A German parcel bomber asked for a ransom of 10 million euros to be paid in the form Cryptocurrency Bitcoin. On December 8, 2017, the bomber sent a message to a pharmacy next to the Potsdam Christmas Market through the DHL global delivery company to claim the ransom.
The package bomb containing a QR code for depositing Bitcoins, as well as the explosive powder of Polish fireworks, nails and screws, would have made a strange hissing sound when it was opened by a pharmacist. Fortunately, the bomb failed to explode. The incident, however, forced the evacuation of the entire Christmas market.
Police action on the incident
German police are already investigating and looking for possible witnesses in the latter case of extortion bomb threat. They believe that the bomb was dropped at the Potsdam local packing station. They are already looking for suspects in and around Berlin, as well as in the state of Brandenburg.
The entire German police is in a state of alert as similar cases should be discovered in the near future. Police advised the general public to remain vigilant at all times and to handle unexpected parcels with the utmost caution. They pointed out that all suspicious packages should not be opened, but rather that people immediately notify the police.
A modus operandi?
The use of Bitcoin cryptocurrency as the preferred method of payment seems to be a part of the modus operandi of the master singers in Germany, as there have been similar incidents recorded in the past. One of the last most publicized cases is the infamous WannaCry Ransomware that has affected the Deutsche Bahn railway company.
Encrypted data on corporate computers and cybercriminals required a ransom of $ 300 to $ 600 to restore access.