The kidnappers of a Norwegian millionaire’s wife, who have demanded a cryptocurrency ransom, are now communicating via crypto.

The Hollywood portrayal of cryptocurrency being commonly used for illegal means is a patently false one. However, it is true that there is a growing trend of kidnappers demanding a cryptocurrency ransom for the safe return of the victims. One such victim is Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen, the wife of a Norwegian millionaire, Tom Hagen, who is worth roughly $200 million. She has not been seen since her abduction on October 31st, 2018, but now there is a new development.

A New Wrinkle

Police have investigated many leads since Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen, who is 68 years old, went missing, but those leads have not panned out. Law enforcement had told the husband not to pay the cryptocurrency ransom of $10 million, which was to be paid in Monero (XRM).

Two men were seen on surveillance footage outside Hagen’s office on the day his wife disappeared, but the police have given up trying to identify them. Another troubling aspect is that the kidnappers have not given Hagen any proof of life when it comes to his wife, such as letting him talk to her or having a picture taken of her holding a current newspaper.

Since the kidnapping, there’s been little to no news on the matter, and the kidnappers went silent. However, local media are reporting that there is a new development. The kidnappers are now communicating via cryptocurrency, probably through messages embedded in the underlying blockchain.

Police inspector Tommy Brøske offered the only details given out over this new situation, saying:

However, I cannot say anything more about the type of cryptocurrency that is in question. The counterparty has, as is known, changed the communication platform during the latest contact with the lawyer and the police, without being able to comment further than has been done so far.

The nature of the communication has not been released, but this does give some hope that Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen is still alive.

Cryptocurrency Ransom Demands on the Rise

It seems that kidnappers demanding ransoms in cryptocurrency is on the rise. There have been multiple cases of this occurring in South Africa.

Police were able to arrest two criminals who had kidnapped a 13-year-old boy in South Africa and held for a ransom of roughly $108,000 in bitcoins. The two men later attempted to kidnap a 13-year-old girl but were unsuccessful as her cries for help were answered by people nearby. Police found the car they used in the attempt and found documentation that led them to the suspects.

Another cryptocurrency kidnapping in South Africa is that of Linathi Titshala. She was kidnapped just two days after her 9th birthday as she was walking from her grandmother’s home to her parents’ house, which is just two houses away. A ransom demand of 5 bitcoins was issued, but the family does not have the means to pay it. There’s been no other contact from the kidnappers, and she has been missing now for over two months. Many are now fearing that she is dead.

What do you think about the kidnappers of the Norwegian millionaire’s wife communicating via cryptocurrency? Let us know in the comments below.

Images courtesy of Pixabay, Associated Press, and IOL.