Crypto extortion attack targets French family
6.7 Security A French family was attacked and extorted for €40,000 in crypto. The father, a crypto professional, was targeted. Authorities are investigating.
A family in Vendin-le-Vieil, northern France, suffered a violent home invasion by four masked attackers during the night. The assailants restrained the parents and their two children, aged 8 and 12, using force and injuring the daughter. The father, a professional in the cryptocurrency sector, was separated from his family and coerced under threat to transfer approximately €40,000 in digital assets to the attackers. After searching the house, the criminals fled, leaving the family physically unharmed but deeply traumatized. Authorities suspect the attack was targeted due to the father's involvement in crypto, reflecting a rise in 'wrench attacks' in France, often linked to leaked personal data. An investigation for kidnapping and extortion by an organized group is underway, involving local and national cybercrime units. The case underscores the increasing risks faced by cryptocurrency holders.
