Canadian man forced into hiding after kidnapping threat: perpetrators mistakenly believed he had billions of dollars in Bitcoin

A cryptocurrency forum moderator and father of four says he was forced into hiding after facing threats of kidnapping and abuse in an attempt to get his Bitcoin. The Canadian man, who has not been named to protect the identity of his children, said police told him they could not guarantee his family's safety and that they should move because the potential attackers could be linked to organized crime, La Presse reported on Monday. Since then, the family has decided to keep switching Airbnb homes and live off their savings. According to media reports, two adults were arrested on suspicion of planning a kidnapping and possessing a prohibited firearm, and two underage suspects were also arrested. However, the attackers, who have no criminal record, were placed under house arrest awaiting trial in March, leaving the family worried about their safety. "Part of the police's job is to meet with the victims and explain to them that we cannot guarantee their safety 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," a spokesperson for the Quebec provincial police told the media, but he did not comment directly on the matter. Police investigations revealed that the attackers believed the man had billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin based on his social media activity, but the victim clarified that he only had about $10,000 worth of Bitcoin. (The Block)