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A British crypto broker has made a dramatic escape from kidnappers in Spain, who threatened to torture and kill him to gain access to his cryptocurrency holdings.

The incident highlights the growing threat of crypto-related crimes in Europe as criminals increasingly target individuals with significant digital assets.

Kidnapping by Crypto Thieves

The broker was lured to an apartment in Estepona, southern Spain, after being invited for a drink by one of the kidnappers. Upon arrival, he was forced to transfer €30,000 from client accounts under threat of torture and execution.

Faced with imminent danger, he devised a bold escape plan.

Clever Plan Leads to Police Intervention

Instead of complying with the kidnappers’ demands, the broker quickly called a friend in London, pretending to be a client requesting access codes.

His friend immediately alerted the broker’s mother, who contacted the police. Thanks to this quick-thinking move, authorities were able to track down the apartment.

Balcony Jump Saves His Life

As police arrived, distracting the kidnappers, the broker seized the opportunity and jumped from a 9-meter (30-foot) balcony to escape.

He broke both ankles in the fall, but was quickly taken to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, police stormed the apartment, securing the scene and arresting the kidnappers.

Illegal Weapons and Drugs Discovered

Upon searching the apartment, police found:

Two firearms
€10,000 in cash
Three knives
25 grams of pink cocaine

The three men were charged with kidnapping, assault, membership in a criminal organization, illegal weapons possession, and drug trafficking.

Crypto Heists: A Growing Threat

This incident is just the latest in a series of crypto-related kidnappings, which have been on the rise in recent years.

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT reported in October that there has been a notable increase in crypto-targeted attacks across Western Europe.

Crypto Kidnapping Cases Over the Years:

2021: 32 cases worldwide
2023: 17 cases
2024: 28 cases (so far)

Jameson Lopp, a crypto security expert, has been tracking such incidents dating back to 2014.

With the rising value of digital assets, crypto-related crimes are becoming more frequent and increasingly violent, posing a growing security risk to investors worldwide.

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Roman Blecha

I have 6 years of writing experience on several leading websites dealing with cryptocurrencies and other investments. I have been in the Web3 sector for a similar amount of time and have collaborated on several projects from NFT to P2E. My previous experiences: Business2Community.com, TradingPlatforms.com, CryptoSvet.cz