Recent reports reveal a serious incident in France, where individuals posing as police officers forced a couple to transfer nearly $1 million in Bitcoin under threat.
This case falls under what are known as “wrench attacks”—a type of crime where attackers use physical or psychological coercion instead of hacking wallets or exploiting technical vulnerabilities.
Data suggests that such attacks are becoming more frequent across Europe, as the difficulty of tracing crypto assets makes individuals attractive real-world targets.
Security experts note that this shift reflects an evolution in crypto-related crime tactics, with attackers increasingly opting for faster and more direct methods by targeting people rather than systems.
The trend underscores the importance of personal security awareness, including avoiding disclosure of crypto holdings and implementing stronger real-world safety measures.