Fake police raid in France forces $1M Bitcoin transfer

Three men wearing police uniforms entered a home in Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, near Paris, recently, threatened a couple at knifepoint and forced the husband to transfer nearly $1 million in Bitcoin. Both victims were injured. The attackers tied the husband after the transfer and left in a vehicle. French police opened an inquiry led by specialized organized-crime units.

Investigators report the suspects gained entry by impersonating officers, used threats and physical violence to coerce the transfer, and restrained the husband. Authorities say potential charges under review include armed robbery, unlawful detention and criminal conspiracy.

Law enforcement officials describe the incident as an example of a ‘wrench attack,’ in which criminals use coercion, threats or impersonation to force a wallet owner to approve transactions or reveal private keys. Because cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible and can move instantly, funds transferred under duress are often hard to recover.

Authorities note impersonation of police can prompt compliance because victims may perceive authority and urgency and therefore do not verify the situation. In the Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt case, attackers secured a high-value transfer without attempting to breach cryptographic protections.

Recorded wrench attacks increased about 75% in 2025 compared with 2024, with reported losses reaching $40.9 million. Physical assaults connected to crypto thefts rose roughly 250% in the same period. Law enforcement agencies have identified Europe, including France, as a notable area for these incidents.

Bitcoin’s technical design allows near-instant, permissionless transfers that cannot be reversed by a central authority. Once an attacker obtains authorization for a transaction, banks and regulators have limited options to halt or recover the funds. Perpetrators can move assets across multiple addresses and jurisdictions to complicate tracing.

Investigations into such crimes face operational challenges. Tracing blockchain transactions requires international coordination, and the pseudonymous nature of addresses can slow identification of recipients. Organized groups conducting coordinated operations add further complexity for investigators.

Some high-value holders use security measures aimed at reducing personal risk, including multisignature wallets, distributed key control across locations or trusted parties, decoy wallets with small balances and limiting public disclosure of holdings. Private security firms offer services such as travel risk assessments and home security audits tailored to crypto holders.

French authorities continue to investigate the Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt incident and have appealed to the public for information. The case is part of a sequence of violent crimes linked to cryptocurrency in the country, including kidnappings and targeted home invasions.