Author

Topic: 2 suspected Bitcoin counterfeiters are arrested in Germany (Read 1146 times)

newbie
Activity: 50
Merit: 0
It seems they were using software in order to steal real bitcoins. Counterfeit bitcoins is a kind of bad comparison from the author with real currencies problems.
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 250
this is not really journalism if they are not spending the time to vet their stories to get the correct information out to the public. these are just lazy people who want to make a quick buck by posting any story.
hero member
Activity: 658
Merit: 500
Buy and sell bitcoins,
wtf la times.... how do you not know the difference between counterfeit and hack?
newbie
Activity: 9
Merit: 0
This article seems to be the result of poor journalism.  How is it that those whose chosen role in life is to provide information to the public don't do the proper research and misrepresent what is really going.  Yes, the writer probably used a poor translation of an article from Germany, but hey, it's the LA TIMES, if you can't get it right, you shouldn't print it... the writer should have done a little research before printing a headline that suggested that bitcoins were being counterfeited.  Even if it was true, the writer then mentions that bitcoins are 'unregulated' virtual currency in the content of the article... now wait a sec, how does one counterfeit and get arrested for something that is unregulated... that sounds like regulation to me!  Even if this guy had his facts right, which he doesn't, his article simply doesn't make sense and shouldn't have been posted... doesn't anyone at the LA TIMES oversee what literature they allow to be posted with their name on it?

I just think 'journalists' have a responsibility to at least type something into google to check their facts before spreading information.  My thoughts upon reading this and all the other recent articles that contain 'facts' about bitcoin that are wrong, is how does this effect the average person or noob to bitcoin?  How many people might think 'oh, bitcoins can be counterfeited, better not get into that' and other such silly notions that are derived from bad news and media practices (like not fact checking...)
full member
Activity: 196
Merit: 100
With this translation its impossible to understand
legendary
Activity: 2646
Merit: 1137
All paid signature campaigns should be banned.
Quote
German police have arrested two people suspected of illegally generating Bitcoins worth nearly $1 million.

But they used electricity from victims worth how many million dollars...

I read once that it takes about $600,000 in stolen electricity to produce $2000 in BTC, that was a while ago so maybe $10,000 in BTC now.
sr. member
Activity: 265
Merit: 250
Quote
German police have arrested two people suspected of illegally generating Bitcoins worth nearly $1 million.

But they used electricity from victims worth how many million dollars...
legendary
Activity: 2646
Merit: 1137
All paid signature campaigns should be banned.
sr. member
Activity: 462
Merit: 250
Yeah not buying this.
global moderator
Activity: 4018
Merit: 2728
Join the world-leading crypto sportsbook NOW!
I guess something got lost in translation. You could "counterfeit" paperwallets I suppose, or more specifically commit fraud/deception with them.
legendary
Activity: 1232
Merit: 1001
Bad translation. Actually those guys used trojans to create a Botnet and mine Bitcoins.

http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/netzpolitik/bka-und-gsg-9-nehmen-mutmassliche-bitcoin-betrueger-fest-a-937236.html
newbie
Activity: 28
Merit: 0
lol this is funny
legendary
Activity: 2646
Merit: 1137
All paid signature campaigns should be banned.
They have:

Quote
2 suspected Bitcoin counterfeiters are arrested in Germany

And

Quote
German police have arrested two people suspected of illegally generating Bitcoins worth nearly $1 million.

Both are stupid.
legendary
Activity: 1099
Merit: 1000
you cannot "counterfeit" bitcoins ... I smell BS ...
newbie
Activity: 26
Merit: 0
This is a very poorly written article.  They most likely got caught stealing bitcoins by hacking, malware etc...
full member
Activity: 121
Merit: 100
How is it possible to "counterfeit" Bitcoin? "Illegally generating"? Hmm.

Quote
German police have arrested two people suspected of illegally generating Bitcoins worth nearly $1 million.

...

Prosecutors in the German town of Kempten said they are investigating whether people used software to create digital Bitcoins worth 700,000 euros, about $950,000, Bloomberg News reported.
Wth?
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-bitcoin-counterfeit-germany-arrest-20131204,0,7896369.story
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