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Three criminal groups targeted a couple in France’s Somme department within one month, seeking about €1 million in cryptocurrency that the residents never owned. The attackers apparently relied on leaked personal records tied to the home’s former owners, wealthy retirees associated with cryptocurrency. The couple bought the property after those owners moved.
Earlier, the former owners’ tax information and home address reportedly appeared for sale on the dark web after a data breach. However, the records apparently remained linked to the property.
During the first attempted break-in, the couple’s dogs scared the intruders away. Later, a second group entered the home and restrained and assaulted a resident. The attackers streamed part of the assault on Snapchat before discovering they had targeted the wrong people. The residents then installed an alarm system on the property.
That alarm helped stop a third attempted intrusion on July 17. This week, an Amiens court sentenced two men, aged 20 and 21, for taking part. Someone reportedly recruited one of the men through Telegram to help enter the property. The court gave the pair prison terms of three years and 18 months.
The case raises one pivotal question: How can outdated personal data continue directing violent criminals toward people who never owned the targeted assets?
Also Read: Phishing Attack Targets Crypto Wallets Using “Permit” Function Exploit, Costing Victim $209K
CertiK describes a broader shift toward ‘data-driven targeting.’ Criminals can combine leaked databases, tax records, exchange information, blockchain activity, and residential details to build profiles of potential victims.
As a result, outdated records can continue to point attackers to an address after the intended target leaves. In Somme, the new owners were reportedly targeted despite holding no cryptocurrency. CertiK recorded 52 verified crypto wrench attacks worldwide during the first half of 2026, including 33 in France. It also counted 20 French home invasions during that period.
By comparison, CertiK recorded only one verified French home invasion during the first half of 2025. Financial exposure across all recorded wrench attacks reached $124.1 million. Meanwhile, French authorities used a broader category and counted 77 crypto-related physical incidents during the first half of 2026. They recorded 45 during the same period last year.
Chainalysis said most cryptocurrency crime still takes place online. It cited $3.4 billion stolen through hacks in 2025, alongside $17 billion from scams and $820 million from ransomware. Still, violent crimes involving home invasions, kidnappings, and hostage situations have increased. Criminals target crypto holders because digital assets can move quickly and irreversibly from personal wallets.
Traditional wealth often relies on institutional security, including banks and vaults. By contrast, some crypto holdings remain accessible through smartphones or hardware wallets. The Somme couple reportedly now plans to sell the house.
The Somme attacks show how leaked and outdated records can direct violent criminals toward unintended victims. Three groups targeted the couple over cryptocurrency they never owned, while France accounted for 33 of CertiK’s 52 verified global wrench attacks in H1 2026. The couple reportedly plans to sell the property.
