HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A man says he was tortured for weeks in a New York townhouse. Another in Paris was held for ransom and his finger cut off. A couple in Connecticut were carjacked, beaten and thrown into a van. All, authorities allege, were victims tied to cryptocurrency-related crimes that have spilled out from
“Criminal groups already comfortable with using violence to achieve their goals were always likely to migrate to crypto,” Ariss said. Some of the crypto’s key characteristics help explain why wealthy individuals who hold a lot of digital assets can be ripe targets for such attacks. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories
What is cryptocurrency? How it works Cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency that uses cryptography for security and operates independently of central banks. Springfield, Missouri, police received reports of over $1.2 million in cryptocurrency scam losses in 2024, with only $109,000 recovered. Police warn residents to be aware of common scam tactics like guaranteed
Noah Michael Urban, 20, faces decades in federal prison and has agreed to make restitution of more than $13 million. He has yet to be sentenced. A Palm Coast man who called himself “King Bob” has pleaded guilty to charges in Florida and California for his role in a cryptocurrency heist and hacking cases; he faces decades