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Ledger co-founder David Balland was kidnapped and a cryptocurrency ransom was demanded. Sounds like they cut off one of his fingers and sent it with the ransom demand.
He was rescued by GIGN and multiple suspects are in custody.
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I'm small time, but as bitcoin keeps going up I've stopped wearing any of my bitcoin gear or advertising that I have bitcoin. What's the point in making yourself a target.

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good call. homie from the company i worked at here in TO also got napped. no bueno.

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I thought of your old post immediately.

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The stories we don't hear worry me more.

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They were caught:

According to sources close to the case, the kidnappers accepted ransom in Tether (USDT), which was quickly seized and frozen. Eight people have been arrested thus far in connection with the kidnappings.

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Terrible crime even worse choice of what to be paid in. And this is where I am conflicted. It sucks the tether was frozen but at the same time it solved the crime the criminals will get punished

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One of the reasons good basic practice should be to not let anyone who knows more then your nym know that you have bitcoin. Obviously, that's not really avoidable for anyone who's a public figure in the bitcoin world.

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What can we lear from this episode?

IMO, the most important call is not to "advertise" that you're a Bitcoin hodler, as wearing clothes or hats with the BTC logo.

Second, be aware when you talk about BITCOIN with an estranger, maybe you're sharing too much information.

Third, think about the best custody system for your personal cases, maybe having a decoy wallet could be a good way to implement.

What would you add to this short list??

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Publicity stunt?

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0 sats \ 6 replies \ @fm 23 Jan

specially if the finguer part is true.. can you imagine

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They also make fake fingertips for the japanese yakuza.

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Some people will do anything for attention.

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also we can have fake fingers...

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But cutting off a finger just for attention is wild.

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Didn't work for them apparently

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I read that they cut off his finger. 😢

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good thing they didnt go for the car battery on the balls!

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🚩 This post might be more relevant and engaging in the ~news territory.

His address was probably made public in the ledger leak.

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Is this factual information? That's insane

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When the time comes to store your seed phrase, how do you store it an I manner that makes kidnapping you pointless? Some people say ‘bury it 12 feet deep in your backyard’ or something, but that is not kidnap /torture resistant. If holding Bitcoin for financial gain has an Achilles heel, this is it.

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Have a plausible deniability wallet

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And now he cannot go to JP.

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Holy crap!

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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @nym 23 Jan

Ouchie

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Cut off his finger that’s messed up

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That's actually terrifying

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This is the kind of shit you see in movies. ugh

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Poor guy, I hope he recovers

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I was going to share this news, but you were quicker! 🤠

https://atlas21.com/ledger-co-founder-freed-after-kidnapping/

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