Armed Robbers Take $85,800 in Trinidad Crypto Ambush amid Increasing Attacks on Holders

Armed Robbers Seize $85,800 from Crypto Buyer in Trinidad

In Trinidad, two armed individuals made off with roughly $85,800 in cash after ambushing a cryptocurrency purchaser during a parking-lot exchange, marking the latest incident in a growing wave of violent crimes targeting digital-asset holders globally.

The victim, a resident of Arouca, was seated in his car at the Superpharm parking lot on Trincity Central Road last Saturday evening when the attack unfolded, local news outlet Trinidad and Tobago Newsday reported. He had handed a black bag containing cash to a two-year Belmont associate for the purpose of purchasing cryptocurrency.

Shortly after the cash was exchanged, two masked gunmen approached from both sides of the car, knocked on the windows, and announced a robbery. They seized the money along with the phones of both men before fleeing in a getaway vehicle. Authorities continue to investigate the incident, and Decrypt has reached out to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for further details.

Rising Threats to Crypto Holders

Jameson Lopp, co-founder and chief security officer of the self-custody platform Casa, which maintains a database of such events, reported that over 60 wrench attacks have been recorded this year alone. Similar violent robberies have occurred internationally. For instance, in San Francisco, a man disguised as a delivery worker restrained a homeowner at gunpoint with duct tape, coercing him into handing over access to crypto wallets, a phone, and a laptop valued at $11 million.

Another tragic case took place last month when Russian cryptocurrency entrepreneur Roman Novak and his spouse were killed in the UAE after agreeing to meet supposed investors who forced them to unlock their crypto wallets.

Experts Warn of Data-Driven Physical Attacks

Cybercrime consultant David Sehyeon Baek told Decrypt that digital harassment is increasingly translating into real-world violence. He noted that wrench attacks are now occurring at an approximate rate of one per week worldwide. Attackers often use blockchain analytics and AI-powered reconnaissance to monitor victims movements and cash-out activities in real time. These incidents are deliberate, data-informed operations, Baek explained. The community must recognize that online threats can quickly escalate into physical danger, as the line between virtual and real-world crimes continues to blur.

Author: Sophia Brooks