Another Day, Another Crypto Wrench Attack in France
A violent home invasion targeting a crypto executive and his family occurred in Verneuil-sur-Seine, France, when three armed assailants broke in, assaulted the parents, and tied up the couple and their children before fleeing. The family escaped to neighbors after freeing themselves. This incident is part of a surge in so-called "wrench attacks"—physical assaults aimed at forcing victims to surrender cryptocurrency—plaguing France’s crypto community. Similar crimes include a kidnapping in Saint-Léger-sous-Cholet linked to crypto theft and a home invasion in Manosque where intruders stole a USB drive with crypto credentials. The rise in these crimes has revealed vulnerabilities in how criminals identify targets, with cases of government officials allegedly selling personal data to organized crime. Experts warn that crypto crime in France is heavily underreported due to victims’ fears of exposing private financial information, tax issues, or facing further danger by reporting incidents, further complicating law enforcement efforts and highlighting the growing risks faced by those involved in cryptocurrency.
