A clueless tourist in paradise got fleeced for 189 Solana, roughly $14,000, after playing the ultimate sucker move on a boozy Bali night out: handing his unlocked iPhone to a flirty stranger who just wanted to “add herself on Instagram.
”The wild heist unfolded in one of Bali’s nightlife hotspots, where the victim, known online only as “29”, was knocking back shots with a group of Australian women after his buddies bailed. According to accounts circulating on X and Instagram, one of the women asked to connect on the app. He foolishly passed over his phone without a second thought.
What happened next was straight out of a bad spy flick: While he was distracted with more rounds of drinks and the girls giggling and clinking glasses, they allegedly drained his Phantom wallet in seconds. By the time he checked, 189 SOL had vanished to an unknown address.
Videos from the night show the chaotic party vibe, smiling blondes in skimpy tops raising shot glasses under string lights, ocean waves in the background, everyone looking like they’re living their best influencer life. One clip captures the women huddled close, phones out, the kind of scene that screams vacation regret.
Police sprang into action fast. Reports claim 8 to 12 undercover intelligence officers tracked the group down at nearby venues and hauled them in. The suspects could now face charges and possible deportation, though full details, including on-chain proof of the transfer, remain unverified as of Wednesday.
Crypto watchers were quick to pile on.“Don’t blame Bali. Don’t blame the women. Blame the unlocked phone,” one X user posted, calling it a $14K lesson in basic op-sec.
The tourist reportedly called friends in a panic and then the cops. His digital fortune? Gone in the time it takes to order another round.
Bali has long been a magnet for digital nomads and crypto bros chasing sun, surf, and gains, but this latest scam is a brutal reminder that paradise comes with pickpockets who’ve upgraded from wallets to wallets.
Lock your phone. Use a hardware wallet. And never, ever hand your device to a stranger who wants to “just add you on IG.”
