Three Home Invasions in Less Than a Month Over Mistaken Crypto Wealth

A French couple subjected to three home invasions within a single month plans to sell their property after criminals repeatedly targeted the residence under the mistaken belief that its occupants were cryptocurrency millionaires, a court in Amiens heard on August 11.

The case is the latest in a series of physically violent crimes across France linked to cryptocurrency, where criminals have increasingly used extortion, kidnapping, and home invasion against individuals they believe hold significant digital assets. French authorities have reported multiple such incidents in recent years, including cases where victims were forced at gunpoint to transfer crypto holdings.

The victims — a farmer and a bank executive both in their late twenties — purchased the home in the Montdidier area of France's Somme department two years ago. They were unaware that the property had previously belonged to a wealthy retired couple whose tax records and home address had been leaked on the dark web, defense attorney Giuseppina Marras told the court.

That dark web exposure set off a chain of break-ins carried out by three separate groups of intruders, all attempting to extort cryptocurrency from residents who held none. The case illustrates how leaked financial and personal data circulating on dark web marketplaces can expose individuals to targeted criminal operations even when the information is outdated or no longer corresponds to the current occupants.

Timeline of the Attacks

The first intrusion took place on June 24, but the couple's dogs drove the intruders away. Two days later, on June 26, a second group forced entry into the home, bound one victim, and assaulted the other. The attackers broadcast the assault live on Snapchat before realizing they had the wrong targets and fleeing.

After the second attack, the couple installed a security alarm system. That system scared off a third group of intruders on July 17.

Arrests and Investigation

Two men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested on August 7 following an investigation by the Montdidier gendarmerie's research brigade. Investigators identified the suspects through security camera footage, mobile phone records, and DNA evidence recovered from a toll ticket found on the A1 motorway.

The 20-year-old defendant told the court he was recruited through the Telegram messaging app to break down the door, with a promised payment of between $17,000 and $34,600. He said he accepted the job to clear $4,600 in debt accumulated by his mother, who was facing eviction. The use of encrypted messaging platforms to coordinate and recruit participants in such crimes has been a recurring feature in French law enforcement investigations into crypto-related physical extortion.

The 21-year-old, a rideshare driver from the Île-de-France region, said he was paid $346 to transport four men to the property. Police recovered a crowbar, balaclavas, and cable ties from his passengers.

Convictions and Sentencing

Both defendants, who had no prior criminal records, admitted to the charges and attributed their actions to financial desperation, poor judgment, and greed.

The court convicted both men and emphasized the severity of the offenses. The 20-year-old was sentenced to three years in prison — 18 months suspended and 18 months to be served in custody. The 21-year-old received an 18-month sentence, with nine months suspended and nine months to be served. Both were banned from entering the Somme department for three years.

The victims did not attend the hearing. Their attorney stated that the couple intends to sell the home due to persistent safety concerns. The fact that the property's address and associated financial data remain exposed on dark web channels means future occupants could face similar targeting, regardless of any connection to cryptocurrency.