As the wrench attack theory is gaining traction as a possible motive for the Feb.1 suspected abduction of Nancy Guthrie, experts are warning that criminals are increasingly sweeping the web for signs of wealth that could lead them to new victims."The bad guys in these cases and in many types of criminal cases utilize open source information and social media information to find their targets and the targets’ vulnerabilities, the pressure point," said Lisa J.
Miller, a retired detective and law enforcement executive at the Colorado Attorney General's Office."News releases from companies describing wealth, social media posts showing off big expenditures, big toys, big homes.
Many of us put at least some of our lives out there for everyone to see — and it’s usually the happiest part."Although wrench attacks can involve complicated crypto transactions, encrypted chats and conspiracies that may cross international borders, the concept is simple: A "mastermind" plans the attack remotely and hires local muscle to carry out a physical abduction, which involves threats and violence to extract ransom.There have been 34 documented wrench attack incidents in the first four months of 2026, according to the cybersecurity firm Certik — a 41% increase over last year.NANCY GUTHRIE CASE POINTS TO CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD 'WRENCH ATTACK' THEORY, RETIRED DETECTIVE SAYSSavannah Guthrie returned to "Today" after a two-month absence following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, from their Arizona home amid a suspected kidnapping investigation.(Getty Images/Fox News Digital)While Guthrie is the 84-year-old mother of NBC's Savannah Guthrie, Miller said relatives of the real targets can sometimes be hurt in wrench attacks because they are more accessible than the public figures themselves."Nancy Guthrie could have been viewed by someone watching [her 'Today'] segment as a vulnerability, Savannah Guthrie's pressure point," Miller said.As a result, everyone could benefit from ...