American Tourist Drugged and Robbed of $123K in Crypto by Fake Uber Driver in London

An American tourist, Jacob Irwin-Cline, was drugged and robbed of $123,000 in cryptocurrency during a night out in London. The incident, which occurred on May 9, involved a fake Uber driver who allegedly used a powerful sedative to incapacitate Irwin-Cline before stealing his digital assets.

Key Takeaways

• Jacob Irwin-Cline, a 30-year-old from Oregon, lost $123,000 in Bitcoin and XRP after being drugged by a fake Uber driver.

• The assailant allegedly used scopolamine, known as "Devil's Breath," to induce memory loss and compliance.

• Irwin-Cline reported the incident to local police and the FBI, but recovery of the stolen funds is deemed unlikely.

The Incident

Jacob Irwin-Cline was visiting London on a brief layover when he decided to go out for drinks at The Roxy nightclub in Soho. After consuming several whiskey sours, he called for an Uber to return to his hostel around 1:30 AM.

Upon exiting the bar, a driver called out his name, matching the alias he had saved in the Uber app. However, the vehicle that arrived was a dark sedan, not the Toyota Prius listed in the app. Irwin-Cline, believing he was getting into the correct car, accepted the driver’s invitation to sit in the front passenger seat.

The Drugging

Once inside, the driver offered Irwin-Cline a cigarette, which he later suspected was laced with scopolamine. This potent sedative is notorious for causing memory blackouts and extreme suggestibility. Irwin-Cline reported feeling increasingly disoriented and eventually passed out for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

When he regained consciousness, he found himself on the side of a road in Golders Green, missing both his phone and memory of how he got there. The driver had allegedly ordered him out of the vehicle and fled, striking him with the car in the process.

The Aftermath

After the incident, a kind stranger helped Irwin-Cline return to his hostel, where he discovered that his laptop had been remotely wiped. He managed to regain access to his accounts with assistance from a friend in the U.S., only to find that his cryptocurrency holdings had been drained.

• XRP Wallet: Dropped from $73,000 to under $1,000.

• Bitcoin Wallet: Fell from $50,000 to less than $10.

Irwin-Cline traced some of the stolen funds to exchanges MEXC and BTSE, but without insurance or effective recovery tools, he believes there is a "less than 1% chance" of recovering his assets.

Ongoing Investigation

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that they received a report of the theft shortly after the incident. Irwin-Cline has also reported the crime to Action Fraud and the FBI's Virtual Assets Unit. Despite the ongoing investigation, he remains skeptical about the recovery of his funds.

Uber has stated that the experience described by Irwin-Cline is "totally unacceptable" and is conducting its own investigation into the matter. The rise in violent crimes targeting cryptocurrency holders has raised concerns about personal safety among investors and industry professionals.

Conclusion

This incident highlights the growing risks associated with cryptocurrency ownership, particularly for travelers. As criminals increasingly target wealthy individuals, it is crucial for users to remain vigilant and take precautions when using rideshare services and managing digital assets.

Sources

• American tourist claims $123K in bitcoin and XRP stolen in fake Uber 'Devil's Breath' attack in London, The Block.

• Fake Uber Driver Allegedly Drugs and Robs American Tourist of $123K in Crypto in London, Cryptonews.

• US tourist drugged by fake Uber driver and robbed of $123K BTC — Report, Cointelegraph.

• American tourist in London loses $123k in crypto after 'drug-enabled abduction by fake Uber driver' -
  MyLondon, MyLondon.

• Investor lost $123,000 in Bitcoin, XRP after allegedly being drugged and robbed in London, Crypto Briefing.

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