A Venezuelan service provider was kidnapped and killed after his household failed to assemble a ransom that kidnappers explicitly requested to be paid in bitcoin. The perpetrators requested for a sum of 1.5 bitcoin to launch the hostage, later decreasing the ransom to 0.5 bitcoin. The household of the sufferer lastly was unable to assemble the ransom cash.
Venezuelan Citizen Kidnapped, Bitcoin Ransom Demanded
A Venezuelan citizen recognized as Gustavo Torres González was murdered yesterday when his household failed to assemble ransom cash that kidnappers requested be paid in bitcoin. Torres was kidnapped on August 10 when he was presumably heading dwelling within the Zulia state, in accordance with police. The abductors rapidly communicated with Torres’ household and requested to be paid 1.5 bitcoin to launch him, in accordance with native media. Nevertheless, his household was not capable of collect the funds, and in communications with the abductors, managed to decrease the ransom to 0.5 bitcoin.
Nonetheless, this was tragically a sum too hefty for his household to accumulate, who solely managed to assemble 0.062 bitcoin ($2,750). Torres’ corpse was later found with six gunshot wounds on a neighborhood freeway on August 11.
No Obvious Relation With Crypto
Whereas the abductors explicitly said they might solely take the ransom cash in bitcoin, Torres had no obvious relation with cryptocurrencies. He was the proprietor of a neighborhood ISP web firm within the space, referred to as Tutonet Investments. Nevertheless, it’s unclear if the Venezuelan citizen had any relationship with cryptocurrency mining operations, or if he accepted funds in cryptocurrency for his companies.
The recognition of cryptocurrency within the nation has triggered a rise in scams and crime utilizing these new belongings. Cryptocurrencies, on account of their progressive design, can typically be tougher to trace than cash moved by way of conventional fiat avenues. Nonetheless, statistics present that the overwhelming majority of crimes are nonetheless carried out by the use of fiat cash, and never cryptocurrencies.
This isn’t the primary time {that a} crime like this has occurred. William Creighton, founding father of a web-based playing web site referred to as 5Dimes, was additionally kidnapped in Costa Rica in September 2018. Kidnappers requested for a ransom of $5 million {dollars} paid in bitcoin, however his household might solely pay $1 million. His physique was present in a close-by cemetery one yr later, buried beneath a anonymous tombstone.
What are your ideas on this tragic story? Ought to bitcoin be blamed for violent crimes equivalent to this one? Inform us within the feedback part beneath.
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