Oregon Tech Professional Claims He Was Drugged and Robbed in London
A recent trip to London took a traumatic turn for Jacob Irwin-Cline, a 30-year-old tech expert from Oregon, who alleges he was drugged by a fraudulent Uber driver. This incident resulted in the loss of $123,000 from his cryptocurrency accounts. Irwin-Cline was in the city on a brief layover while en route to visit family in Spain when he experienced this shocking event in the early hours of May 9, as reported by MyLondon. “I lost $123,000 in crypto and assets,” he relayed to the British news outlet, detailing the harrowing experience.
Deceptive Rideshare Encounter Leads to Major Financial Loss
The unsuspecting crypto enthusiast recounted how he entered a car without verifying the vehicle’s model or license plate. The driver, who appeared to fit the Uber profile and called out Irwin-Cline’s name, seemed friendly and laid-back. After accepting a cigarette from this stranger, Irwin-Cline soon found himself feeling unusually lethargic and disoriented. He suspects that the cigarette may have contained scopolamine, a potent sedative. “I remember being really docile,” he shared, noting that in a confused and semi-conscious state, he inadvertently provided the driver with access to his phone and personal passcodes before being abandoned in an unfamiliar part of London.
Disturbing Discovery of Financial Devastation
Upon regaining consciousness, the tech professional made his way back to his hostel, only to find that his laptop had been wiped clean remotely, and he was locked out of his financial accounts. When he finally managed to access them, he was devastated to discover the substantial amount of money had vanished. Irwin-Cline believes the driver drugged him with the cigarette, and afterward, took advantage of his incapacitated state to steal his personal information.
Feelings of Helplessness and Concern for Future Victims
After reporting the alarming incident to British authorities, Irwin-Cline has come to terms with the reality that the stolen funds are likely irretrievable. “It’s virtually impossible to get that money back unless some weird miracle happened — taking down that ring and getting these wallets back,” he explained, expressing his fears for others who might fall victim to similar scams. “It sucks man. I’m alive, and that’s honestly — I was not stoked at first — but that’s definitely the more important thing. Money will come and go. It’s just really strange. I’m just worried guys will keep getting away with it. He probably made enough money that he will not have to do this again for a while.”
Recent Surge in Crypto-Related Crimes
This brazen theft occurred shortly after another shocking event involving crypto, where John Woeltz, a self-proclaimed crypto king from Kentucky, allegedly kidnapped and tortured a wealthy Italian trader, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, to obtain his Bitcoin password. The Italian trader, reportedly valued at $30 million, was enticed to a luxurious Manhattan townhouse and subjected to severe mistreatment before he managed to escape. Law enforcement has since apprehended three individuals, including Woeltz, in connection with this brutal crime.
