Tragic Mistake: Kidnapping and Torture for a Cryptocurrency Ransom Amount

NFTragedy · 2026-02-12T15:14:11+00:00

A brutal kidnapping in France involved a 74-year-old man mistakenly identified as a millionaire's family member. Incorrect beliefs about cryptocurrency led to extreme violence and extortion demands. Authorities arrested three suspects, facing severe charges, hinting at a larger criminal network.

NFTragedy

2026-02-12 15:14:11

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A criminal case of extraordinary brutality has shocked France after a 74-year-old man from Isère was illegally detained in the Drôme region. The incident, reported by Foresight News, reveals how a mistaken identity triggered a chain of unprecedented violence, with the criminals convinced they were confronting the family of a supposed crypto sector millionaire.

The Fatal Error: Identity Confusion and Hopes for Profit

The kidnappers had built a completely false theory: they mistakenly believed that their victim’s son was a very wealthy operator in the cryptocurrency world. Based on this false assumption, they devised an extortion plan to obtain an astronomical ransom. The initial demand was three million euros entirely in digital currency, a sum reflecting how these criminals associated the crypto sector with easy wealth.

Sixteen Hours of Unspeakable Suffering

During the sixteen hours of illegal detention, the man endured cruel treatment inside a local bar. The criminals inflicted visible cuts on his face and committed the inhumane act of mutilating one of his fingers. To increase psychological pressure on his family, the kidnappers transmitted videos of the torture through encrypted communication channels, a modern coercion tactic that combines physical brutality with digital manipulation.

Justice Intervention and Serious Charges

Authorities in the Rhône Valley quickly identified and detained three individuals, all in their twenties, believed to be responsible for the cri

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