Crypto Holders Beware: From Scams to Torture – Why Your Wallet Needs More Than Just a Password

Crypto-related kidnappings and wrench attacks are on the rise

In 2025, owning crypto is like carrying a gold bar in your backpack.

Hackers don’t just hide behind keyboards anymore. They’re knocking on doors, sending fake emails, and in recent horror cases in New York and France, they’re even using chainsaws to force access to wallets.

Let’s break it down — what’s happening, why it’s getting this bad, and how you can protect yourself before you become the next headline.

The Crypto Crime That Shook New York

Just this month, a chilling report surfaced:

A 37-year-old “investor” kidnapped a 28-year-old tourist from Italy and tortured him for weeks in a luxury NYC apartment. His goal? Access to the tourist’s Bitcoin wallet.

We’re not talking about a few threats here. We’re talking about:

• Electric torture using water and wires

• Physical beatings

• Chainsaw intimidation

• Forced seed phrase extraction

Just days before the NYC torture case, France made headlines when a group of masked men stormed a crypto executive’s home near Marseille. The attackers held the family at gunpoint and cut off two of the victim’s fingers to force wallet access. Authorities say this was part of a disturbing pattern of “wrench attacks” — physical violence used to extract private keys or seed phrases. It’s no longer just cybercrime. It’s crypto crime crossing into brutal, real-world violence.

And yes, this was all about crypto. You can be physically targeted just for owning crypto.

Online Attacks Are Still Rampant — and Evolving

While wrench attacks (physical extortion) are rising, phishing scams are still the most common way people lose their crypto.

Let’s be real. Hackers don’t need to hack the blockchain. They just need you to:

• Click a fake link

• Sign a dodgy smart contract

• Type your seed phrase into a phishing site

Here’s what’s working for them in 2025:

• Fake Metamask or Trust Wallet popups that look identical to the real thing

• Google ads leading to scam websites (yes, even at the top of the page)

• Discord & Telegram impersonators pretending to be support agents

• Giveaway tweets asking for wallet connects in return for “free” tokens

• Emails claiming your account is at risk and asking for verification

And the worst part? These scams aren’t targeting “noobs” anymore. Even experienced users are getting tricked.

So How Do You Actually Stay Safe?

Here’s a simple, real-world checklist to protect your crypto in 2025 — and your peace of mind.

Use Cold Wallets for Long-Term Funds

• Hardware wallets like Ledger, Trezor or SafePal are offline.

• Less exposure = less risk.

Split and Hide Seed Phrases

• Break your seed phrase into multiple parts.

• Store across separate physical locations (NOT online).

• Consider engraving it on metal for fireproof backup.

Don’t Flex Online!!

• Avoid posting wallet balances or NFT wins.

• Scammers track public profiles — and so do real-world criminals.

Be Paranoid (In a Smart Way)

• Bookmark official exchange and wallet sites.

• Never trust a DM or link, even from someone you “know.”

• Always verify — twice.

Use Token Permission Tools

• Revoke old dApp permissions regularly using sites like Revoke.cash

But What If the Worst Happens?

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, something goes wrong.

You click the wrong link. Your hot wallet gets drained. Or worse, someone close to you forces you to give up access.

That’s where we come in.

Crypto Seeker: Your Recovery & Protection Partner

We’re not just a blog or a warning system. We’re your crypto bodyguard and forensic team.

Here’s what we do:

• Use blockchain analytics tools to trace stolen assets across wallets and exchanges

• Help coordinate with exchanges to flag and freeze stolen funds

• Work with law enforcement where required (yes, even internationally)

• Advise on future-proof security setups that actually work in today’s threat landscape.

• We even work with counter-surveillance and special ops teams to protect and safeguard high net worth individuals (HNWI).

Our team has helped victims of:

• Phishing scams

• Romance scams

• SIM swaps

• Cold wallet theft

• And even wrench attacks

If You’ve Been Hit — Time Is Everything

Every second counts. Don’t waste it trying to “figure it out” on your own.

Book a confidential consultation today.

We’ll assess your situation, trace your stolen crypto, and help you take back control.

Crypto Seeker is here when it matters most.