US tech whiz allegedly drugged by bogus London Uber driver who stole $123K in crypto
A night out in London turned into a nightmare for an Oregon tech expert who claimed he was drugged by a fake Uber driver, resulting in the theft of $123,000 from his cryptocurrency accounts. Jacob Irwin-Cline, 30, was on a layover in London on his way to visit family in Spain when the incident occurred outside a Soho nightclub in the early hours of May 9. Irwin-Cline woke up disoriented and devastated after getting into what he believed was his rideshare, only to realize later that he had been duped.
Irwin-Cline, a former software engineer, recounted the terrifying ordeal to a British outlet, stating that he lost a significant amount of money in crypto and assets. He described how he entered the car without verifying the model or license plate, as the driver appeared to match the Uber profile and called out his name. After accepting a cigarette from the driver, Irwin-Cline began feeling drowsy and disoriented, suspecting that the cigarette might have been laced with a powerful sedative like scopolamine.
The tech expert recalled feeling docile and semi-conscious as he handed over his phone and passcodes to the fake driver, who eventually abandoned him in a strange part of London after striking him with the car. Irwin-Cline later discovered that his laptop had been remotely wiped, and he was locked out of his financial accounts. Upon regaining access, he found that a substantial sum of money had been stolen from his accounts.
Despite reporting the incident to the British police, Irwin-Cline acknowledged that recovering the stolen funds would be nearly impossible. He expressed concern for other potential victims and emphasized the importance of staying vigilant to prevent similar incidents. Reflecting on the ordeal, he recognized that money can come and go but emphasized the importance of being alive and safe.
The theft occurred shortly after another high-profile cryptocurrency-related incident involving Kentucky crypto enthusiast John Woeltz, who was allegedly kidnapped and tortured by wealthy Italian trader Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan for his Bitcoin password in Manhattan. Carturan was reportedly subjected to horrific tortures before managing to escape from his captors. Three individuals, including Woeltz, have been arrested in connection with the incident.
These recent incidents serve as a stark reminder of the risks associated with cryptocurrency transactions and the importance of safeguarding personal information and assets in the digital age. Irwin-Cline’s experience highlights the need for increased awareness and security measures to protect against cybercrime and fraudulent activities in the cryptocurrency industry.
