Victim has at least 2 companies, one of them changed its name to "Aston Digital Currencies Ltd" in September 2017. The registered office of that company is also the victim's home address. This data is publicly available. Although I think the robbers got a tip/contract from someone more knowledgeable. You can't know whether he held any worthy amounts of crypto just from company's name.
The reason for the robbers targeting his home is obvious ,he does run a digital currency company and the robbers wont be that dump to figure out if he bluffed and showed him any wallet,certainly he was not expecting any of this and he was forced to give away what he has saved in his wallet,this where privacy is important ,we are submitting our entire details to exchanges as part of KYC and how can you be certain that those details are stored safely,it is a really scary situation. 
Topic: First UK's bitcoin robbery. Stay safe. - page 4. (Read 725 times)
This is the beginning we can see a lot more incident like this but we can avoid those incident. Personally keep your bitcoin to ledger and trezor and I dont tell or posting to social medias about cryptocurrency so they dont know that im using it.
This was to be expected to happen sooner or later. The fact that transfers cannot be reversed makes it much more attractive than forcing a fiat millionaire to transfer fiat.
This is one more reason to stay as anonymous as possible and not to brag about your holdings to friends.
Another good option is to make a seperate accessible wallet that can be used as a decoy. (e.g. one that holds a few % of your holdings)
This is one more reason to stay as anonymous as possible and not to brag about your holdings to friends.
Another good option is to make a seperate accessible wallet that can be used as a decoy. (e.g. one that holds a few % of your holdings)
The #1 way thieves decide who to rob, is by hearing rumors on the street.
If you ever catch a break doing anything, try not to talk about it to everyone.
If you ever catch a break doing anything, try not to talk about it to everyone.
Sad story from UK, it's all over the news today:
Britain's first Bitcoin heist as trader forced at gunpoint to transfer cyber currency
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/28/britains-first-bitcoin-heist-trader-forced-gunpoint-transfer/
Other links:
http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/29/uks-first-bitcoin-robbery-prolific-trader-forced-transfer-fortune-7268576/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5444048/bitcoin-robbery-gunpoint-danny-aston-oxfordshire-amy-jay-baby/
I hope targeting bitcoiners won't become a new trend for criminals.
And seriously, what's the best practice to prevent such cases, when you hold/have access to significant amount of bitcoins? Sure you could hide your private key (or part of it) in some secure place outside of your home, but then the risk of you (or your family) getting tortured or even killed increases. Well organised group as described above unlikely would be happy to leave with nothing.
And what about exchanges? 2FA is a prevention from hacking, but won't work at all if you're held at gunpoint. I'd be very happy to see some extra (opt-in) security features on exchanges, i.e. few days delay in withdrawing BTC above certain amount.
Thoughts?
Disclaimer: I'm just a humble crypto-enthusiast and only hold modest amounts. Plz no raid.
Edit: alternative thread (no signatures allowed): https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.29168004 (thanks vintages)
That's why people shouldn't be telling anyone their business at all, without doubt there is an inside man involved here somehow, I think we should all be quiet about what we do so that we don't get any of these unwanted attentions. Britain's first Bitcoin heist as trader forced at gunpoint to transfer cyber currency
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/28/britains-first-bitcoin-heist-trader-forced-gunpoint-transfer/
Quote
Armed robbers broke into the family home of a city financier turned Bitcoin trader and forced him to transfer the digital currency at gunpoint, in what is believed to be the first heist of its kind in the UK.
Four robbers in balaclavas forced their way into the home of Danny Aston, 30, who runs a digital currency trading firm, before reportedly tying up a woman and forcing Mr Aston to transfer an unknown quantity of the cryptocurrency.
...
Four robbers in balaclavas forced their way into the home of Danny Aston, 30, who runs a digital currency trading firm, before reportedly tying up a woman and forcing Mr Aston to transfer an unknown quantity of the cryptocurrency.
...
Other links:
http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/29/uks-first-bitcoin-robbery-prolific-trader-forced-transfer-fortune-7268576/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5444048/bitcoin-robbery-gunpoint-danny-aston-oxfordshire-amy-jay-baby/
I hope targeting bitcoiners won't become a new trend for criminals.
And seriously, what's the best practice to prevent such cases, when you hold/have access to significant amount of bitcoins? Sure you could hide your private key (or part of it) in some secure place outside of your home, but then the risk of you (or your family) getting tortured or even killed increases. Well organised group as described above unlikely would be happy to leave with nothing.
And what about exchanges? 2FA is a prevention from hacking, but won't work at all if you're held at gunpoint. I'd be very happy to see some extra (opt-in) security features on exchanges, i.e. few days delay in withdrawing BTC above certain amount.
Thoughts?
Disclaimer: I'm just a humble crypto-enthusiast and only hold modest amounts. Plz no raid.
Edit: alternative thread (no signatures allowed): https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.29168004 (thanks vintages)
Damn, that's insane. This surely sends a signal to all of us crypto traders and pretty much we are all at risk. Specially by adding our info to bounty campaigns...
