French Duo Loses Cryptocurrency Fortune to Elaborate Impersonation Scam
In March 2026, three men dressed as police officers forced their way into a home in Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, a town west of Paris near Versailles. They threatened the woman inside with a knife. They then forced her husband to transfer €900,000 (approximately $1 million) in Bitcoin — a digital currency stored in software wallets — to an address controlled by the attackers. The Versailles public prosecutor's office confirmed the theft. The Brigade de Répression du Banditisme (BRB), a French unit specialising in organised crime, took over the investigation.
Bitcoin transfers cannot be reversed after completionUnlike a bank transfer, a Bitcoin transaction is final once confirmed on the blockchain — a public, distributed ledger that records all transactions. No financial institution can freeze or reverse the funds after transfer. The couple had no technical recourse after the transaction completed. France recorded more physical attacks on cryptocurrency holders than any other country in 2025, according to data from the blockchain security firm CertiK.
France leads globally in physical crypto attacksCertiK recorded 72 verified "wrench attacks" globally in 2025 — a 75% increase from 2024. A wrench attack is a physical robbery or kidnapping that targets cryptocurrency holders directly, rather than exploiting software vulnerabilities. France accounted for 19 of those 72 cases, more than double the number recorded in the United States. Fortune and Forbes independently reported the CertiK figures in February and March 2026.
"France accounted for 19 of the 72 verified wrench attacks globally, a figure that is more than double that of the United States.", 14 February 2026. — CertiK, Blockchain Security Firm
Attack rate accelerated sharply in early 2026France recorded 41 crypto-related kidnappings and attacks as of April 2026, averaging one incident every 2.5 days. That total exceeds the full-year 2025 figure of 19 French cases in CertiK's dataset. Authorities announced new security measures in April 2026 in response to the accelerating frequency of incidents. Unlike a bank transfer, a Bitcoin transaction is final once confirmed on the blockchain — a public, distributed ledger that records all transactions. No financial institution can freeze or reverse the funds after transfer. The couple had no technical recourse after the transaction completed. France recorded more physical attacks on cryptocurrency holders than any other country in 2025, according to data from the blockchain security firm CertiK.
France leads globally in physical crypto attacksCertiK recorded 72 verified "wrench attacks" globally in 2025 — a 75% increase from 2024. A wrench attack is a physical robbery or kidnapping that targets cryptocurrency holders directly, rather than exploiting software vulnerabilities. France accounted for 19 of those 72 cases, more than double the number recorded in the United States. Fortune and Forbes independently reported the CertiK figures in February and March 2026.
"France accounted for 19 of the 72 verified wrench attacks globally, a figure that is more than double that of the United States.", 14 February 2026. — CertiK, Blockchain Security Firm
Attack rate accelerated sharply in early 2026France recorded 41 crypto-related kidnappings and attacks as of April 2026, averaging one incident every 2.5 days. That total exceeds the full-year 2025 figure of 19 French cases in CertiK's dataset. Authorities announced new security measures in April 2026 in response to the accelerating frequency of incidents. CertiK recorded 72 verified "wrench attacks" globally in 2025 — a 75% increase from 2024. A wrench attack is a physical robbery or kidnapping that targets cryptocurrency holders directly, rather than exploiting software vulnerabilities. France accounted for 19 of those 72 cases, more than double the number recorded in the United States. Fortune and Forbes independently reported the CertiK figures in February and March 2026.
"France accounted for 19 of the 72 verified wrench attacks globally, a figure that is more than double that of the United States.", 14 February 2026. — CertiK, Blockchain Security Firm
Attack rate accelerated sharply in early 2026France recorded 41 crypto-related kidnappings and attacks as of April 2026, averaging one incident every 2.5 days. That total exceeds the full-year 2025 figure of 19 French cases in CertiK's dataset. Authorities announced new security measures in April 2026 in response to the accelerating frequency of incidents. "France accounted for 19 of the 72 verified wrench attacks globally, a figure that is more than double that of the United States.", 14 February 2026. — CertiK, Blockchain Security Firm
Attack rate accelerated sharply in early 2026France recorded 41 crypto-related kidnappings and attacks as of April 2026, averaging one incident every 2.5 days. That total exceeds the full-year 2025 figure of 19 French cases in CertiK's dataset. Authorities announced new security measures in April 2026 in response to the accelerating frequency of incidents. Attack rate accelerated sharply in early 2026France recorded 41 crypto-related kidnappings and attacks as of April 2026, averaging one incident every 2.5 days. That total exceeds the full-year 2025 figure of 19 French cases in CertiK's dataset. Authorities announced new security measures in April 2026 in response to the accelerating frequency of incidents. France recorded 41 crypto-related kidnappings and attacks as of April 2026, averaging one incident every 2.5 days. That total exceeds the full-year 2025 figure of 19 French cases in CertiK's dataset. Authorities announced new security measures in April 2026 in response to the accelerating frequency of incidents. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and involve significant risk. You may lose part or all of your investment. All information on Coinpaprika is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research (DYOR) and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Coinpaprika is not liable for any losses resulting from the use of this information.