American Tourist Drugged and Robbed of $123K in Bitcoin in London

Fake Uber Scam Leads to $123K Bitcoin Theft in London

Irwin-Cline had spent the evening at a London bar before ordering an Uber to return to his accommodation. However, instead of verifying the license plate or vehicle description, he mistakenly entered a private, unregistered car driven by a man who resembled his expected Uber driver.

Shortly after entering the vehicle, the driver offered Irwin-Cline a cigarette, which he suspects was laced with scopolamine, a powerful sedative known for its use in criminal activities. Within minutes, Irwin-Cline lost consciousness for approximately half an hour. When he regained awareness, the driver forced him out of the car before speeding away with his phone, which contained access to his Bitcoin wallet.

Crypto Crime Wave Expands Beyond London

Irwin-Cline’s case is part of a growing trend of violent incidents targeting crypto investors and executives. Earlier this month in France, the father of a crypto exchange owner was rescued from captivity by French police, who uncovered an organized ransom operation. Additionally, Pierre Noizat, CEO of Paymium, confirmed that his daughter and grandson were victims of an attempted kidnapping in broad daylight.

Authorities Urge Stronger Security Measures for Crypto Holders

With the line between virtual wealth and real-world vulnerability blurring, experts are urging individuals with substantial crypto holdings to implement stronger security protocols. This includes:

• Cold wallet storage for private keys.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for crypto accounts.
• Avoiding public discussions about crypto wealth.

London’s Metropolitan Police are investigating the theft, but no arrests have been made. Meanwhile, crypto platforms are being encouraged to enforce default two-factor authentication (2FA) and enhanced security alerts for suspicious account access.