American Tourist Has $123K in Bitcoin and XRP Stolen by Fake Uber in London

An American tourist’s dream layover in London turned into a nightmare when he was allegedly drugged, abducted, and robbed of his life savings by a fake Uber driver, according to local reports. Jacob Irwin-Cline, a 30-year-old former software developer from Portland, Oregon, lost $123,000 in cryptocurrency after a night out in the city’s vibrant Soho district.

The incident, which occurred on May 9, 2025, has left him grappling with the loss of his financial security and little hope of recovery, even with assistance from the FBI’s cybercrime unit. Irwin-Cline, who had been an early investor in Bitcoin during his teenage years, described the ordeal as a meticulously planned crime that exploited his trust in a seemingly legitimate ride.

The evening began innocently enough at The Roxy, a popular London basement cocktail bar on Rathbone Place. After enjoying a few whiskey sours, Irwin-Cline decided to return to his hostel around 1:30 a.m. He booked an Uber through the app, said goodbye to friends, and stepped outside. A driver, identifying himself as Mohammed, called out the alias Irwin-Cline uses on the app and appeared to match the profile photo.

Without time to verify the car’s details, Irwin-Cline entered what he later learned was a dark sedan, not the Toyota Prius listed on the app. The driver’s friendly demeanor put him at ease, and he accepted an offer to sit in the front seat. The situation took a sinister turn when the driver offered him a cigarette, which Irwin-Cline now believes was laced with a powerful sedative, possibly scopolamine, known as “Devil’s Breath” in South America.

Irwin-Cline’s memory of the ride is fragmented. He recalls feeling unusually docile and handing over his phone and passcode when prompted. After losing consciousness for what he estimates was 20 to 30 minutes, he awoke in an unfamiliar, residential part of London near Childs Way in Golders Green. Noticing his awareness, the driver allegedly slammed on the brakes, instructed him to open the trunk, and then sped off, striking Irwin-Cline and injuring his leg. Left stranded without his phone, he relied on a stranger’s kindness to return to his hostel in Bayswater. There, he discovered his laptop had been remotely wiped, and his cryptocurrency wallets, holding Bitcoin, XRP, and other cryptocurrencies, had been drained of $123,000.

The Role of Scopolamine and Organized Crime

The use of scopolamine, a rare and potent drug, is a chilling aspect of this case. Known for its ability to incapacitate victims and render them compliant, the substance is odorless, tasteless, and difficult to detect in standard toxicology tests. While more common in South America, where it’s derived from the Borrachero tree, scopolamine has been linked to isolated crimes in Europe, including a 2019 murder in London involving a dating app scam. Irwin-Cline, who is familiar with U.S. government warnings about the drug from his travels, never expected to encounter it in the UK. Although he sought a toxicology test, none was conducted, leaving the drug’s presence unconfirmed but strongly suspected.

The sophistication of the crime suggests a coordinated effort. Irwin-Cline reviewed CCTV footage from The Roxy, which showed the legitimate Uber waiting as the dark sedan drove away with him. He believes the perpetrators hacked or controlled an Uber account to orchestrate the deception. His cryptocurrency was transferred to wallets on crypto exchanges like MEXC and BTSE, with some funds traced to a $10,000,000 wallet. Despite his tech expertise, recovering the assets is unlikely without significant intervention from authorities like the FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit, which specializes in blockchain analysis.

The Metropolitan Police are investigating the theft, reported at 4:48 a.m. on May 9, and Uber has refunded Irwin-Cline £6 for the canceled ride while pledging to fully investigate. Action Fraud is also assessing the case. Meanwhile, Irwin-Cline, who was recently lost his job, remains in London, staying with family in Clapham to assist with the police inquiry. Reflecting on the ordeal, he expressed relief at surviving but concern that such crimes could continue.

The rise in crypto related crimes, including kidnappings in France and elsewhere, underscores the growing risks for digital asset holders as cryptocurrencies gain mainstream value. For Irwin-Cline, the loss is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in an increasingly digital world, but he remains focused on rebuilding, valuing his life above the wealth he lost.