California Sheriffs Believe 74-Year-Old's Disappearance Linked to Son's Crypto Fortune
Naiping Hou, 74, disappeared after leaving home without his phone, with local law enforcement linking the case to his family's cryptocurrency holdings. His abandoned car was found near a hiking trail, and he was declared missing on May 4. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating the case as "suspicious," uncovering evidence of extensive fraudulent activity involving Hou's bank accounts. An unnamed suspect allegedly impersonated Hou to communicate with family. His son, Wen Hou, has offered a $250,000 reward for information and believes over $1 million was stolen from his father's accounts. Experts warn that wealthy crypto users often expose themselves to threats through poor online security practices and social media. The trend of "wrench attacks," where low-level theft escalates to violence for information extraction, is increasing, with 22 reported cases globally in 2023. Authorities are deploying cybercrime units and blockchain forensic teams to investigate these incidents.
