Crypto influencer Kidnapped but had no money

Lies have short legs – and in this case also (fortunately) empty bank accounts. Because a French TIKTOK INFLUENCER was very lucky in misfortune-the kidnappers released him again when they saw his empty crypto wallet.

Kidnapping wave in France

A wave of brutal kidnaps shakes France’s crypto scene these days. Not only there: In the past twelve months, there have been 50 violent attacks on people from the crypto industry worldwide – however, 14 of them occurred in France alone. The perpetrators specifically target entrepreneurs and influencers who are connected to cryptocurrencies. The latest case occurred loudly Europe 1 Last weekend in Juvisy-Sur-Sorge, a suburb of Paris (via standard). A 26-year-old Tikok Influencer was forced into a stolen car by four men.

The kidnappers beat and tortured their victims and demanded 50,000 euros in cryptocurrency for his release – presumably because of his 40,000 followers on Tiktok, who were looking for tips for fast wealth. However, the victim was lucky in misfortune or rather incompetence regarding his investments: When the perpetrators found that the influencer had hardly any money in his account, they released him again.

Authorities arrested 25 suspects

The French authorities have now reacted with a wave of arrests and arrested 25 suspects, including six minors. The alleged perpetrators are between 16 and 23 years old, mostly very young people who have been attracted by the money.

In response to the wave of kidnapping, French MP Paul Midy brought in a draft law to protect the privacy of corporate leaders. In contrast to previous proposals, this provides for automatic deletion of personal addresses from publicly accessible company registers. This particularly affects start-up founders and crypto entrepreneurs who often use their private address as a company address. The crypto industry in France has developed strongly in recent years. The French government under President Emmanuel Macron has deliberately positioned itself as crypto-friendly and wants to make the country a European Center for Blockchain technology.

However, this visibility also has its dark sides, because it also makes French crypto entrepreneurs into attractive destinations for criminals. The kidnappings show a new pattern of cybercrime: While in the past digital attacks such as ransomware attacks or stock exchange hacks were the focus, criminals are now increasingly passing physical violence. This stitch is referred to in the scene as “5 dollar Wrench Attack”.