Latest news Criminals threaten ZKB with publication of customer data

Four young Swiss men tried to blackmail the Zurich Cantonal Bank ZKB. They demanded 3 million francs worth of Bitcoin, otherwise customer data would be published. They were arrested. One of them is an ex-employee of the bank.

The blackmailers demanded that ZKB transfer 61 bitcoins to them by September 6. This corresponds to an amount of around 3 million francs, as the cantonal police and ZKB announced on Friday afternoon.

In order to emphasize their demand, some customer data was sent to individual journalists. Instead of responding to the threat, ZKB pressed charges. The investigations were quickly successful: the cantonal police have arrested four Swiss nationals aged 21 and 22 in the last few days. One of them is a former ZKB employee. He is now in custody.