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Digital cash, physical threat
Picture this: You’re worth millions in crypto. You think your money’s safe because it’s digital, anonymous and locked up behind a strong password. But there’s one security hole you didn’t count on, your physical body.
That’s exactly what happened in a terrifying case out of New York City.
Two men allegedly kidnapped a crypto investor and held him captive for weeks in a luxury town house. Why? To beat the password out of him. It’s called a “$5 wrench attack” by insiders.
Kidnapped for crypto
According to The Wall Street Journal, Michael Carturan, with $30 million in crypto, walked into a Soho town house expecting a pitch meeting … and left 25 days later barefoot and traumatized.
The goal? Force him to unlock his Bitcoin wallet. Kidnapped. Held hostage. Tortured, yes, even threatened with a chain saw, until he gave up his wallet info.
This isn’t a plot from a Netflix thriller, it’s real life. And it’s a terrifying new way criminals are going after digital riches.
Carturan finally escaped barefoot into the street, flagged down an NYPD officer and lived to tell the tale.
Two suspects were caught, including (because this story wouldn’t be complete otherwise) a former crypto CEO.
This isn’t just one wild story
It’s happening more than you might think.
A Connecticut couple cruising around in their Lamborghini get kidnapped. Six guys grab them not because they’re flashy but because they thought the couple’s son was sitting on a fortune in crypto. Federal prosecutors say the plan was to hold them for ransom.
Desk all set
👩💼 Midweek slump? Time to freshen up your workspace.
- This mini desk vacuum (11% off) is like a robot maid.
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🔌 Ten ports = one hub: Grab this neat USB charging hub (33% off) and power up all your tech at once.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
184 million accounts just leaked, yours could be next
Hackers just hit a massive jackpot: 184 million accounts across Apple, Google and Microsoft were exposed in a sweeping data breach. I’m talking email addresses, usernames, passwords, device info (the whole buffet), now up for grabs on the dark web.
Think your email’s private? Think again. Big Tech tracks everything. That’s why I use StartMail. No ads, no tracking, just private email. Try it free for seven days and get 60% off your first year.
💸 PayPal is leaving Google Wallet: Starting June 13, you won’t be able to use your PayPal account to pay through Google Wallet anymore. If you’ve got any recurring payments set up, switch your payment method ASAP. The good news? PayPal-branded Debit Mastercards still work just fine.
The “learn to code” promise just collapsed
Turns out all those years of pushing coding in schools may have set grads up for failure. Here are the skills that will matter in the AI age.
9,800
The magic number of steps that works better than 10,000. New research suggests this is the “optimal dose” for reducing dementia risk and boosting long-term health without crossing into overachiever territory. Think of it as efficiency, not laziness.
Use AI to make your emails less cringe
Before you hit send and accidentally start office drama, copy your message into a chatbot and let AI make you sound less like a jerk.
Silicon in your skull: Neuralink’s got company. Paradromics just put a brain chip in a human in a clean 20-minute surgery during epilepsy treatment. It’s their first human implant to prove the tech works; the brain chip was removed after 20 minutes. Next stop: a full clinical trial, and maybe someday, mind-controlled emails. What could go wrong?
I can’t put my finger on it
🧽 Oh, it’s that mess. Let’s fix that.
- Reach those high ceiling fans with a reusable duster (6% off).
- From showers to windshields, a squeegee (32% off) handles it all.
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💅 Dirty nails? Grab this fingernail brush ($10) for a quick DIY pedicure or manicure.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Your new go-to therapist? ChatGPT
Therapy costs a pretty penny, so people are turning to AI to deal with their emotions. Plus, Google Photos can now erase your ex, fake toll road scams are everywhere, and the latest (questionable) prediction for the end of the world. Oh, and Starlink Wi-Fi is coming to your next flight.
AI made this video in under a minute
I used Google’s Veo and ChatGPT’s Sora to make a video of my puppy on the beach.
🦷 May the floss be with you: I never thought this would be something. Tufts made a smart dental floss that detects cortisol (your stress hormone) by poking around spit and sends the drama readings straight to your phone. Coming next: trauma-reading mouthwash.
🎧 Spotify sounding flat? On mobile, it might default to lower audio quality to save data. On iOS, go to Settings and privacy > Audio Quality and set it to High. On Android, go to Settings and privacy > Media Quality and set it to High. If you have Premium, there’s also a Very High option. One great option that always sounds great is my show, IMHO.
Bitcoin millionaire kidnapped in NYC — May 31st, Hour 1
Crypto bragging rights aren’t worth 17 days as a hostage. Plus, LexisNexis data breach, how to spot digital cheaters, and Paul from Missouri wants to turn his 3D-printed puzzle hobby into a hit YouTube channel.
Let the games begin
🎉 Here’s what you need to keep the good times rolling.
- Level up with a gaming controller ($56) that’s fast and smooth.
- A Toniebox speaker (30% off) tells kids’ bedtime stories and more.
- Help your child learn to swim with a back belt floater (18% off).
- Fetch! This oddly shaped dog ball ($8) bounces in some cool ways.
- Watch your cat chase this laser cat toy ($25) in random directions.
🧸 Catch ’em all: Toss your kid’s stuffed animals into a hanging net ($29) for later.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
👆 Search your PC in seconds: Press Windows key + S and start typing. You can pull up apps, files, system settings and web results in seconds. No more clicking around or digging through menus.
Gemini is watching: Google’s Gemini AI can now watch videos you dump in Drive and give you notes like a nerdy intern who doesn’t sleep. It’ll spit out meeting takeaways or product updates, but only if the captions are on. Congrats, even your AI thinks your all-hands meeting was boring.