Gawd examples like these just keep popping up everywhere. Last example it was the online clout chaser who drew the wrong kind of attention and I think before that we had the blowtorch hostage situation, but those were all just common criminals targeting crypto hodlers. This example here is a bit more worrying because this time they weren't common criminals, they were the criminal investigators:
At this point alarm bells must have been going off in the guy's head but what were his options? Either risk a beating or maybe even worse as the two police officers might not want any witnesses to their failed heist, or just comply and run to the (non criminal) police afterwards.
"While inside the vehicle, the suspects allegedly threatened the man, who turned out to be a crypto investor, claiming that a criminal case would be launched against him for alleged criminal activity if he did not pay up...The victim, who was not named, transferred 9.6 bitcoins (around 26.2 million rubles or $270,000) to the police officers’ crypto-wallets."
You know this part here is missing a few key points. Like, the guy just "happened" to be a Bitcoin hodler and the police officers just also "happened" to have their own wallets at hand and provide to him for the transfer? Yeah, nah, chances are the police knew exactly who he was and what he had, so they targeted him for it. Either that or the guy really did have some shady practices going on and decided to pay up to avoid prosecution, but either way he was targeted by those meant to serve and protect him.
Like with the Australian government employee who helped the criminals with crucial info on the crypto whale, these things are not uncommon and people working with or for the police or government are just people who also have bills to pay. Privacy is essential in all this and if someone out there connects your name and/or address to a large crypto wallet, you will be looking over your shoulders for years to come.
Moral of the story: Don't ever let them convince you privacy is a crime!
