The recent increase in value of some cryptocurrency has attracted more investors as well as cybercriminals, who have launched attacks on crypto owners as well as cryptocurrency exchanges with the aim of stealing their funds
However, it seems that non-hackers too are also interested in this trend! Those who don't have the hacking skills to do it virtually would use everything physical tool at their disposal to achieve their aim.
US authorities on Tuesday charged a New York resident with crimes including kidnapping and stealing $1.8 million worth of Ethereum from his friend's cryptocurrency wallet at gunpoint on 4th November 2017.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Louis Meza, 35, who is in police custody, had a meeting with a friend in his apartment after which he called a car service to pick up the friend when the meeting was over.
The friend to Meza who is yet to be identified thought that the minivan would take him home but instead, the driver pulled out a gun and demanded the 24-word secret passphrase to his Ethereum wallet.
Official statement issued by the DA office said the driver also demanded for the house key, mobile phone and wallet. However, a day after the kidnapping took place, a sum of $1.8 million appeared in Meza's account
"video surveillance later obtained from the victims' apartment building showed Meza using the set of keys stolen from the victim to enter the victim's apartment and then leave the apartment holding a box believed to contain the victim's digital wallet. Additionally records reveal that soon after obtaining the victim's digital wallet, the defendant then transferred approximately $1.6 million in Ether to his own personal account," part of the statement read.
The victim eventually escaped the scene while the driver was busy searching his house, he, however, called 911. Meza has been charged although he still denies any involvement in the incident.
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