Crypto CEO Kidnapped, Abductors Demanded C$1 Million For His Release
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Dean Skurka, the CEO and president of WonderFi, a Toronto-based crypto firm, was kidnapped last week and held for ransom. According to sources close to the police investigation, the kidnappers demanded to be paid C$1 million in order to let Skurka go.
As of Monday, November 11, Skurka has already been released after the ransom was paid electronically, according to local reports.
What Happened?
The kidnapping took place during rush hour Wednesday, and the police were called about the incident in the area of University Avenue and Richmond Street W. just before 6 pm. The kidnappers forced Skurka to enter a vehicle, making a demand for money.
After the transfer, the WonderFi CEO was later located uninjured in Centennial Park in Etobicoke.
Despite the traumatic experience, Skurka was able to deliver a statement to a local news outlet SBC Toronto via email. He admitted to being involved in the incident the day before, but that he was safe. He also stressed that the safety and security of all of WonderFi’s employees are paramount and that client funds and data remain safe — none of it was impacted by the incident.
The local police are currently still investigating the incident, so they are unable to release any details involving the case as of yet.
Physical Attacks On Crypto Users Rise Alongside Crypto Prices
The co-founder and chief security officer of the security firm Casa, Jameson Lopp, commented on the incident. He said that he had been keeping track of physical thefts designed to steal cryptocurrencies for about a decade now. His security firm is focused on protecting crypto users, so knowing the methods that bad actors use and keeping up with them is a top priority for him.
According to Lopp, Skurka’s abduction is not an isolated incident. In fact, it is the 171st instance of suspects using physical violence to steal Bitcoins, as far as Lopp is aware.
The incidents tend to occur when the exchange rate of Bitcoin sees a sharp change, especially when the prices start going up. He believes that more awareness of the space permeates throughout society when Bitcoin surges, and as a result, more criminals decide to try to use physical attacks to obtain some BTC.
Bitcoin just skyrocketed beyond the price of $81k for the first time in its history, with a high likelihood of continuing its surge which started after the US elections last week. At the time of Skurka’s kidnapping, the price was just smashing its previous record by climbing above $75k. With that said, Lopp’s theory seems to hold true, and the pattern remains uninterrupted.
