In San Francisco, a man posing as a package deliverer stole $11 million worth of cryptocurrency. The robbery took place at a home linked to tech investor Lachy Groom, a well-known figure in Silicon Valley and former partner of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The incident underlines a global increase in violent attacks on crypto owners.
Robbery by fake delivery man with firearm
According to the New York Post, the perpetrator rang the doorbell of the Dorland Street home, which is valued at approximately $4.4 million. Disguised as a UPS employee, he asked the victim, Joshua, for a pen to sign a package. At that moment, the man pulled a gun and overpowered Joshua, who is also a tech investor and lives with Groom.
Joshua was tied up, abused and threatened during the robbery. The perpetrator forced him to unlock his crypto wallets. The ordeal lasted about an hour and a half. Ultimately, the robber left with $11 million worth of Ethereum and Bitcoin, and also took a phone and laptop. Joshua suffered minor injuries. Police suspect that an organized crime group is behind the robbery, but no one has been arrested so far.
Crypto prominent Mario Nawfal calls the incident a clear warning sign for the sector. He states that this is not a random robbery, but a targeted, professional attack on someone with significant digital assets.
Global rise in violence against crypto owners
The robbery in San Francisco is not an isolated incident. The number of so-called key attacks is increasing worldwide, in which criminals pressure or use violence to gain access to crypto wallets and passwords.
Analysts report that more than sixty of these types of attacks have already been registered by 2025. There has been a noticeable increase in France in particular, with ten crypto-related kidnappings this year.
Incidents in France
- A 23-year-old man from Maisons-Alfort was kidnapped in June. The perpetrators demanded money as well as access to his hardware wallet.
- In Paris, armed men tried to kidnap the daughter and grandchild of a crypto entrepreneur.
- Ledger co-founder David Balland was also kidnapped earlier this year.
Violent attacks outside Europe
There are more examples of this type of crime worldwide. In Estonia, crypto billionaire Tim Heath managed to escape a kidnapping by fiercely resisting. In Tel Aviv, a local resident was severely assaulted and robbed of approximately $600,000 worth of Bitcoin and USDT. Russian crypto couple Roman and Anna Novak were found murdered in the United Arab Emirates after a kidnapping that was allegedly aimed at gaining access to their crypto wallets.
Why these attacks are increasing
According to experts, there are several reasons why key attacks are becoming more common:
- Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, meaning stolen funds cannot be easily recovered.
- Public displays of wealth on social media make individuals vulnerable as targets.
- Personal information is easy for criminals to find through online profiles.
- Many attacks are prepared in advance, with perpetrators using platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to investigate who may have large amounts of crypto.
Advice to reduce risk
Security experts advise crypto owners to improve their personal security and carefully handle information they share online. Additional measures include:
- Strengthening home and personal security.
- Be careful when sharing financial or personal information on social media.
- Using multi-signature wallets, which require multiple approvals.
- Inform family members about basic safety measures.
The violent robbery in San Francisco highlights that owning cryptocurrencies poses not only digital risks, but also physical threats, and that global investors must become increasingly vigilant.
Source: https://newsbit.nl/nepbezorger-steelt-voor-11-miljoen-aan-crypto/
