$11 Million Crypto Heist: Fake Delivery Man Targets Home Of OpenAI CEO’s Former Boyfriend

On Saturday, November 22, an armed suspect, posing as a delivery driver, gained access to a $4.4 million San Francisco property and stole $11 million in Ethereum and Bitcoin. A tech investor named Joshua, who is connected to Lachy Groom, the Ex-Boyfriend of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, was identified as the victim of the $11 million crypto heist that occurred in the neighbourhood. According to the San Francisco police report, the suspect pretended to work for UPS, was allegedly harassed by beating and torturing the victim before stealing millions worth of cryptocurrencies, his cellphone, and laptop.   

The New York Post reported that on Saturday morning, 6:45 a.m., the suspect asked for “Joshua,” pretending to have a package for him, and claimed he worked for a UPS affiliate. The victim answered the door and identified himself as Joshua. The thief then asked him to sign for the package before searching his pocket and then asking the resident if he could borrow a pen. The suspect then followed the resident inside, and a loud bang was heard.

According to the San Francisco police report, after going inside, the suspected intruder allegedly pulled a gun on the victim and restrained him using duct tape. The victim was beaten and tortured, and the suspect stole the victim’s phone and laptop, then drained his crypto accounts and reportedly stole $11 million in Ethereum and Bitcoin. Before draining the victim’s crypto account, the suspect poured liquid over the victim during a period of about 90 minutes. When the police arrested, they found the victim with bruises, and no arrests in the incident have yet been reported.   

Joshua, the victim of the heist, currently lives with venture capitalist Lachy Groom, the ex-boyfriend of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The property that was attacked is owned by Groom, who purchased it from Altman’s brother in 2021 for $1.8 million. 

Rising Kidnappings and Assaults Put Crypto Holders at Risk

Security experts have warned residents across the neighbourhood of the physical attacks and kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency holders. The number of violent attacks and thefts targeting crypto holders has spiked in recent years; the hackers have varied their attacks, from phishing to physical assaults such as abductions and extortion. The safety experts claim that the public figures associated with the crypto sector are more vulnerable as organized criminal groups monitor the public records to spot possible high-profile victims. Steve Krystek, chief executive of security firm PFC Safeguards, told the New York Post that there was definitely an uptick in kidnappings targeting crypto owners. He noted that many of those who acquired this wealth tended to flaunt it, making themselves visible targets.

Experts advise high-profile figures to avoid displaying their public wealth on social media and try not to share sensitive information to prevent violent attacks targeting their digital assets. They also urged the crypto holders not to share their travel information and keep their home addresses and daily routines private. San Francisco tech investor Garry Tan wrote in a since-deleted tweet that self-custody of crypto seemed like a good idea until it wasn’t, implying safety concerns even with self-custody measures due to the increasing rate of organized crimes targeting cryptocurrencies. 

Also Read: Why Andrew Tate Lost Nearly $1M in Crypto Trading