Crypto News: Update in France Crypto Kidnapping Case
For as useful of a tool cryptocurrency is, unfortunately, there is a lot of crime surrounding the commodity as well. And no, we aren’t just talking about the fact that cryptocurrency can be used for crime, but that holding cryptocurrency can lead to individuals targeting the holder as well.
Recently, there has been a string of attacks in France against individuals known to be holding cryptocurrency. Keep reading to learn about this case as well as learn how you can protect yourself against becoming the victim of a crypto-based crime.
France Crypto Kidnappings: The Run-Down
On May 1st, 2025, the father of a wealthy, well-known cryptocurrency entrepreneur was attacked and taken hostage. To the surprise of many, this attack happened in broad daylight, as the attackers (there were 4 of them) wore masks and delivery uniforms. They forced the victim into the back of a van.
The man was held for several days, and his finger was cut off and sent to his son in order to force him to pay a cryptocurrency ransom for the return of his father. The man was rescued after being held for several days. During his rescue, authorities discovered that the attackers were part of a large network of malicious individuals targeting cryptocurrency investors/entrepreneurs in France. This includes the kidnapping of David Ballard (the creator of Ledger), who was kidnapped on January 1st, 2025, and held for ransom.
The group also attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat on May 13; however, bystanders filmed the attempted abduction, and a nearby shopkeeper interfered. This gave the police their first solid leads on the case.
Who Was Behind the Kidnapping?
The French police identified over 25 individuals to be indicted as the perpetrators in these kidnapping situations. However, it is believed that Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, a dual French-Moroccan national, is the mastermind behind the scheme.
Bajjou was arrested in May along with a cache of weapons. The authorities also seized the stolen funds, as well as several electronic devices which revealed the social media platforms Bajjou used to find his 25+ co-conspirators.
The co-conspirators in these cases were often young males between the ages of 16-23. Most of them were from France, Senegal, Angola, and Russia. They were promised large amounts of money in return for helping Bajjou with the kidnappings. Warrants for their arrests were issued on May 31st, 2025, though it is unclear if the French police were able to bring in all of them as of June 12th, 2025.
Why Were the Victims Kidnapped?
All of the victims in the French kidnappings were tied to individuals known to hold a large amount of cryptocurrency or were involved in businesses that dealt in cryptocurrency. Therefore, it is assumed that the kidnappings were financially motivated.
It is unclear how Bajjou was able to find these individuals are target them, but we assume that most of them, as business owners, have their location public on LinkedIn, and if they posted about their family on social media, we assume they could be tracked and targeted.
Are Cryptocurrency Kidnappings Common?
Unfortunately, these aren’t the only cryptocurrency kidnappings of late, with US residents facing their own rise in kidnapping crime. There have been cases reported in both New York, and Las Vegas, of individuals being held against their will and even tortured to reveal their wallet passwords.
While the chances of the average individual being targeted, it is still a good idea to take some precautions so you don’t end up the next victim.
How to Protect Yourself From Becoming a Target of Crypto-Related Crime
As we mentioned above, being the target of this type of criminal is rare, unless you work for a well-known cryptocurrency firm. That being said, it is always a good idea to take a few steps to protect yourself and your family from anyone looking to target you.
1. Don’t Brag About Your Crypto
We know, BTC is now over $100k per coin and you happened to buy 2 of them several years ago when they were only a few dollars. Although this is an investment to be proud of, don’t go around bragging as this is the number one way individuals become targets. Also, store your seed phrase somewhere safe, yet public, like a safety deposit box at a bank.
2. Vet Any Potential Clients
While we don’t know exactly how these individuals were targeted, many claim to have had a business meeting with someone who would become an assailant. So, if you run a cryptocurrency or blockchain firm, before you invite someone into your office for a meeting ensure you look into their background.
Do they actually work for the firm they claim to? Are they known to have the type of financial needs one would need to invest in your business? A basic google search can often eliminate some of the less careful malicious actors.
3. Do Not Talk About Your Personal Life With Clients
Of course, there are some individuals who will slip past your checks, and if you’ve already bragged about your crypto or are a CEO of a blockchain company, item one won’t help you either. But in these cases, keep your family life as quiet as possible.
Remove images of your family and friends from your desk and social media. While it might be impossible to hide them completely, discuss your fears with them and come up with a safe word so they can know you are talking to them on the phone and not someone who might be impersonating you.
4. Keep Mace or Pepper Spray On Your Person
While carrying a gun isn’t always possible depending on when and where you live, consider purchasing a different self-defense tool like mace or a taser, in case you are threatened on the streets. Remember that keeping those items in your bag won’t help anyone, and instead, carry them in your hand as you walk. It isn’t safe to keep your attention focused on your phone anyway.
Overall, there is no one way to prevent others from targeting you for your cryptocurrency. We recommend combining some, or all, of the above methods to ensure you keep yourself, and your family, safe.