Yea this is going to start popping up more and more. The idea has been given to the criminals, so they are guna run rampant with it for a while.
But when you are being held at gunpoint what do you do??
But when you are being held at gunpoint what do you do??
Sad story from UK, it's all over the news today:
Britain's first Bitcoin heist as trader forced at gunpoint to transfer cyber currency
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/28/britains-first-bitcoin-heist-trader-forced-gunpoint-transfer/
Other links:
http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/29/uks-first-bitcoin-robbery-prolific-trader-forced-transfer-fortune-7268576/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5444048/bitcoin-robbery-gunpoint-danny-aston-oxfordshire-amy-jay-baby/
I hope targeting bitcoiners won't become a new trend for criminals.
And seriously, what's the best practice to prevent such cases, when you hold/have access to significant amount of bitcoins? Sure you could hide your private key (or part of it) in some secure place outside of your home, but then the risk of you (or your family) getting tortured or even killed increases. Well organised group as described above unlikely would be happy to leave with nothing.
And what about exchanges? 2FA is a prevention from hacking, but won't work at all if you're held at gunpoint. I'd be very happy to see some extra (opt-in) security features on exchanges, i.e. few days delay in withdrawing BTC above certain amount.
Thoughts?
Disclaimer: I'm just a humble crypto-enthusiast and only hold modest amounts. Plz no raid.
Edit: alternative thread (no signatures allowed): https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.29168004 (thanks vintages)
Britain's first Bitcoin heist as trader forced at gunpoint to transfer cyber currency
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/28/britains-first-bitcoin-heist-trader-forced-gunpoint-transfer/
Quote
Armed robbers broke into the family home of a city financier turned Bitcoin trader and forced him to transfer the digital currency at gunpoint, in what is believed to be the first heist of its kind in the UK.
Four robbers in balaclavas forced their way into the home of Danny Aston, 30, who runs a digital currency trading firm, before reportedly tying up a woman and forcing Mr Aston to transfer an unknown quantity of the cryptocurrency.
...
Four robbers in balaclavas forced their way into the home of Danny Aston, 30, who runs a digital currency trading firm, before reportedly tying up a woman and forcing Mr Aston to transfer an unknown quantity of the cryptocurrency.
...
Other links:
http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/29/uks-first-bitcoin-robbery-prolific-trader-forced-transfer-fortune-7268576/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5444048/bitcoin-robbery-gunpoint-danny-aston-oxfordshire-amy-jay-baby/
I hope targeting bitcoiners won't become a new trend for criminals.
And seriously, what's the best practice to prevent such cases, when you hold/have access to significant amount of bitcoins? Sure you could hide your private key (or part of it) in some secure place outside of your home, but then the risk of you (or your family) getting tortured or even killed increases. Well organised group as described above unlikely would be happy to leave with nothing.
And what about exchanges? 2FA is a prevention from hacking, but won't work at all if you're held at gunpoint. I'd be very happy to see some extra (opt-in) security features on exchanges, i.e. few days delay in withdrawing BTC above certain amount.
Thoughts?
Disclaimer: I'm just a humble crypto-enthusiast and only hold modest amounts. Plz no raid.
Edit: alternative thread (no signatures allowed): https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.29168004 (thanks vintages)
to be honest, i really am not surprised that something like this really did happen.
if you think about it, it is pretty logical that criminals will also target crypto people since they can see money on doing so. and i mean a huge amount of money. which is why i am pretty paranoid about choosing who i inform about what i really do. which i think is what most of you should really consider as early as now. do not be careless. because i can really assure you that more of this is obviously about to come. not just in uk but most probably around the globe. as technologies progress, everything follows this progression. and crimes are not exempted.
stay safe guys.
Such a sad story, indeed.
It's hard to protect us versus this, best way would be to split our currencies into multiples wallets as said Caledfwlch, in this way, even if a thief steal us, he couldn't know we own multiples wallets (let's hope he doesn't know exacly how much we own).
So yeah, we lose a bit, but we still have the rest protected, and we're safe.
It's hard to protect us versus this, best way would be to split our currencies into multiples wallets as said Caledfwlch, in this way, even if a thief steal us, he couldn't know we own multiples wallets (let's hope he doesn't know exacly how much we own).
So yeah, we lose a bit, but we still have the rest protected, and we're safe.
Some interesting replies about this in Yesterday's thread in the Ivory Tower.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/protection-against-armed-robbery-of-bitcoin-2838558
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/protection-against-armed-robbery-of-bitcoin-2838558
i wondering why the robbers know this family have huge amount of bitcoin ...
Victim has at least 2 companies, one of them changed its name to "Aston Digital Currencies Ltd" in September 2017. The registered office of that company is also the victim's home address. This data is publicly available. Although I think the robbers got a tip/contract from someone more knowledgeable. You can't know whether he held any worthy amounts of crypto just from company's name.
