Key Takeaways
Jacob Irwin-Cline lost $123,000 in crypto assets after allegedly being drugged and robbed during a London taxi ride.
The Metropolitan Police and FBI are investigating the theft, but the likelihood of fund recovery is low.
An American Tourist Robbed of $123,000 in Cryptocurrency During London Stopover
An American tourist visiting London on a brief layover claims he was drugged and robbed by a fake Uber driver who stole $123,000 worth of Bitcoin and XRP, according to a new report from MyLondon.
Jacob Irwin-Cline, a 30-year-old former software developer and crypto investor from Portland, Oregon, said the incident occurred when he was visiting his parents in London.
After a night out at The Roxy nightclub in Soho on May 9, Jacob called an Uber using the app on his phone around 1:30 am. He was approached by a driver who appeared to match the profile shown in the app and who called out the alias linked to his Uber account.
However, the vehicle that arrived was a dark sedan, not the Toyota Prius listed on the app.
The Bitcoin investor said he accepted a cigarette from the driver and began feeling disoriented shortly afterwards. He believes the cigarette may have been laced with scopolamine, also known as “Devil’s Breath,” a powerful drug known for causing blackouts and loss of control.
No toxicology test was conducted to confirm the presence of scopolamine or any other substance, according to the report.
While in a semi-conscious state, he said the driver requested access to his phone and obtained his passcode.
Jacob alleges that he was later ordered out of the vehicle and partially struck by the car as the driver fled with his phone. After returning to his hostel with the help of a bystander, he discovered his laptop had been remotely wiped, and he was locked out of his digital accounts.
With help from a flatmate in the US, the techie later regained access and found that approximately $123,000 in crypto had been withdrawn from his wallet, including around $73,000 in XRP and $50,000 in Bitcoin.
Screenshots shared with MyLondon show his XRP wallet balance dropped to less than $1,000, while his Bitcoin wallet fell to under $10 during the incident.
Jacob said the crypto loss amounted to nearly everything he owned, and the experience left him sleepless for three days.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they received a report at 4:48 am on May 9 about the theft.
Police stated that a 30-year-old man reported having his phone stolen in Prince’s Square after a taxi journey, and that he also claimed approximately $150,000 worth of crypto assets had been taken from his accounts following the incident.
The FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit is investigating the case, though Jacob said there is “less than one per cent chance” of recovering the funds.
The incident has been reported to Action Fraud and Uber, with the ride-hailing company calling the experience “totally unacceptable” and launching an investigation.