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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.
Call of the wild
⛰️ Hitting the trails (or just the backyard)? Start here.
- Stay covered with a tent (36% off) that’s easy to pop out.
- This rechargeable fan (12% off) fits right around your neck.
- Woah, these foldable stools (7% off) hold up to 400 lbs.
- Put an LED flashlight ($16, six-pack) in your emergency bag.
- Keep your gear safe in an outdoor storage box (5% off).
☀️ Soak up the sun: These handy UV detection stickers ($20) tell you when it’s time to reapply sunscreen. Neat.
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.
🛑 Did you know Big Tech reads your emails? Yeah, seriously. But not StartMail. It’s private, secure and even has disposable addresses. Try it free for seven days and get 60% off your first year!
The pirate said, “Can I buy an I?”: Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are hitting streaming for the first time, just one day after episodes air. Hulu and Peacock snagged multiyear deals for new and old episodes. Sony and CBS are still in a legal slap fight about it, but the real winner here is your Roku.
Privacy vs. terrorism
The feds say the threat of a major terrorist attack is the highest since 9/11. How are they fighting back? Surveillance.
$250 million
That’s what MrBeast says he’ll spend on content this year, but he still needs a wedding loan from mom. Worth a cool billion on paper, MrBeast says he’s cash-poor IRL, leaving his mom to spot him for cake and canapés. Somewhere, Jeff Bezos just Venmo’d his mom out of guilt.
📚 Kindle stats: Want to see how much reading you’ve got left? Tap the page number in the bottom-left corner to switch between time left in the chapter, time left in the book or your progress percentage (%). Kindle learns your reading speed, so those time estimates are based on you. Want free Kindle books? Check these out.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Why stores want your email at checkout
Hand over your email, and every purchase gets tracked. Here’s what you’re giving up.
🪥 No floss can fix stupid: A top U.S. dental marketing firm accidentally exposed 8.8 million appointment records and 2.7 million patient profiles online: names, emails, birth dates, billing info, all just sitting in the open. Hackers didn’t even have to lift a finger. Be sure to keep an eye on your Explanation of Benefit records.
Sore today, zen tomorrow
🏋️ You move, you sweat, you rest. I’ll help you with all three.
- Work out anywhere with some resistance bands (10% off).
- These clamps (33% off) keep slippery barbells in place.
- Put your shower stuff in a mesh bag (20% off) that dries fast.
- Unwind with a foot massager (29% off) after a long day.
- This ice pack (20% off) molds to your body for pain relief.
🌧️ Muggy air? Get a dehumidifier (36% off) to pull the damp right out. Bonus: The color-changing light gives a total spa vibe.
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.
Titan submersible update
It’s been almost two years since the tragedy that killed all five onboard. Now, investigators are revealing some chilling finds from the ocean floor. In a new documentary, they say they found part of the OceanGate founder’s sleeve, with a pen, business cards and Titanic stickers still inside. So sad.
🤖 Humanoids at your doorstep: Amazon’s testing humanoid robots that might literally leap out of delivery vans. The company’s building a “humanoid park” to train these robot couriers to drop packages while dodging pets, toddlers and possibly your Ring camera judgment. Humans may still drive the vans, for now.
⌨️ Safari shortcuts: Want to move faster in your browser? Press Command + Up Arrow to jump to the top of a page, or Command + Down Arrow to scroll straight to the bottom. Need to go back or forward? Press Command + [ to go back a page, and Command + ] to move forward again.
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.
Desk all set
👩💼 Midweek slump? Time to freshen up your workspace.
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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.
🔒 Lock your computer instantly: Leaving your desk for a few minutes? On Windows, press Windows key + L to lock your screen without closing anything. On Mac, press Control + Command + Q. It’s a good habit to get into and much faster than waiting for screen time-out to kick in.
“Rilly big shoo”: I’m talking about The Ed Sullivan Show that just passed a million YouTube subs. Turns out there’s an endless audience for grainy footage of Elvis pelvis-ing and Beatles mop-shaking. Kids today don’t remember when every performance had 18 backup dancers, no autotune and a ventriloquist, but now they’ll get to experience all the grandeur.