In a rare case of crypto theft by physical coercion, Ukrainian national Viacheslav Leibov was forced to transfer 250,000 USDT (about 8.56 million baht) to armed robbers in Phuket, Thailand.
On 11 November, Thai authorities arrested four suspects in connection with the crime.
Local reports state that Leibov's ordeal began when he visited a friend’s hotel room, where 21-year-old Armenian Arman Grigoryan led him to the room.
Initially, they conversed on the balcony, but when Leibov went to the bathroom, two masked assailants ambushed him, restraining him with ropes and cable ties.
Armed with a hammer and knife, the robbers demanded he transfer 500,000 USDT; however, Leibov negotiated the amount down to 250,000 USDT.
After the transfer, they tied him to the bed and warned him not to report the crime.
Leibov managed to free himself and reported the incident to the Kamala police.
Among those arrested was a frequent USDT buyer from Leibov, who likely knew of his substantial holdings.
The four arrested suspects
This incident underscores the rising risk of physical attacks targeting digital asset holders as cryptocurrency becomes more mainstream.
As cryptocurrency adoption expands globally, so too does the range and complexity of related crimes.
In 2024 alone, criminals have employed increasingly inventive methods to steal digital assets.
The US Federal Trade Commission reported that scammers stole $65 million via Bitcoin ATM fraud schemes in the first half of the year.
In these scams, criminals impersonate bank or government officials, persuading victims to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM.
Meanwhile, Binance recently issued a global alert on "Clipper malware," which modifies wallet addresses during transactions to redirect funds to a scammer's wallet.
In August, reports surfaced of a macOS-targeting malware that attacks crypto wallets such as MetaMask, promoted through fake job offers and Telegram channels.
Established cybercrime groups are also targeting the crypto sector; North Korea's infamous Lazarus group and its affiliates, for example, are now using phishing campaigns to breach crypto firms.
These developments highlight the growing need for heightened security in the evolving landscape of digital finance.
Four foreign nationals were arrested in Thailand for a robbery on 8 November, where they forced a Ukrainian tourist, Viacheslav Leibov, to transfer 250,000 USD in cryptocurrency. The suspects, who had prior connections to the victim, were charged with armed robbery, unlawful detention, and coercion.
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