Bitcoin and XRP: $123K Stolen in Fake Uber Ride

$123k Worth of Bitcoin and XRP Stolen in Fake Uber Ride in London

21 May 2025 at 07: 32

Reading time: 2 minutes

An American tourist has lost more than $123.000 in cryptocurrency in London after being drugged and kidnapped by a rogue Uber driver in London’s bustling West End, where he was out partying after a short stay in the city.

Jacob Irwin-Cline, of Portland, Oregon, was on a two-day layover and called an Uber after a night out at The Roxy, a popular Soho nightclub, around 1:30 a.m. on May 9. Police said a driver, who had gotten his name from the app, was waiting for him. When Irwin-Cline later accessed surveillance footage, it turned out he had gotten into a dark sedan, rather than the Toyota Prius listed on his Uber app.

A 'chill' encounter with the wrong driver

“The guy seemed super chill, super nice,” Irwin-Cline said. The driver offered him a cigarette, presumably laced with scopolamine, a sedative that puts victims into a sleep-like state but keeps them conscious and suggestible. Despite his earlier refusal to smoke, he decided to take him up on the offer. “Oh, c’mon,” the driver said, and on impulse Irwin-Cline agreed: “Sure, if you want to bond over a cigarette.”

During this innocent interaction, Irwin-Cline unknowingly gave away his phone code and access to his crypto accounts. He was then abandoned in an unfamiliar London neighborhood. Authorities discovered that the attackers had accessed his wallet directly after forcing a login to his Revolut account.

The dire consequences of a revenge attack

This incident is not only tragic, but also an example of the increasing physical attacks on crypto holders in Europe. Irwin-Cline estimates his total crypto losses at over $123.000, including $72.000 worth of XRP tokens, approximately $50.000 worth of Bitcoin and some smaller coins that have been depleted. He does not believe he was specifically targeted; instead, he thinks the attacker was just “lucky” to have some assets stored away.

Police have opened an investigation, but so far no arrests have been made. How many more victims do we need to see before action is taken? The question is up in the air, and we can only hope that others learn from this unfortunate incident.

This is the reality of crypto ownership in an increasingly dangerous world. Stay alert, protect your assets, and be vigilant in every interaction. A good dose of curiosity can be dangerous right now, but it is for your digital wallet!

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly happened to Jacob Irwin-Cline?
Jacob Irwin-Cline lost over $123.000 worth of cryptocurrency after being drugged by a fake Uber driver in London.

How did the attacker gain access to Irwin-Cline's wallets?
The attacker gained access to Irwin-Cline's wallets by stealing his phone code and unique login credentials during a moment of incapacitation.

What is a 'wrench attack'?
A 'wrench attack' is a physical threat in which victims are pressured to crypto to disclose or transfer.

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