A short layover in London turned into a nightmare for Jacob Irwin-Cline, a 30-year-old American tourist. The former software developer claims a fake Uber driver drugged and robbed him, draining $123,000 from his crypto accounts in a single night.
Irwin-Cline had flown in from the U.S. and planned to spend two days in the UK before visiting his parents in Spain. After enjoying a few drinks at The Roxy in Soho on May 9, he called an Uber to return to his Bayswater hostel.
Outside the club, a driver approached, called him by name, and matched the profile photo shown on the app. But the vehicle—a dark sedan—didn’t match the car listed. “He seemed chill,” Jacob said. “I didn’t double-check the plate.”
A Spiked Cigarette and a Fading Memory
The driver offered him a cigarette. Though Jacob doesn’t smoke, he accepted. Minutes later, his memory became patchy. “I felt completely docile,” he recalled.
The driver then asked for his phone, claiming he needed directions. Jacob handed it over and provided the passcode—likely under the influence of what he now believes was scopolamine, also known as “Devil’s Breath.”
The powerful drug, common in South America, is known to cause blackouts and make victims unusually cooperative.
Crypto Vanished Within Minutes
Jacob passed out, only to wake up in an unfamiliar neighborhood. The driver suddenly stopped the car, told him to get out and open the trunk, and then sped off—clipping Jacob’s leg in the process. His phone was gone.
Back at the hostel, Jacob found his laptop had been remotely wiped. With help from a friend in the U.S., he regained access to his wallets—only to discover most of his assets were gone.
One XRP wallet dropped from $73,000 to under $1,000. Another Bitcoin account shrank from $50,000 to nearly nothing. In total, $123,000 had vanished.
‘Organized and Professional’ Crypto Theft
Jacob believes the attackers were highly organized. Uber confirmed his ride was canceled before the alleged theft, and refunded about £6 for the trip. CCTV footage from The Roxy reportedly shows the real Uber car arriving after Jacob had already left with the imposter.
Jacob suspects the scammer used a hacked or fake Uber account to create a convincing profile, working with others behind the scenes.
He tracked the stolen funds to wallets on crypto exchanges MEXC and BTSE. Some transactions involved thousands of XRP coins and moved rapidly across multiple wallets, making them hard to trace.
Hospital Visit
Though he sought help from both hospital staff and police, no toxicology test was administered. Experts say scopolamine leaves the body within 12 hours, making detection difficult.
The drug has a notorious history. It was used in a 2019 London murder case where a dancer was killed and robbed after being dosed with it. The drug is odorless, tasteless, and renders victims vulnerable—traits that make it favored by thieves.
A Call for Action, but Low Expectations
Jacob filed reports with the Met Police, Action Fraud, and the FBI’s cybercrime division. Despite his efforts, he doubts he’ll recover the funds. “There’s less than a one percent chance,” he admitted.
He’s now staying in Clapham with family, awaiting a police interview. The assigned officer, however, is reportedly on leave until May 21—two weeks after the incident.
The Met Police confirmed a theft report was filed and said investigations are ongoing. So far, no arrests have been made.
“I’m Lucky to Be Alive”
Despite the financial loss and physical injuries, Jacob is trying to stay positive. “Money comes and goes,” he said. “But I’m alive—and that’s what really matters.”
Jacob’s story has since gone viral, highlighting the rising risks of crypto-related crime and the terrifying potential of drugs like scopolamine making their way into major European cities.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
Source: https://coindoo.com/fake-uber-driver-allegedly-steals-123k-in-crypto-from-u-s-tourist/