A Brazilian woman was kidnapped by a gang targeting her crypto-trader son, demanding a ransom of over 3.3 million reais (approximately $600,000) in Bitcoin. The incident occurred in Recife, where the gang used social media to track the son’s crypto activities and located his mother. Following her abduction, she was held at gunpoint for 12 hours until her son, who is based in Portugal, arranged for the Bitcoin transfer. Despite the ransom being paid, local police have indicated that retrieving the Bitcoin from the kidnappers may prove difficult. This kidnapping is part of a growing trend of 'wrench attacks' linked to the cryptocurrency market, where personal safety is compromised to extract ransom payments for crypto assets. Recent statistics indicate a rise in these types of crimes worldwide, with numerous similar incidents reported in various regions, highlighting the vulnerabilities associated with crypto trading and personal security.

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