Kidnapped for Crypto: A Woman’s Nightmare in Manosque, France

In January 2026, a woman was kidnapped and assaulted in Manosque for cryptos. This event reveals a worrying trend: crime targeting holders of digital assets. Between physical insecurity and financial vulnerability, how to protect investors in a world where the virtual becomes dangerous?

Kidnapping of a woman in France for cryptos

On January 5, 2026, around 7:30 PM, a woman was violently attacked at her home located in the quiet neighborhood of Chemin de Chanteprunier, on the outskirts of Manosque. Three masked men forced her door, subdued her, then kidnapped her for long minutes. Their goal: to gain access to cryptos supposedly held by her partner. The victim, tied up and threatened with a handgun, suffered physical violence before the attackers took a USB key (likely a cold Wallet) containing sensitive data.

The investigation, entrusted to the crime repression brigade of the judicial police of Marseille, revealed a meticulously prepared modus operandi. The attackers seemed informed of the presence of cryptos at the home, suggesting a leak of tax data or prior surveillance. This case is not isolated since 2025, attacks on crypto holders are multiplying, exploiting relative anonymity and irreversibility of transactions.

Crypto: cases of kidnapping in France and Europe are multiplying 

France is not spared by this wave of crime. In 2025, a crypto entrepreneur was kidnapped in Paris, a finger severed to force a fund transfer. In Spain, kidnappings for ransom in bitcoins have been reported. These cases share common points:

• Extreme violence;
• Precise targeting;
• Use of cryptocurrencies to launder or conceal funds.

Criminals exploit weaknesses in fiscal and banking systems. In Belgium, families of crypto holders are also targeted. European authorities collaborate to track these networks, but their task is complex. Indeed, once validated, crypto transactions cannot be canceled. Facing this threat, exchange platforms try to strengthen their security protocols, but user protection remains a major challenge.

How to protect cryptocurrency holders?

After the kidnapping of this woman in Manosque, people holding cryptos must adopt double vigilance. First, secure their digital assets: hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor), two-factor authentication, and offline backups of private keys. Then, protect their anonymity: avoid revealing wealth or address, use pseudonyms for transactions.

Platforms also have a role to play. Some now offer insurance against theft, or alerts in case of suspicious movement. Authorities recommend reporting any extortion attempt. Finally, cybersecurity training, such as those offered by ANSSI in France, help raise investor awareness. Crypto protection is no longer limited to technology; it also involves daily caution.

The Manosque case reminds us that cryptos, symbols of innovation, also attract the worst forms of crime. Between digital security and physical protection, holders must be extra vigilant. Cooperation between states becomes essential to stop some criminals, like the arrest of the man behind the 12 billion dollar crypto scam. In your opinion, should the crypto market be further regulated, or should users assume their own security?