Armed Criminals Pose as Delivery Drivers to Target Crypto Holders in France

A failed home invasion near Montpellier underscores a brutal shift in crypto crime tactics. Rather than hacking wallets through code exploits, criminals are now resorting to physical violence and extortion to extract funds directly from investors.

The Montpellier Incident

On April 11, a 25-year-old suspect disguised as a delivery driver forced his way into a family home in Saint-Jean-de-Védas, a suburb of Montpellier. Once inside, he brandished a handgun and herded the parents and children into a confined room. During the ensuing struggle with the father, a shot rang out—but no one sustained injuries. The Gendarmerie's Montpellier research section quickly apprehended the suspect, who now faces charges while investigators determine if accomplices were involved.

This marks the first confirmed crypto-motivated home invasion reported in France's Hérault region, signaling how far criminal networks will go to target digital asset holders.

France Faces a Wrench Attack Epidemic

The broader picture is alarming. France is experiencing what security experts call "wrench attacks"—violent home invasions and kidnappings where perpetrators coerce victims into surrendering cryptocurrency or revealing seed phrases. The country has recorded at least 41 crypto-linked kidnappings and home invasions so far this year alone, translating to roughly one incident every 2.5 days.

On a global scale, wrench attacks surged 75% in 2025, reaching 72 documented cases with confirmed losses in the millions. France holds the unenviable distinction of recording more incidents than any other single country—a stark indicator of how vulnerable crypto investors are in the region.

How Criminals Identify Their Targets

Cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement increasingly suspect criminal organizations are building hit lists from compromised databases. The Ledger breach in January provides a chilling example: a payment processor called Global-e exposed names, addresses, contact details, and order information for hardware wallet purchasers. This created a high-precision target directory linking confirmed crypto users to their physical locations.

Beyond data leaks, attackers exploit public-facing information. Social media footprints, doxxed identities, and online posting histories make prominent crypto figures particularly vulnerable.

Recent Cases Show Escalating Violence

The kidnappings extend far beyond standard home invasions. In February, French authorities arrested six individuals connected to the abduction of a magistrate and her mother—the goal was extracting cryptocurrency from the magistrate's partner, a digital asset entrepreneur. March brought another case where assailants impersonating police officers forced a French couple to transfer nearly $1 million in Bitcoin (BTC) at gunpoint.

Government Response Takes Shape

French officials acknowledge that crypto crime has fundamentally transformed. The threat no longer comes from smart contract vulnerabilities or exchange hacks—it comes from criminals willing to use violence.

At Paris Blockchain Week, French Minister Jean-Didier Berger revealed the government had launched a prevention platform designed specifically for crypto holders and is coordinating with the Interior Ministry on broader security initiatives to combat the surge in asset-motivated kidnappings and home invasions.