Canadian man in hiding after claiming Bitcoin-related hacking attempts

An unnamed Canadian crypto forum moderator was reportedly forced to go into hiding with his family following an attempted kidnapping by criminals who allegedly attempted to steal his bitcoins.

According to local press, the man was forced to move his family from one Airbnb to another because the police could not guarantee their safety.

Criminals intent on torturing victims

Regarding the attempted kidnapping, the father of four told Quebec newspaper La Presse that his kidnappers were prepared to attack him and his children to achieve their goal. He said they had a torture device and they probably intended to amputate one of his legs using a two-foot tarp with a hole in the middle and nails around it.

The victim's ordeal began in It's November 4, 2024, and two masked men threaten him outside his house, but he manages to lock the door before they can enter. In the year On Nov. 8, he said he noticed a black car with no license plates near his home, prompting him to contact police.

A few days later, the man said he found himself behind the same strange vehicle on the main road before suddenly swerving, causing him to pull over. One of the passengers of the car allegedly pulled a gun on an unidentified man and forced him to use pepper spray to defend himself.

After investigations, the police arrested four suspects, two of whom will appear in court in November 2024 on charges of conspiracy to kidnap and possession of illegal firearms. The attackers, who have no previous criminal records, were released on bail and remanded in custody until March 2025, when their trial is scheduled to begin.

The move has left the crypto enthusiast in fear, as he suspects the attackers may be linked to organized crime, forcing him to seek temporary shelter in various locations.

According to the police, the criminals targeted the victim by mistaking him for his posts on the Facebook page he had been running for the past few years, believing he owned 2.5 million BTC. However, the man claims that his Bitcoin holdings can only be a maximum of $10,000.

Growing threats

According to Kasa co-founder Jameson Loup, there have been over 100 physical attacks on BTC holders in the last few years. In the year In October 2024, the crypto-security expert launched an archive documenting several violent encounters with digital asset owners, including stabbings in New York City and kidnappings in Lithuania and Turkey.

This latest case highlights the rise of crypto-related hacks, especially in Canada. In November of last year, Dean Skurka, the CEO of popular crypto firm WonderFi, was reportedly hacked in Toronto and forced to pay $720,000.

That same month, Montreal police recovered the body of crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi, who was kidnapped along with three other people earlier in the year. Mirshahi is accused of promoting a pump and dump scheme involving a cryptocurrency called Marsan (MRS), causing untold losses to thousands of investors.