Beware of LocalBitcoins.com | Bitcointalksearch.org

BurtW

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Quote from: chanlance on September 30, 2015, 08:19:25 AM

DO YOU PEOPLE STILL FEEL THE SAME ABOUT LOCAL BITCOINS AND ITS SCAMMERS......THOUGHT THEY HAVE STEEPED UP THEIR GAME

I never got ripped of by people just buying or selling through localbitcoins. Sure, some people tried to scam me on localbitcoins. That is expected. Exactly the same thing as on Craig's list. There is always some lazy ass who thinks it is easier to try to take what is not theirs.

However, the real problem with localbitcoins in the United States under the current martial law is the GOVERNMENT. They are the real lazy ass scammers with guns, laws and prison that you need to watch out for.

People tried some interesting ways to scam me but got zero.

Government scammed me out of over $80,000 and on top of that I ended up paying over $200,000 in legal fees and other expenses.

If you live in the Boulder area stop by for great music, good food, good beer and a short talk by yours truly concerning my case between the two bands:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4wjj00pq83nn33d/Oct%2011%20Fundraiser%20and%20Celebration.pdf?dl=0

For more information about my case:

www.burtw.com
www.jmwagner.com

Homeland Security agents and their confidential informants, cooperating witnesses and local law enforcement minions are welcome to join us but for them there will be a very large cover charge.

chanlance

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DO YOU PEOPLE STILL FEEL THE SAME ABOUT LOCAL BITCOINS AND ITS SCAMMERS......THOUGHT THEY HAVE STEEPED UP THEIR GAME

BurtW

legendary

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Here are the 186 ($42,222.00 as of this posting) Bitcoins taken from me by Homeland Security:

https://blockchain.info/address/1Eu38i1DkRAPAJhSqbseVroJDpMRfJbAx3

I am sure you guys can come up with some creative, interesting, fun ideas to do with this information.

BurtW

legendary

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Quote from: tonycamp on September 11, 2015, 11:02:31 AM

well if you put things that way it can be true the local bit its a site not fully worth but in my figures i got trust there in both sides soo i do keep up a bit my business there

If you are not in the United States of Martial Law ("Patriot" act) then localbitcoins.com is a safe, easy and convenient way to trade Bitcoins.

tonycamp

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well if you put things that way it can be true the local bit its a site not fully worth but in my figures i got trust there in both sides soo i do keep up a bit my business there

BurtW

legendary

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Quote from: ?? on ??

Yup, this is exactly what I have in mind everytime I hang up on someone when they mention ransomware. It's a shame they destroyed coin.mx like that, it was my favorite bitcoin exchange in the world, and they were very legitimate. The government ruined a legitimate bitcoin exchange for a single ransomware call, without that they had no case.

How about all the drugs police have bought and sold? All the guns they have given to Al-Qaeda and now ISIS? There is an extreme double standard. I think they go with the ransomware sting because they know it pulls heart strings and they are more likely to succeed.

If you have enough experience selling Bitcoin it is fairly easy to detect who is a real customer and who isn't, so many red flags the past couple of days it was sickening. I am disgusted our country is paying all these people to go after bitcoin dealers.

According to the charges the main issue was that they did not get a license. This is the same thing I was charged with. I argued that I was not running a business, they claimed I was, and after about $300,000 cost to me we basically agreed to disagree on that point. However, I think that coin.mx would have a very difficult time arguing that they were not a business - because they obviously were. Also they have the owner evidently stating that yes, he was totally aware of the fact that he was required to have a license yet he chose not to get one. The whole ransomware thing appears to be just one of the charges "added on" to give them more to talk about and charge him with. This is just like in my case. They seem to think that just the 1960 charge (operating a MTB without a license, 5 years, $250,000) is not enough or not sexy enough so they added on a unfounded, untrue accusations on top of the basic charge in order to "flush out" the document.

butdabass

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really good awarness and good analytical for a super busy website. may be you have safe some people for make mistake on LocalBitcoins.com

Quickseller

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Quote from: BurtW on September 09, 2015, 11:15:47 PM

My wife has flooded every press outlet she can find with our story to no avail. Not one single story yet.

