France: Couple targeted by three home invasions due to leaked crypto data

A couple in the Somme department of France was targeted by three separate groups of home invaders in less than a month. The attackers were seeking approximately €1 million in cryptocurrency that the victims did not possess.

The incidents were driven by outdated personal data. The property was previously owned by wealthy retirees associated with cryptocurrency, and their tax information and address had been exposed in a data breach. This information was subsequently sold on the dark web, leading criminals to believe the current residents were high-value crypto holders.

During the attacks, the couple—an agricultural worker and a banking executive—faced significant violence. In one instance, a group entered the home, restrained and assaulted a resident, and streamed part of the attack on Snapchat. A third attempted break-in on July 17 was thwarted by a newly installed alarm system.

An Amiens court recently sentenced two men, aged 20 and 21, to three years and 18 months in prison for their involvement in the third attempt. One suspect had reportedly been recruited via Telegram. Security firm CertiK noted that this reflects a rise in ‘data-driven targeting,’ where criminals combine leaked databases, tax records, and blockchain activity to profile potential victims.