American Tourist Loses $123K in Crypto After Fake Uber Ride in London

LONDON, UK — An American tourist reported losing over $123,000 in cryptocurrency after being drugged and robbed by a fake Uber driver in London’s West End. Jacob Irwin-Cline, 30, from Portland, Oregon, was in the city on a brief layover when the incident occurred on May 9, 2025, following a night out at The Roxy nightclub.

According to Irwin-Cline, he ordered an Uber around 1:30 a.m. but was approached by a driver who appeared to match the profile in the app. However, instead of the advertised Toyota Prius, he entered a dark sedan. The driver, who knew his name from the app, handed Irwin-Cline a cigarette, which he believes was laced with scopolamine, a powerful sedative.

Irwin-Cline stated, “I said I stopped smoking, but he said, ‘Oh c’mon.’ I thought it was a bonding moment, so I accepted.” Shortly afterward, he lost consciousness, only to wake up on the pavement, with his phone stolen and a shattered memory of the events.

The driver allegedly asked for his phone and passcode while Irwin-Cline was under the drug’s influence. He later discovered that approximately $123,000, primarily in Bitcoin and XRP, had vanished from his accounts. “They took the majority of my wealth,” he lamented.

Irwin-Cline reported the theft to the Metropolitan Police, who confirmed receiving a report of a robbery where a man claimed to have lost both his phone and crypto assets. A spokesman stated that inquiries are ongoing, and no arrests have been made yet.

In the wake of the incident, security experts advise individuals to exercise caution when using ride-sharing services. They recommend checking vehicle details closely and employing strong security measures for digital wallets. The rise in violent crimes targeting cryptocurrency investors indicates a growing threat in the digital currency landscape.

Irwin-Cline expressed concern about the prevalence of these types of crimes. “I think they just got really lucky I had a bit of wealth put away,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in urban areas.