San Francisco Crypto Heist Tied to Sam Altman’s Circle Exposes Investor Vulnerabilities
A brazen home invasion targeting tech investor Lachy Groom—linked to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman—has escalated into an $11 million crypto theft, spotlighting physical security risks for high-net-worth digital asset holders. The assailant posed as a delivery worker, brandished a firearm, and coerced Groom into transferring funds during a 90-minute ordeal.
San Francisco police confirm the attacker exploited residential access protocols, raising questions about targeted crypto crimes in tech enclaves. No digital breaches were detected—the theft relied entirely on physical coercion, a grim reminder that cold wallets won’t stop a gun.
The incident coincides with growing institutional crypto adoption, where personal safety becomes as critical as private key management. Market observers note chilling parallels to 2018’s ‘Sim Swap’ era, when thieves bypassed 2FA through social engineering rather than hacking.
