A French family in the northern town of Vendin-le-Vieil was assaulted and held captive in a brutal home invasion, with attackers believed to have targeted the father for his connection to the cryptocurrency sector.
Attack and theft
Four suspects wearing masks broke into the family’s home overnight between September 19 and 20. The victims included the parents and their two children, aged eight and twelve. Local media reported that the intruders restrained the family and used violence; the 12-year-old daughter sustained injuries after being struck in the face with car keys.
The assailants reportedly forced the father, a professional in the cryptocurrency industry, to transfer approximately €40,000 in digital assets under threat. Sources close to the investigation stated that the attackers thoroughly searched the property before demanding the transfer.
French investigators documented that the suspects made off with €40,000 in cryptocurrency, leaving the family traumatized but alive.
After obtaining the funds, the four men fled the scene. They remained at large as of Sunday, and police have not announced any arrests in this case.
Investigation by French authorities
Following the incident, prosecutors opened a criminal investigation on charges of kidnapping and extortion by an organized group. The Pas-de-Calais and Nord judicial police units, along with France’s National Anti-Cybercrime Office, OFAC, are handling the case.
OFAC, the central authority for combating cybercrime in France, routinely collaborates with local and national police units to track technology-enabled criminal activity.
Mini dictionary: OFAC, or Office de lutte contre la cybercriminalité, is France’s central agency tasked with investigating and countering high-tech and cyber-enabled crime, including digital asset thefts.
Emergency services treated the family at the scene for shock after their ordeal. Investigators believe the incident fits a pattern of “wrench attacks,” in which criminals use force or threats to extract cryptocurrency from victims by coercing private key access or wallet transfers.
Wrench attacks on the rise
Such physical crypto heists have become increasingly common in France. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported 77 incidents involving kidnapping, forcible detention, extortion, or attempts linked to cryptocurrency since early 2026. According to official figures, authorities have detained approximately 200 suspects in connection with these crimes.
One of the most notable cases involved Ledger co-founder David Balland and his partner, who were abducted from their home outside Vierzon. Balland suffered the loss of a finger before being rescued by police.
| Case | Date | Victims | Ransom Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balland & Partner | 2026 | Ledger co-founder, partner | Finger severed, rescued by authorities |
| Paris Investor’s Father | May 2026 | Father of wealthy investor | Held 58 hours, finger severed |
| French Magistrate & Mother | Feb 2026 | Magistrate, mother | Abducted for crypto extortion |
In May, criminals in Paris abducted the father of a prominent cryptocurrency investor, holding him for 58 hours before his release. The captors mutilated the victim, cutting off a finger in an attempt to secure a ransom.
Earlier in the year, a 35-year-old magistrate and her 66-year-old mother were seized by criminals seeking access to cryptocurrency tied to the magistrate’s partner.
As incidents of physical extortion tied to digital assets increase, French authorities continue efforts to curb this crime wave targeting the country’s cryptocurrency community.