What about the one regarding CAMP.BX being charged with selling bitcoin to people paying for ransomware while various police departments have themselves paid for such ransom? IMO, that is a new level of ridiculous.

Just because it isn't your story that you are getting out there to elicit change doesn't make the change you are looking for any less good.

The public details in your case were very scarce, which caused a lot of speculation and conjecture to be done by people on the forums. Most news outlets are going to want to be able to independently verify facts they are presenting. There appear to be more relevant details available in the CAMP.BX case

BurtW

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All paid signature campaigns should be banned.

My wife has flooded every press outlet she can find with our story to no avail. Not one single story yet.

Quickseller

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Quote from: BurtW on September 09, 2015, 10:48:15 PM

OMG that is the most fucked up thing I have seen lately and I have seen a lot of fucked up things:

http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/632166/download

See paragraph 9.

Basically if you sell Bitcoins to help someone get their data back they can charge you with "knowingly enabling the criminals responsible for the attacks to receive the proceeds of their crimes"

AGAIN I ASK did you go put all the cops that paid the ransom for their data in jail? THEY ALSO PAID THE CRIMINALS!!! Every single cop, judge, agent who has ever paid off the criminals running the ransomware should be immediately arrested. Hop to it Aaron.

So helping people get their data back from a fucking criminal is against the law.

To all the Homeland Security agents reading this: how do you sleep at night?

I think you are preaching to the choir by posting here. I would find it very hard to believe that anyone here can seriously disagree with you on this.

I would suggest sending a letter to the editor of the Washington Post and/or the Wallet Street Journal, as either of these publications publishing such hypocrisy will more likely elicit change. I will be sure to keep an eye open for such editorials and if I don't see one in the next week or so, I will try to put writing one myself on my to-do list. I'll send you a copy if I am able to write one.

BurtW

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OMG that is the most fucked up thing I have seen lately and I have seen a lot of fucked up things:

http://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/632166/download

See paragraph 9.

Basically if you sell Bitcoins to help someone get their data back they can charge you with "knowingly enabling the criminals responsible for the attacks to receive the proceeds of their crimes"

AGAIN I ASK did you go put all the cops that paid the ransom for their data in jail? THEY ALSO PAID THE CRIMINALS!!! Every single cop, judge, agent who has ever paid off the criminals running the ransomware should be immediately arrested. Hop to it Aaron.

So helping people get their data back from a fucking criminal is against the law.

To all the Homeland Security agents reading this: how do you sleep at night?

BurtW

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Was this police department charged with buying Bitcoins in order to get their files unlocked?

https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/04/06/tewksbury-police-pay-bitcoin-ransom-hackers/PkcE1GBTOfU52p31F9FM5L/story.html

BurtW

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I would be interested in how helping someone get their data back from a ransomware scam is criminal. The criminal is the one doing the ransomware, right?

How did they turn selling Bitcoins to someone so they can get their data unlocked into a criminal offense?

I don't doubt they did, just wondering what legal gymnastics it took.

Yes, the feds do operate undercover purchases and sales of Bitcoins as they see fit. I was the victim of these "sting" operations and it cost me, my family, and my finances dearly.

BurtW

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Quote from: ?? on ??

Quote from: BitBits on February 09, 2014, 06:44:14 PM

On top of all this, in view of most recent arrests in Florida, any seller on localbitcoins (especially high volume one) can potentially be arrested for a mere fact of trading. States define such activity as money transmitting, which in turn requires proper state license. The arrest mentioned above were made by undercover law enforcement agents posing as Bitcoin buyers. So, the next time you arrange for a meeting to sell bitcoins, you could be meeting with the police officer.

I have gotten numerous calls for ransomware Bitcoins this week, and at this point I am 100% sure they are all cops. Be very careful guys, if anyone calls you asking for Bitcoins and they mention ransomware tell them you can't do business and hang up. That's what I've been doing, but I still think they are using this against me somehow since I'm supposed to file suspicious activity reports too. In any case no new customers from LBC for awhile, it's too creepy. It really sucks how they are trying to contrive illegal activity, I never ever get mentions of illegal activity from customers but the undercover cops come along and try to force it upon you, since they barely have a case without it.

