Man Robbed at Gunpoint for $1,100 Worth of Bitcoins in Brooklyn

richardsNY

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Quote from: Netnox on June 18, 2017, 01:12:27 PM

Seems like a lot of conmen and criminals are getting attracted to Bitcoin, probably as a result of the rising exchange rates. The last time I heard about similar incidents was way back in 2014 January, when the prices were around $900 per coin (If I am not wrong, that incident also occurred in the state of New York, although I am not sure about the exact location).

Criminals are likely being attracted due to the "anonymous" nature of Bitcoin. If these criminals are stupid enough to directly send these coins to an exchange they are fully verified at, it would actually turn out to be an effective way of finding out who these idiots are. I remember the same has happened with a few dealers selling drugs through the dark net, where they took Bitcoin's "anonymity" way too serious -- they ended up converting the coins to fiat through the exchange they were verified at, where after that they sent the money to their bank accounts. Cheesy

Wind_FURY

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It is always good to meet somewhere secure when making a Bitcoin transaction in person. Ironically a bank is the best place to meet up. There are CCTV cameras and security people are always around.

Tyrantt

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Need some spare btc for a new PC

Quote from: Deathwing on June 16, 2017, 08:49:05 PM

Quote from: FiendCoin on June 16, 2017, 08:46:49 PM

Some people are beyond stupid. When dealing with craigslist, ALWAYS deal at a police station fucking DUH!

If you're going to sell bitcoins, at least do so in a crowed area with surveillance, like a coffee shop or something, damn.

There are actually spots around the USA with the sign "Safe Craigslist Trade Area" with 24/7 Audio/Video Surveillance. It all comes down to the person's knowledge, I guess. That's the right word.

Yeah, I've sen a few of those.

That's why I was, kind of , always afraid of doing transactions like that in public/ in person, you can never know what's that person maybe planing on doing, like following you or hold at gun point like i this case.

hatshepsut93

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Quote from: Slark on June 17, 2017, 03:08:10 PM

New technologies will create new ways to rob, steal and exploit people. Bitcoin is nothing more that digital money.
Gunpoint bitcoin robbery still shocks people because it is 'bitcoin' that has been stolen, no one would bat an eye when it was simply $2k paper money robbery.
Just remember folks, if you carry around a smartphone with a large amount of BTC, you can be targeted in a similar way.

Well there was nothing innovative in this robbery, it's not like they picked some random person and told him to take his smartphone and send them Bitcoins, they setup a meeting for the sake of exchanging Bitcoins and the victim must have chose the place pretty poorly. I think we are still very far from days when robbers will be assuming that their targets have cryptocurrency on their devices, and even if they would, it's very inconvenient for them, since they can't quickly check it. They might start stealing mobile devices and try to crack wallets, but if someone has backups, they can move funds faster than thieves can crack stolen device.

Netnox

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Seems like a lot of conmen and criminals are getting attracted to Bitcoin, probably as a result of the rising exchange rates. The last time I heard about similar incidents was way back in 2014 January, when the prices were around $900 per coin (If I am not wrong, that incident also occurred in the state of New York, although I am not sure about the exact location).

BillyBobZorton

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Quote from: darkangel11 on June 17, 2017, 03:45:19 PM

The only thing this proves is the value of bitcoin. The more valuable it becomes the more people will be ready to take the risk and rob, steal, scam, in order to get some.
Also, I'm pretty sure this guy will try again. $1000 is not enough to satisfy your needs, he'll party for a while and come looking for another victim.
There's over 150,000 armed robberies in the USA each year. Nothing to dwell upon here.

Good point. It proves that people are willing to risk jail time for bitcoin. It seems it is increasingly dangerous to sell some BTC for cash. When I cash out (I hope years from now, and I hope it is worth a lot more than what I have now because i think it's not that much to bother) I will do it properly and pay any taxes, I want to be able to sleep at night so im not doing anything illegal. Also, cash will probably disappear in 10 year or so so it will not even an option.

deadsilent

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Well, bitcoin is very valuable right now. What would criminals do? Ofcourse they will steal it. Because every valuable things could attract them. $1100 worth of bitcoin is very small tho. This criminal is a small time criminal i guess. I rather steal a phone than steal small amount of bitcoin.

Theb

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Well anything that has of value will always attract criminals to take advantage of them. Unfortunately Bitcoin has attracted a lot of them in because of its features like privacy and security leaving no trace but the wallet address. But don't get me wrong, Bitcoin as a currency is not bad at all the only thing making it look bad are the persons transacting with it.

Mia Wallace

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Meeting people online is always a risky proposal ,i would never do so and it is really hard to trust anyone even when you are dealing with them in the public.These are all good lessons to know so that no one would do these sort of things and get into trouble and if i am in that situation i would give them the coins they ask without any struggle as i do not like to risk my life for a few dollars.

pixie85

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Quote from: Wendigo on June 17, 2017, 03:53:20 PM

Soon thieves will prefer pickpocketing your smart phones rather than taking your wallets because you might have more virtual than real cash with you Grin

I also believe this is going to happen and not only because of bitcoin wallets. Wallets are usually encrypted and people don't carry huge money in their mobile phones.
What makes the thieves target phones are their ridiculous prices. A new model can cost over $1000. That's more than a good PC or a bicycle, but much easier to steal.

joshy23

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Quote from: ASHLIUSZ on June 18, 2017, 03:06:24 AM

This incident shows that bitcoin popularity has been keep on increasing. Now thieves has known about it and trying to make use of it, because there won't be any trace of the transaction. Looking at the incident I feel the value is quite low compared to the scammers who doesn't even use guns, but transfer very huge volume of bitcoin cheating people.

