Israeli tourists robbed of $700k in Costa Rica Bitcoin heist

Eleven Israeli tourists were robbed during a violent attack on Santa Teresa de Cóbano beach in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

The robbery occurred while the group was attending a social event, where at least eight men approached them. The attackers arrived in two high-value vehicles and overpowered the group’s security guard.

The robbers, suspected of having police training, forced the tourists to hand over their belongings, including a substantial amount of Bitcoin (BTC). Surveillance footage shows the attackers, some wearing what appeared to be police uniforms, moving the victims from one location to another.

11 Israelis visiting Costa Rica were attacked by 8 men who overpowered their security guard and robbed them of $700,000 worth of bitcoin. Analysis of surveillance footage leads investigators to suspect the robbers are current or former police.https://t.co/f09114S8e6

— Jameson Lopp (@lopp) August 9, 2024

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Insider job?

Authorities believe the attackers had inside information about the tourists’ financial activities, suggesting someone close to the group may have tipped off the criminals. The Judicial Investigation Agency is actively seeking leads in the case.

The fact that the robbers knew about the Bitcoin leads authorities to believe that the robbery was an inside job. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify the perpetrators and recover the stolen assets.

Local news agency Teletica helped with the reporting of this story.

Similar crypto crime in Ukraine

This robbery echoes a recent crime that took place in Kyiv, Ukraine, where police detained four men involved in the abduction and murder of a 29-year-old foreigner over nearly 3 Bitcoin. The premeditated crime with the suspects following the victim home before attacking him and forcing him to transfer his Bitcoin. The victim was then murdered, and his body was buried in a forest.

These incidents underscore the increasing risks facing crypto holders as criminals become more sophisticated in targeting individuals with large amounts of digital assets.

Is there a growing rate of crypto crimes?

A June Chainalysis report revealed that crypto-related crimes are becoming increasingly complex and resource-intensive for law enforcement to track down and stop. They require more time and advanced tools to investigate.

While many public sector employees view crypto positively, there’s a growing concern about its use by criminals, especially in regions like Asia–Pacific. The Chainalysis report highlighted the urgent need for more staffing and technology in public sector agencies across the world as they try to tackle crypto crime.

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