I think this is fallout from the coin.mx bust... the only illegal activity they held against coin.mx was a customer mentioned ransomware. Now they are going after coin.mx's customers. Combined with the New York Bitlicense team patrolling nationwide it's a shit storm.

What happens if they mention ransomware a second after you send bitcoins? You're fucked. Literally if you have any feeling it's an undercover don't show up to the deal.

There are two ways you can get a ransomware request:

1) "Hey, my computer is locked up and it is asking for Bitcoins. Can you sell me a small number of Bitcoins to send to the bastards so I can get my data back?"

2) "I have a bunch of Bitcoins I need to convert to cash, BTW I got them from [ransomware/drugs/selling stolen goods/etc.]"

It seems to me the first case is not a problem. In fact you are helping someone who is in big trouble and the sale would be small, right?

Are they really saying case 2)?

BTW I will be speaking tomorrow in Boulder:

http://www.burtw.com/speaking-schedule--new-.html

Quickseller

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Quote from: BurtW on July 16, 2015, 09:58:44 AM

Selling bitcoins on localbitcoins cost me $284,373.00 in legal fees and other expenses. We had to use our retirement savings and take out a second mortgage on the house - which we will be paying off for years to come. I take back everything nice I ever said about localbitcoins.

I am interested in this statement. Previously, your primary criticism was regarding civil forfeiture and the incentives this gives law enforcement to go after the innocent.

Was the government's "suspicions" somehow based off of something that happened on LBC? Did LBC actively facilitate in helping law enforcement gather "evidence" "against' you?

I realize this is most likely ongoing litigation (so you can get the money they stole, er seized from you, however any response, no matter how vague would be appreciated.

BurtW

legendary

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Merit: 1137

All paid signature campaigns should be banned.

Selling bitcoins on localbitcoins cost me $284,373.00 in legal fees and other expenses. We had to use our retirement savings and take out a second mortgage on the house - which we will be paying off for years to come. I take back everything nice I ever said about localbitcoins.

Quote

STATEMENT

Federal Criminal Case Against Burt Wagner Dismissed

at the Request of the Department of Justice

July13, 2015

I am very excited to announce that the criminal case against my client Burt Wagner was dismissed today. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado filed a motion earlier today requesting that the U.S. District Court Judge handling the case, the Honorable William J. Martinez, dismiss the case against Mr. Wagner. Judge Martinez subsequently issued an order dismissing it.

On October 7, 2014, Mr. Wagner was charged in a single-count indictment with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1960 (operation of unlicensed money transmitting business) in connection with his purchases and sales of bitcoins. Mr. Wagner entered a plea of not guilty. Although Mr. Wagner and I both wish he had never been charged, we appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office ultimately doing the right thing and dismissing the criminal case against him.

With this dismissal, Mr. Wagner can begin the process of resuming his regular life. It has been a true privilege to represent Mr. Wagner. I could not be happier for him and his family.

Contact:

Brian Klein
Baker Marquart LLP
10990 Wilshire Boulevard, 4th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90024
Phone: (424) 652-7814
Email: [email protected]

BurtW

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Quote from: bluudz on March 30, 2015, 12:08:20 PM

I have done plenty of trades on LBC without any problem.

So had I.

bluudz

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Why so serious?

I have done plenty of trades on LBC without any problem.

BurtW

legendary

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All paid signature campaigns should be banned.

Quote from: ?? on ??

oh yes,more sites is very untrust.

What are you trying to say?

BurtW

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All paid signature campaigns should be banned.

Quote from: cointell on March 28, 2015, 12:01:29 AM

I wish you luck with this, but there is no way you're getting anywhere close to $200K without getting shut down by paypal.

Anyone want to place bets on how long that paypal account survives?

This might make for an interesting Sixth Amendment case.

In addition to PayPal we also accept Bitcoins at the donation site: www.burtw.com

Yes, the sixth amendment need to be amended to read "If they can afford it."

Topic: Beware of LocalBitcoins.com (Read 14946 times)