A 30 year old American software engineer was reportedly drugged and robbed in London on 9 May 2025, in what is being called one of the most sophisticated cryptocurrency thefts involving impersonation and physical coercion. Jacob Irwin-Cline, a tech investor from Portland, Oregon, was on a brief layover en route to Spain when he fell victim to a scam involving a fake Uber driver and a spiked cigarette.
The incident unfolded shortly after Irwin-Cline left The Roxy, a well-known nightclub in Soho, around 2:30am. While waiting outside, he received a message confirming his Uber ride. Moments later, a man approached him, called him by name, and gestured towards a vehicle parked nearby. Although the car did not match the one listed in the app, the mans familiarity led Irwin-Cline to assume it was a simple mix-up.
A Ride Turned Heist
Irwin-Cline got into the car, and shortly after, the driver offered him a cigarette. Wanting to relax after a night out, he accepted. Within minutes, he began to feel light-headed, confused, and disoriented symptoms he later learned were consistent with the effects of scopolamine, a powerful sedative sometimes used by criminals for its memory-blocking and compliance-inducing properties.
In a brief window of vulnerability, Irwin-Cline reportedly handed over his phone and passcodes, including access to his cryptocurrency wallet. The driver who he now believes was never an Uber employee took full advantage, transferring approximately £96,000 (or $123,000) worth of digital assets, including Bitcoin and XRP, before abandoning him in an unfamiliar area of West London.
When Digital Crime Goes Physical
The following morning, Irwin-Cline discovered that not only had his cryptocurrency been drained, but his laptop had been remotely wiped and his access to key financial accounts was blocked. Upon returning to his hostel, he contacted the Metropolitan Police, and later filed a report with the FBI‘s Virtual Assets Unit.
This wasn’t a digital hack. This was a real-world ‘wrench attack’ a term used to describe scenarios where criminals force victims to give up sensitive information under duress, often bypassing even the most secure digital systems.
‘People focus so much on technical security that they forget the human factor is often the weakest link,’ said a cybersecurity expert based in London. ‘When someone has control over your physical safety, especially under the influence of a substance even the strongest passwords can’t help you.’
Uber Responds
Uber later confirmed that the ride Irwin-Cline had booked was cancelled before he entered the vehicle. The man he interacted with was not a registered driver on the platform. The company refunded the booking fee and said it is cooperating fully with the police investigation.
We remind riders to always verify the vehicle make, model and licence plate number before entering a car, Uber said in a statement. ‘If anything doesn’t match or feel right, do not get in and report the incident to us immediately.’
A Wake-Up Call for Crypto Holders
Cryptocurrency thefts are not new but this case is part of a growing trend where attackers use in-person manipulation rather than complex hacking techniques. With billions in digital assets now stored on smartphones and apps, even a brief lapse in judgement or safety can lead to irreversible financial loss.
Security analysts advise investors to use cold wallets (offline storage) for large sums, avoid accessing digital wallets in public, and enable multi-factor authentication. But perhaps most importantly, they stress situational awareness particularly when travelling.
‘If someone offers you a cigarette at 2am outside a club, it’s okay to say no,’ one expert said bluntly.
An Expensive Lesson
For Irwin-Cline, the experience was as emotional as it was financial. Speaking to reporters, he said: ‘I’ve spent years securing my accounts, reading up on crypto best practices, and setting everything to two-factor. None of that mattered the second I let my guard down.’
He has since regained access to some of his accounts but is unlikely to recover the lost cryptocurrency. Police have yet to identify the suspect, though CCTV footage from nearby businesses is under review.
This incident serves as a stark reminder: digital assets may live in the cloud, but the people who hold them walk through very real streets. In an age where fortunes can be carried in a phone, safeguarding your wallet might start with something as simple and serious as checking who’s behind the wheel.