An American tourist has recounted a harrowing experience in London, where he claims he was drugged and abducted by a man posing as an Uber driver, leading to the theft of $123,000 from his cryptocurrency accounts. Jacob Irwin-Cline, a 30-year-old former software developer from Portland, had been in the UK for a brief layover when the incident occurred after a night out.
The ordeal began when Jacob, after enjoying drinks at The Roxy in Soho, attempted to book an Uber ride back to his hostel. A private hire vehicle flagged him down, and the driver, identified as Mohammed, called out his name that appeared in the Uber app. Despite the driver resembling the person in the app, Jacob did not verify the car’s details and accepted an unusual offer to enter the front passenger seat of the driver’s sedan instead of the rear.
Jacob later recalled being offered a cigarette that he believes was laced with a powerful drug known as scopolamine, sometimes referred to as “Devil’s Breath.” After smoking, he passed out, experiencing disrupted consciousness, and woke up disoriented in an unfamiliar area. The driver allegedly removed Jacob’s belongings, including his phone, before forcibly ejecting him from the vehicle and speeding off. This left Jacob struggling to regain awareness, only to find out later that significant amounts of his cryptocurrency assets had vanished.
After the incident, Jacob attempted to contact authorities and recover what he could. While the US Embassy has warned about scopolamine, it’s a drug typically associated with robberies in South America rather than the UK. Despite its rarity in Europe, there have been high-profile cases linked to scopolamine in London, which has raised awareness of the drug among authorities and the public.
Following the robbery, Jacob alerted multiple agencies, including the Metropolitan Police, Action Fraud, and the FBI. The investigation has been slow-moving, and Jacob expressed disappointment with the response, even remarking on the difficulties of recovering the lost funds without any insurance.
Uber has stated that incidents like Jacob’s are unacceptable and that they are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, Jacob is left with the reality of his financial loss but has emphasized the importance of his safety and well-being, expressing hope that such criminal activities are brought to an end.
This alarming incident serves as a reminder for travelers to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings, particularly when using rideshare services in unfamiliar areas. While it’s unfortunate that such experiences occur, raising awareness about potential threats may help others avoid similar fates in the future.