French Couple Robbed of $1 Million in Bitcoin by Fake Police

A couple in their fifties in western Paris, France, recently fell victim to a meticulously planned violent robbery at their home. Several criminals, posing as police officers, broke into their residence and coerced the couple into transferring over €900,000 (approximately $1 million USD) worth of Bitcoin to wallets controlled by the criminals. According to reports from TF1 Info and Agence France-Presse, after the incident, the wife seized an opportunity to free her husband and call the police, and neighbors rushed to help upon hearing the commotion. The Versailles prosecutor's office has launched an investigation, and the case has been filed under charges including "organized armed robbery, illegal detention, and conspiracy to commit a crime." No arrests have been made so far.

In recent years, France has become a hotspot in Europe for "tool robberies" (violent methods such as using wrenches). In 2025, 19 similar attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders were confirmed in France, the highest number in Europe. According to industry statistics, the European region accounts for nearly 40% of such criminal incidents worldwide, highlighting the increasing security risks faced by crypto asset holders. Experts warn that no law enforcement agency would ever conduct investigations by demanding digital assets in person. The public should be vigilant and should not easily trust urgent requests from individuals claiming to be police officers.