As cryptocurrency takes the world by storm stories of nefarious activities involving the digital currencies are bound to become increasingly more common. In a stunning turn of events, the Manhattan District Attorney has charged a man with robbery and kidnapping after he swiped a digital wallet containing a fortune in ethereum cryptocurrency.
According to my source, Louis Meza and an associate allegedly held up the victim at gunpoint after getting him to enter a vehicle. After entering the vehicle he was forced to give them his keys, wallet and cellphone.
The story gets even more sophisticated from here. Apparently Meza entered the victim's apartment and swiped his digital wallet. Its unclear but I assume that he was able to take posession of passwords after the kidnapping because shortly after obtaining the digital wallet, he moved $1.8 million in "ether" cryptocurrency to his own wallet.
According to the DA's press release, Meza knew the victim and knew he had a large amount of ethereum. After meeting the victim on the evening of November 4th, "Meza insisted on ordering a car service for the victim, who entered a minivan after parting ways with Meza," the DA stated. The perpetrator was also charged with computer tampering, criminal possession of stolen property, and computer trespass.
The DA made a statement alleging that hacking isn't the only way crooks can get their hands on your Bitcoins and other crypto-cash.
"This case demonstrates the increasingly common intersection between cyber and violent crime," said NY County District Attorney Cyrus Vance. "We can expect this type of crime to become increasingly common as cryptocurrency values surge upward."
Have we entered a new age of crypto robberies? Do you think the criminal element is going to heat up now that cryptocurrencies have become so valuable?
Let us know your thoughts!
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