Crimes against crypto magnates are on an alarming rise. In recent news, an American crypto investor has been allegedly kidnapped and manipulated into unlocking his phone. Subsequently, compelling him to drain his digital finances. The perpetrator did not stop there; he badly beat the investor and left him injured at the side of the road.
This chilling incident is showing the growing rate of crimes against entrepreneurs. The victim has been identified as Jacob Irwin-Cline, a 30-year-old entrepreneur from Portland, Oregon, who was visiting London.
The Mugging
The ordeal began on May 9th, when Irwin left the Roxy in Soho after a night of drinking. At around 1:30 a.m., he ordered an Uber. The ride seemed normal at first. Well into the ride, the driver offered him a sedative-laced cigarette, which the entrepreneur hesitantly smoked.
After that, the victim remembers that he was docile and well under the influence. Irwoin recollected that he had no memory of what went on afterwards, but all that he remembers is that he was left near the side of the road and the driver drove off.
As he was coming back, he realised his phone was missing and that he was injured from a beating. After returning to the hostel, Irwin contacted a friend in the US and confirmed that he lost close to “$123,000 in crypto and assets.”
This is alarming and scary since the perpetrator apparently seemed like a legitimate Uber driver who knew Irwin’s Uber handle. Therefore, it makes the fear worse.
