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An armed gang tried to kidnap the daughter and grandson of a well-known French crypto executive in Paris. As reported by France 24, the woman was the daughter of the CEO and co-founder of Paymium, a French crypto exchange.
This incident, which took place in broad daylight, has raised serious concerns over the rising crime rate linked to cryptocurrency wealth.
What Happened?
On Tuesday 8 am, four masked men jumped out of a van and attacked a couple walking with their child. Their target was the woman and her son, as their tried to force them into the vehicle.
The woman’s partner fought back, grabbing one of the guns and threw it away. Her screams caught the attention of nearby pedestrians and the kidnappers fled from the place. The victims suffered minor injuries.
The Rising Crypto Related Crimes
Unfortunately, this is one of the many incidents this year. Earlier, David Balland, the co-founder of a major crypto firm, Ledger, was kidnapped along with his partner. Things got serious when the kidnapper cut off his finger to demand a crypto ransom. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the crime.
Another gang kidnapped a man to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom. The operation ended with a police raid and seven arrests. Other abductions of cryptocurrency figures or their partners were reported in Spain and Belgium in recent months.
Authorities suspect that these incidents are connected and part of a growing trend where criminals target individuals who are linked to the crypto industry.
French Interior Minister To Hold A Meeting
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) warns that cryptocurrencies could attract illegal activity, especially in areas with weak regulations. Law enforcement and regulators need to ramp up their efforts to provide better oversight and protection, as it’s more crucial than ever.
The French interior minister Bruno Retailleau, announced on Wednesday that he would hold a meeting with crypto professionals to discuss how to prevent future kidnappings after such several such high-profile cases in France.
