Data Leak: French Tax Worker Accused of Selling Secrets

A French tax official, known as Ghalia C. , is in hot water. She's accused of selling private details from government databases. This info allegedly led to a violent home attack on a prison guard and his wife. The attack was linked to a prison phone smuggling dispute. Ghalia also looked up details on people involved in crypto. She might have set them up for "five-finger discounts. " That's when thieves use force to steal digital cash. Physical attacks on crypto users are becoming more common. These attacks involve forcing people to transfer bitcoin or other digital assets under threat. Ghalia lost her appeal and will stay in custody. She admitted giving out the data but said she didn't know what the buyers would do. Prosecutors think she helped a repeat offender. She refused to unlock her phone or name her sponsor.This isn't the only case of its kind. In 2025, France saw a record number of physical crypto thefts. For example, a crypto entrepreneur's father was kidnapped. His finger was cut off in a ransom scheme. Police rescued him just in time. Crypto thefts aren't just a French problem. In San Francisco, a home invasion happened in broad daylight. An attacker posed as a delivery driver, pulled a gun, and stole $11 million in crypto. Ghalia took payments through traditional methods like bank deposits and Western Union. No direct links connect her data sales to specific crypto thefts. But this case shows how easy it is to misuse personal data. It also highlights the risks of irreversible crypto payments. Crypto allows full financial control, but personal data is still at risk. Government and corporate databases are often targeted. Until better data protection is in place, these risks will persist.