Michaela
A 23-year-old man and his partner have become the latest victims in a string of crypto kidnapping cases in France after the man was abducted and his partner was forced to gather €5,000 in cash along with his Ledger digital wallet access key.
According to a local report from Le Parisien, the couple from Maisons-Alfort was targeted by an organized gang on Tuesday. The incident began mid-morning as the pair left their home by car to run errands. Upon reaching their destination and struggling to find a parking spot, the 23-year-old man stayed behind to search for one while his partner exited the vehicle.
After several minutes, the young woman received a message from her partner claiming he had to urgently attend to a work-related issue. Assuming it was nothing unusual, she began walking back home on her own.
After returning home, the young woman’s phone rang — seemingly a video call from her partner. But when she answered, a stranger appeared on the screen. The unidentified caller ordered her to collect €5,000 in cash along with a Ledger hardware wallet and place them in a bag for pickup.
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A source told Le Parisien that “violence was used to make him talk,” suggesting the kidnappers were aware of the man’s cryptocurrency assets. Complying with their demands, the woman waited outside her home holding the bag, which was then collected by a third individual.
The kidnappers warned the young woman that her compliance would ensure her partner’s safe release. By 5 p.m., the man was freed in the nearby town of Créteil and contacted his partner to confirm he was on his way home. French officials have withheld information regarding the victim’s identity and the specific amount of cryptocurrency involved.
French authorities have opened an investigation into the crypto kidnapping incident, with a source confirming that the woman has been transferred to the judicial police. A source close to the matter described it as “a sensitive case,” noting a rise in crypto kidnapping incidents in recent months. Law enforcement, including the Anti-Banditism Brigade, has already made multiple arrests linked to these ongoing inquiries.
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The incident adds to a growing wave of crypto-related abductions reported both in France and around the world. As digital assets continue to attract attention from cybercriminals and organized crime groups, law enforcement agencies are increasingly sounding the alarm over the real-world dangers tied to virtual wealth.
The rise in such targeted attacks has sparked renewed calls for stronger personal security measures among crypto holders and stricter oversight of illicit financial flows.
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MICHAELA
Michaela is a news writer focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain topics. She prioritizes rigorous research and accuracy to uncover interesting angles and ensure engaging reporting. A lifelong book lover, she applies her passion for reading to deeply explore the constantly evolving crypto world.
