Log in

News

Thieves use deodorant as a weapon in a botched Dubai bitcoin robbery

Updated: Aug 31, 2024
Published: Jan 1, 2021
0
Share:

The crypto industry is notorious for its outrageous cyber heists carried out by innovative criminals. But once in a while, you get the old-fashioned thieves who do it old school. And this was the case in Dubai when a group of four expatriates attacked an individual they were scheduled to sell bitcoin to.

Post Feature Image

According to a local report, four Ukrainian expatriates were supposed to meet with a buyer who wanted to purchase bitcoins worth Dh500,000 ($136,000) in cash.

The buyer, whose name is still unknown, asked a 33-year-old Egyptian witness and another person to join him in meeting the sellers, perhaps for security reasons.

Carrying the cash in a bag, the buyer and the two other victims waited for the four bitcoin sellers, aged between 28 and 34, in an office. 

As the bitcoin sellers were running late, the buyer was ready to leave and that’s when the would-be robbers showed up.

A bitcoin robbery that went wrong

The sellers broke into an office in the Al Barsha area in Dubai and attempted to steal cash by attacking the victims.

“A man told us to wait until the arrival of the bitcoin seller. As they were getting late, the victim told the man that they would leave, when the door opened and the four Ukrainian suspects came in, attacked the victim and tried to steal the money,” narrated the Egyptian witness.

The four men physically attacked the victims and went to the extent of spraying deodorant onto the victims’ faces.

The victims screamed, raising an alarm, and the thieves eventually ran away after failing to steal the money.

However, the four suspects have been arrested by the police charged with attempted robbery.

Physical bitcoin trades and attacks

The majority of cryptocurrency trades are carried out on centralized exchanges where. However, there are times when individuals meet for transactions but this is not recommended as it gives one part the opportunity to exploit the other.

This is not the first time such an act has occurred in Dubai. In April 2018, a gang of 10 members deceived two Asian brothers who were interested in buying bitcoin. 

The victims were lured into an office where they assaulted. The perpetrators subdued the two victims and made off with Dh7 million ($1.9 million at the time) in cash. The gang members were later arrested by the police. 

With bitcoin smashing records, more people would be interested in buying the digital asset, creating a fertile ground for thieves to capitalize on.

100% Success Money Back Guarantee

If our approach doesn’t outperform the overall crypto market during your subscription, we’ll give you a full refund of your membership. No questions asked. For quarterly and monthly subscribers this is applicable once your subscription runs for 6 consecutive months.

Terms & Conditions apply

Star

Trusted by 300,000+ traders

Take your next step towards crypto success

Save 50%

$799/year

Get everything you need to actively manage your portfolio and stay ahead. Ideal for investors seeking regular guidance and access to tools that help make informed decisions.

VisaCardImageMsCardImageCoinbaseCardImageSolanaCardImage

For your security, all orders are processed on a secured server.

What’s included in Pro:

  • Success Guarantee, if we don’t outperform the market, you get 100% back, no questions asked

  • 24/7 access to experts with 50+ years’ experience

  • All of our top token picks for 2025

  • Our latest memecoins pick with 50X potential

  • On hand technical analysis on any token of your choice

  • Weekly livestreams & ask us anything with the team

  • Daily insights on Macro, Mechanics, and On-chain

  • Curated list of top upcoming airdrops (free money)

Our track record speaks for itself

With over 2.4M tokens and widespread misinformation in crypto, we cut
through the noise and consistently find winning assets.

/images/advertorial/corpcomm3.webp
/images/advertorial/corpcomm4.webp
/images/advertorial/corpcomm5.webp

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We've consistently identified winners across multiple cycles. Bitcoin under $1,000, Ethereum under $70, Solana under $10, WIF from $0.003 to $5, PopCat from $0.004 to $2, SPX blasting past $1.70, and our latest pick has already 200X'd since June 2025. Everything is timestamped and public record.

No. When we founded Cryptonary in 2017 the market was new to everyone. We intentionally created content that was easy to understand and actionable. That foundational principle is the crux of Cryptonary. Taking complex ideas and opportunities and presenting them in a way a 10 year old could understand.

Signal vs noise. We filter out 99.9% of garbage projects, provide data backed analysis, and have a proven track record of finding winners. Not to mention since Cryptonary's inception in 2017 we have never taken investment, sponsorship or partnership. Compare this to pretty much everyone else, no track record, and a long list of partnerships that cloud judgements.

We share highly sensitive, time-critical research. Once it's out, it can't be "returned." That's why membership is annual only. Crypto success takes time and commitment. If someone is not willing to invest 12 months into their future, there is no place for them at Cryptonary.

Yes. You will have 24/7 to the team that bought you BTC at $1,000, ETH at $70, and SOL at $10. Through our community chats, live Q&As, and member only channels, you can ask questions and interact directly with the team. Our team has over 50 years of combined experience which you can tap into every single day.

Daily. We provide real-time updates, weekly reports, emergency alerts, and live Q&As when the markets move fast. In crypto, the market moves fast, in Cryptonary, we move faster.

If our approach to the market doesn’t beat the overall crypto market during your subscription, we’ll give you a full refund of your membership fee. No questions asked. For quarterly and monthly subscribers this is applicable once your subscription runs for 6 consecutive months.

Recommended from Cryptonary
This Week's Setup: 27th of October
Market Updates
This Week's Setup: 27th of OctoberIt’s a big week in markets, and you don’t want to miss what’s coming. The Fed meets, Trump and Xi ar...
7 min read
Oct 27, 2025
Time Sensitive: The 4x Market-Neutral Trade Everyone’s Missing
PRO
Research Report
Time Sensitive: The 4x Market-Neutr...Opportunities like this are rare in crypto. Most launches are driven by hype or speculation with no ...
11 min read
Oct 27, 2025
BTC, ETH and More: Breakouts Loom on Pennants, Key Levels Ahead
PRO
Market Direction
BTC, ETH and More: Breakouts Loom o...The market is coiling in pennants after the inflation beat. All eyes on major resistance and breakdo...
6 min read
Oct 24, 2025