Data Is the New Diamond: Heists in the Digital Age
1 min read
Summary
A new report from Unit 42 has found a common thread between physical and digital heists, noting that criminals use social engineering and reconnaissance to achieve their goals.
In February 2023, five thieves conducted a heist at the Antwerp Diamond Centre in Belgium, which saw them steal more than $100 million worth of jewellery.
The criminals signed a lease for an office at the site while posing as a gem importer from Italy, thus giving them access to a safe deposit box in the building’s underground vault.
The thieves left little forensic evidence behind, and the majority of the loot remains unrecovered.
In comparison, a data extortion theft activity reported by Google in June 2025 saw hackers use voice-based phishing to gain initial access to a victim’s ecosystem before conducting a reconnaissance of the environment and stealing customer data.
The data was then exfiltrated to a location controlled by the hackers.
The report highlights the commonalities between the physical and digital heists, with both seeing criminals take considerable steps to plan their crimes, while also leaving little trace of their activity behind.