If there is anyone who is worried about this then its my personal opinion that the best thing you can do is hold multiple hard wallets. A sacrificial wallet which, should you ever be threaten personally or through family, you give up. The other wallet.. well quite literally don't tell anyone about it ever. 
Equally, if you have a sufficient amount of BTC that you are worth robbing perhaps you could spend some of it on security or a BG? who knows lol.
Equally, if you have a sufficient amount of BTC that you are worth robbing perhaps you could spend some of it on security or a BG? who knows lol.
i wondering why the robbers know this family have huge amount of bitcoin and apparently the robbers was following bitcoin trend and more likely to choose stole digital asset rather than physical asset but indeed this is first time to heards cryptocurrencies robbery but i wish this is could be the first and the last time we heard because will be very dangerous for us as bitcoin users
And seriously, what's the best practice to prevent such cases, when you hold/have access to significant amount of bitcoins?
That's blooming obvious. Do the same as Satoshi, stay anonymous.
Don't make your face, ID, live in public for the criminals to see.
Actually, this is the time to tell about bitcoin to others to promote bitcoin. But we have to give 1st preference to our loved one. Family safety is important.
And seriously, what's the best practice to prevent such cases, when you hold/have access to significant amount of bitcoins?
That's blooming obvious. Do the same as Satoshi, stay anonymous.
Don't make your face, ID, live in public for the criminals to see.
I think you should always have a hardwallet such as Trezor or Ledger, and you should keep it inside a safe, if you have a lot of Bitcoins probably even in a security vault at the bank. And the backup phrases also somewhere safe.
Hardware wallets/on-site safe wouldn't work. You'll just be forced to open the safe and transfer funds.
Other idea, is having smaller wallet/alternative exchange account that you keep only small portion of your holdings, but not too small. Then you could say that's all you got and hopefully robbers would take it and f**k off.
There will be many more similar incidents like this around the world. Safest thing you can do is to remain anonymous when you're involved with cryptocurrencies. Don't go out getting a "BITCOIN" license plate on your Lamborghini.
This is obviously good advise. Stay anonymous and don't brag about your mad crypto gains.
But not everyone can stay in the shadows, the victim in this case was/is running cryptocurrency trading firm, assuming the operations involve trading on behalf of clients and that his firm was registered, staying anonymous was not an option for the guy.
Ya, I saw the news and also this is been discussed in a thread here; https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.29168004
...
...
Thanks. Updated OP with the link.
Now every one is aware that bitcoin is a very valuable asset and probably most of them holding bitcoins in large numbers are millionaires.So,more the number of bitcoins more the security threat.
Bitcoin being pseudo anonymous and not even legalized in most of the countries,chances are zero for recovering the lost bitcoins.
That's the whole point of being anonymous, to prevent such calamity from being targeted by this thieves because if they know that you are in a business with crypto they will assume that you have millions of dollars that are worth from each coin you deal with your business or trading, in short, they will assume that you are rich as cryptocurrency increases and expands every day. robbery still exist from other kinds of businesses but it is scary that they begin to have an idea to attack some holders of virtual currency, so bragging about your business with cryptocurrency is not a good idea.
Unfortunately with the value added to bitcoin and crypto currency and certain anonymity criminals will try to rob people for bitcoin. The robbers would have to have a certain level of knowledge about bitcoin to even target this guy. I don't think there is much you can do to prevent such incidents apart from not letting anyone know about your crypto.
This is another dark side that is being opened in the crypto world and I must say this is the first time reading about this although I have imagined something like this before. Of getting robbed and checking your phone only to realize that there is a crypto currency app on your phone only to be forced at gun point to transfer everything. This is even worse because if it had been bank, you might be able to withdraw your fund if its not withdrawn yet but bitcoin, the moment one confirmation is done that is the end.
In protecting one self, I don't think its going to be any easy as you are trying to stay safe online, some other people are coming against you offline and this is a lesson for everyone. As because of his activities that is why he was targeted so, we need to be discreet in how we loud and make noise of our activities as it relates to bitcoin because when it happens, the whole of life time effort might have been swept while there is no one to report to.
In protecting one self, I don't think its going to be any easy as you are trying to stay safe online, some other people are coming against you offline and this is a lesson for everyone. As because of his activities that is why he was targeted so, we need to be discreet in how we loud and make noise of our activities as it relates to bitcoin because when it happens, the whole of life time effort might have been swept while there is no one to report to.
I think you should always have a hardwallet such as Trezor or Ledger, and you should keep it inside a safe, if you have a lot of Bitcoins probably even in a security vault at the bank. And the backup phrases also somewhere safe.
That doesn't matter when you have a gun pointed at your head. You will go get that Ledger or Trezor and transfer them your cryptocurrencies. Best thing is to not advertise yourself as having cryptos.
I agree with your views. It is better to stay low profile to reduce the possibility being targeted. Hope everyone stay safe from such incidents.
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