Of course criminals will target bitcoin holders now because the price is really growing. There is no difference from buying drugs with bitcoin or some terrorist organization using bitcoin to transfer funds. Its all criminally and illegal ways. I feel sorry for the person involved, it is a hard lessons as well. Next time trade in a crowded places so that you will feel safe.

Qartada

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Quote from: Wendigo on June 17, 2017, 03:53:20 PM

Soon thieves will prefer pickpocketing your smart phones rather than taking your wallets because you might have more virtual than real cash with you Grin

This is why we have hidden passphrases and additional wallets.

The lessons are:

1. Trade in a public place where many people can see you and there is surveillance.
2. Only transfer as much to your phone's wallet as you need for that specific trade.
3. Start using hidden passphrases and other systems to avoid showing the robber more than you need to.

ASHLIUSZ

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This incident shows that bitcoin popularity has been keep on increasing. Now thieves has known about it and trying to make use of it, because there won't be any trace of the transaction. Looking at the incident I feel the value is quite low compared to the scammers who doesn't even use guns, but transfer very huge volume of bitcoin cheating people.

scout5

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I feel very sorry for him. That's a good amount of BTC there.

But how did he get robbed so easily? did they choose like a dark alley at like 3am or something?

mk4

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📟 t3rminal.xyz

Quote from: White sugar on June 16, 2017, 08:31:33 PM

While digital currencies are slowly making themselves known to the world starting with Bitcoin followed by Ethereum, carrying digital currencies with you pose the same threat as having traditional fiat. Such is the case of a 28-year-old New Yorker who fell victim to a Bitcoin theft.

According to a report, the victim was to meet with a Bitcoin seller whom he contacted through Craigslist in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Upon meeting the “seller”, a gun was pointed at him and the “seller” demanded $1,100 worth of Bitcoin to be transferred to his Bitcoin wallet.

The case is still under investigation as there wasn’t any CCTV footage of the crime.

Very unfortunate for the guy. Knowing that there will be a good number of bitcoin to be transacted, he should have probably brought some friends maybe? for extra security; or maybe choose a public location (near banks, or anywhere with security). Like hell, that's almost half a bitcoin. huge amount.

People should keep their bitcoin like how they keep their FIAT. If you don't need to bring out that big of an amount, then don't; just like how we leave our bigger sums of money at home or at the bank.

Unfortunately we have nothing to stop bitcoin physical theft. Thieves have been around forever, and they ain't going anywhere. People just need to take care of their assets carefully.

digaran

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🖤😏

Another scenario could be the bankers/governments and their hitmen trying to scare people from dealing face to face to reduce the tax evasion as much as possible, because you know when people read these kind of trades could become dangerous and guns could be involved like drug dealers and stuff like that we see in movies. lol twice. I'd recommend not to pay attention to these propaganda stunts and psychological games and do all the trades like this and make sure to use a mixer as always and avoid paying taxes as much as possible, I believe governments and their people are too fat by now and there are already a lot of guns and weapons, tanks and bombs all made by your taxes money.

iamTom123

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Well, this is quite expected as the value of Bitcoin is now rising greatly there would be people online who can be planning to victimized us. The point here is that meeting someone somewhere can be risky it does not matter if you have Bitcoin or just cash. Now, if there is a need to someone for the first time you must do it in a public place like a crowded restaurant so the other side can think twice before pointing any gun at you. Better yet, avoid selling your Bitcoin offline.

Ging

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Quote from: digaran on June 17, 2017, 02:24:34 PM

I wish there was an app wallet that after entering with a stress password any transactions sent afterwards could be somehow flagged then miners would never confirm such transactions, lol the thief wont wait for more than a few minutes to receive confirmation then you could blame the Bitcoin network.
In my country if we insert our credit card pin number in reverse it will notify the police of robbery in progress with the exact location.

Yes me too Wink

henkcryptotank

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Sad for this guy but it was not exactly a smart move!

Greets Hank

rytyr

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Quote from: vh on June 17, 2017, 03:35:14 PM

Quote from: Deathwing on June 16, 2017, 08:49:05 PM

Quote from: FiendCoin on June 16, 2017, 08:46:49 PM

Some people are beyond stupid. When dealing with craigslist, ALWAYS deal at a police station fucking DUH!

If you're going to sell bitcoins, at least do so in a crowed area with surveillance, like a coffee shop or something, damn.

There are actually spots around the USA with the sign "Safe Craigslist Trade Area" with 24/7 Audio/Video Surveillance. It all comes down to the person's knowledge, I guess. That's the right word.

Have yet to spot one of these signs, but surveillance cameras are a great start.

Seems some police stations offer/recommend this as as well:
http://www.safetradestations.com

That is exactly what I was referring to in my response to this post.
There are designated places now monitored by the police when doing these "online sales" of your items.
It is a closed area usually within the police station or an office at the side of the station where there are cctv cameras located so everything is caught on tape and you are secure in knowing you have this so called "backup" if any funny business goes a rye.
The police are right there and will go in hard if they have a gun or a knife trying to rob you.
Those offenders will be arrested right then and there while your possession you are trying to obtain or sell are kept safe on your person.

Topic: Man Robbed at Gunpoint for $1,100 Worth of Bitcoins in Brooklyn (Read 2051 times)