French Police Log 135 Crypto Kidnappings Since 2023
French authorities have uncovered structured criminal networks recruiting attackers via Telegram to target crypto holders. Police charged 88 people total, including around a dozen minors, with 75 suspects currently in pre-trial detention.
Key Takeaway
Organized crime networks now recruit crypto kidnappers via Telegram—cold wallet holders face escalating physical threats.
French authorities recorded 135 crypto kidnapping cases since 2023, with 47 cases reported so far this year.
The numbers mark a sharp escalation. Police recorded just 3 cases in 2023, followed by 18 cases in 2024. That's a 272% increase year-over-year.
Pnaco head Vanessa Perrée said authorities uncovered structured criminal networks operating across multiple regions. The National Prosecutor's Office organized crime unit identified individuals involved in several cases. Police charged 88 people total, including around a dozen minors, with 75 suspects currently in pre-trial detention.
Telegram became the primary recruitment platform. Three suspects arrested after a November kidnapping in Challes-les-Eaux admitted they were recruited by someone using the alias "Hermano"—Spanish for "brother." The three men aged between 25 and 30 targeted crypto holders in the Savoie Department.
The attacks turned increasingly violent. One family of five lost ₱48,619,007 ($800,000) worth of crypto stolen from a cold wallet during a home invasion. Police arrested a 17-year-old boy days after he participated in a violent extortion attempt against a 67-year-old mother—officers found him playing PlayStation games at his family home.
Pnaco now tracks 12 active crypto-related kidnapping investigations.
This article was written based on reporting from Dlnews.
