $100 million. Taken collectively, these incidents display how digital asset crime is converging with cyber fraud, extortion, and violent organized crime.
associated: Ukraine arrests cybercrime suspect in world $100 million fraud case
Disclaimer: The knowledge contained on this article is for informational and academic functions solely. This text doesn’t represent monetary recommendation or recommendation of any sort. Coin Version is just not accountable for any losses incurred because of the usage of the content material, merchandise, or providers talked about. We encourage our readers to do their due diligence earlier than taking any motion associated to our firm.