We have seen various kinds of cyberattacks on crypto-exchanges all with the aim of stealing the cryptocoins. However, the game of stealing cryptocurrencies isn't the niche meant for hacker alone; crypto owners are getting robbed at gunpoint too.
Some time ago last year, a man was kidnapped and forced to hand over his wallets passphrase keys at gunpoint and as a result, about $1.6 million worth of cryptocurrency was stolen from his Ethereum wallet.
Another similar incident happened to EXMO exchange boss who was kidnapped and released after his ransom of about $1million worth of Bitcoin was paid to the hackers. However, it seems similar trend would continue this year.
Three men armed with handguns on Tuesday morning tried to rob a Bitcoin exchange in Ottawa, Canada. According to local news, the intruders retrained four of the exchange employees, struck one of them in the head as they asked the employees to make an outbound transaction.
Unknown to the intruders, a fifth employee who remained unseen in another cabin called the police before any assets could be stolen. The robbers left empty-handed.
According to CBC News, one of the suspects was arrested on Wednesday and have been identified as 19-year-old Jimmy St-Hilaire.
"Police are looking for two additional suspects, both described as black males," the police said. "Investigators are also interested in identifying and speaking to a person of interest that was inside the premise as the suspects arrived. That person did not remain at the scene."
St-Hilaire has been charged with the following offences:
5 counts of robbery with a firearm
5 counts of point a firearm
5 counts of forcible confinement
Wear disguise
Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
Carry concealed weapon
Possess weapon for committing an offence
Possess loaded regulated firearm
The Canadian authorities did not reveal the name of the crypto exchange.