A French couple in their late fifties was coerced into relinquishing over 900,000 euros (approximately $1 million) in Bitcoin during an impersonation incident where criminals feigned being police officers. This event occurred west of Paris.

Three individuals, pretending to be law enforcement, invaded the couple’s residence in Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt. They compelled the husband to facilitate the Bitcoin transfer while threatening them with a knife. Following the assault, they restrained the man, inflicted injuries on both victims, and swiftly escaped in a white vehicle.

The wife managed to release her husband and sought help from neighbors around 9:00 AM local time. As reported by the Versailles prosecutor’s office, an investigation is underway, focusing on charges that include kidnapping, armed robbery by an organized group, and criminal conspiracy. As of Tuesday, there have been no arrests in connection to the case.

Rise in Wrench Attacks

This incident contributes to a concerning trend in wrench attacks, where aggressors employ intimidation to compel cryptocurrency holders to surrender their digital assets. A report from cybersecurity platform CertiK indicates that there was a 75% increase in such attacks in 2025, tallying 72 confirmed cases globally. France has borne the brunt of these offenses, documenting the highest number of incidents.

Earlier this year, the country witnessed several notorious cryptocurrency-related kidnappings and home invasions. In February, law enforcement apprehended six suspects involved in the abduction of a magistrate and her mother linked to a ransom case focused on the magistrate’s partner, a cryptocurrency business owner.

Moreover, days after this kidnapping, authorities detained three individuals connected to a burglary at the home of an executive at Binance France.

Related news: Meet the onchain crypto detectives fighting crime better than the cops