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Topic: Mooncoin taken over by the feds? - page 3. (Read 15016 times)

legendary
Activity: 1190
Merit: 1000
September 29, 2011, 10:56:09 AM
#91
Calling the UC Davis police, while a good way to vent, will have no effect. Nothing that has been discussed in this thread suggests that any criminal enterprise happened through any agency of UC Davis. None of the strikingly competent investigators who have done their homework on this issue have said anything about using school computers, school facilities, or any other element of the school in this effort. The UCD police will ask if the crime happened on campus, or involved campus related computers, and then tell you to call your local police. They might write upis a ticket if he parks illegally on campus, but they sure won't give a damn about your missing mooncoins or anything else that they can't wrap a nightstick around.

One of the IRC IP addresses resolved to an on campus location. Plus, most universities are interested if their students are committing federal crimes since it would result in egg on their face if they gave a degree to a felon. Both the FBI or the USPIS can investigate wire fraud, so a polite note to either of them would also be productive. Filing a local police report would be useful for documenting evidence for a civil claim.

@ElectricMonk: the original sentence (a very meandering one in your defense) was:
If his claims to be college student (although one who spent too much time star gazing and not enough learning to craft a coherent sentence) didn't bear out, I would expect his IP to resolve to Lagos or Moscow

boiled down it yields
If his claims to be college student didn't bear out, I would expect his IP to resolve to Lagos or Moscow

He was trying to say that upisdown resembles the classic Nigerian or Russian scammer archetype. When he says "I would expect", it means that if he had to guess (without foreknowledge of the where the IP address resolves to) he would guess Nigeria or Russia.

newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
September 29, 2011, 10:35:36 AM
#90
@ElectricMonk- I can assure you that I am not upis, or in any way related to the moonie business, other than as an observer on the sidelines who likes to see criminals get taken down when they rip people off.

The FBI has shown interest in cryptocurrency, and I don't think they would ignore such a scam.  You might not be him, but your post still doesn't make sense.  You suggested non-Americans should leave it be because it was an American, and that Americans should talk to their local police instead of the FBI because... it was a Russian? 
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1008
If you want to walk on water, get out of the boat
September 29, 2011, 10:29:48 AM
#89
Remember:

Innocence Proves Nothing
sr. member
Activity: 574
Merit: 250
September 29, 2011, 09:56:24 AM
#88
@ElectricMonk- I can assure you that I am not upis, or in any way related to the moonie business, other than as an observer on the sidelines who likes to see criminals get taken down when they rip people off.

I am in fact, just a minor, minor newcomer to the bitcoin world, with two whole rigs and delusions of growth, fame and fortune. I suggest contacting your local police, in the US, because the FBI experts in Internet crime will not have two seconds to consider this issue. They are busy looking at the billions of dollars that are flowing around the internet in criminal enterprise, and chuckle politely when told about $20,000 losses, and consign the case to the "well that was a stupid place to put your money" pile and flag the complaint to see if there are several other thousand that they might actually get some traction on. My thoughts were on taking action, not blowing rhetorical smoke up people's asses. For those who want to do something, a local complaint is the basic first step. Using the FBI official placebo form is an utter waste of time. Calling the UC Davis police, while a good way to vent, will have no effect. Nothing that has been discussed in this thread suggests that any criminal enterprise happened through any agency of UC Davis. None of the strikingly competent investigators who have done their homework on this issue have said anything about using school computers, school facilities, or any other element of the school in this effort. The UCD police will ask if the crime happened on campus, or involved campus related computers, and then tell you to call your local police. They might write upis a ticket if he parks illegally on campus, but they sure won't give a damn about your missing mooncoins or anything else that they can't wrap a nightstick around.

Thanks for reviewing all of my posts, I do claim to have different personae- although the allegorical lycanthropic link to the moon is a charming thought, it is pure coincidence. I started using that handle after watching the film, Pacte des Loups. You will find me mining as the Tiki God on some pools, so I can also be associated with tossing virgins into volcanoes; you can find all sorts of nasty allegations about the state of my mental health on a variety of ultra liberal forums where I throw stones and post agit-prop under the pseudonym "ronin"; and if you really want a laugh you can find my work with 419eater.com under the name Toussaint Tatsugi.

My IP, when I forget to run through Tor, will resolve to the suburbs of Chicago. Sorry to be the prick to your bubble, but no mr moon here. Thanks for playing.
legendary
Activity: 1078
Merit: 1005
September 29, 2011, 06:09:39 AM
#87
At this point I hope the police come because I haven't committed a crime and it would be easy for me to prove it (considering I have been doing a field internship most of the summer).
I'm interested in knowing if you are mr_moon, not whether you've committed a crime. It's entirely possible mr_moon got hacked or otherwise lost control of the server containing the wallet and is handling the situation badly. If that is the case I'd prefer he just come out and help with fund tracking - wallet addresses, etc from backups he should have. mr_moon said he was traveling when the server originally went down so whether you were on a field internship or not doesn't affect your likelihood of being or knowing mr_moon.
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
September 29, 2011, 05:53:06 AM
#86

They certainly did.  There were even analysts who questioned whether Enron was all smoke and mirrors before it collapsed.  Even some accountants at the firms signing off on Enron's financials raised questions about what was really going on.  The very people - the analysts and the accounting firms - who were supposed to be putting Enron under scrutiny, were feeding at its trough and looking the other way.

By pure chance, The Smartest Guys in the Room was on TV here the other night.  It remains a compelling story, but the fact that the whole sub-prime mortgage collapse thing was able to happen in a post-Enron world convinces me that people really are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.

My point is, no matter how well known the entity is, crimes like that will be committed, and guys like you will find a way to blame the victim.  You could probably look at most fatal shootings and find a part during the victim's day they should have done differently to avoid it.  Sometimes it's just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but if you aren't a victim you can enjoy a sense of intellectual superiority, right?
hero member
Activity: 868
Merit: 1000
September 29, 2011, 05:44:56 AM
#85
If people put the same amount of effort into finding out who they're dealing with before doing business with these ventures as they do into trying to locate that information after the horse has bolted, half of these dramas wouldn't happen in the first place.

I wonder if people said that after Enron.

They certainly did.  There were even analysts who questioned whether Enron was all smoke and mirrors before it collapsed.  Even some accountants at the firms signing off on Enron's financials raised questions about what was really going on.  The very people - the analysts and the accounting firms - who were supposed to be putting Enron under scrutiny, were feeding at its trough and looking the other way.

By pure chance, The Smartest Guys in the Room was on TV here the other night.  It remains a compelling story, but the fact that the whole sub-prime mortgage collapse thing was able to happen in a post-Enron world convinces me that people really are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
September 29, 2011, 05:08:09 AM
#84
If people put the same amount of effort into finding out who they're dealing with before doing business with these ventures as they do into trying to locate that information after the horse has bolted, half of these dramas wouldn't happen in the first place.

I wonder if people said that after Enron.  Some of us did put effort into that before the indecent, but we are dealing with a semi-anonymous currency.  Plus, at one point Moonco.in was the only exchange for Solidcoin, so even if you investigated, there was no shopping around.  Rape victims are often told they shouldn't have dressed a certain way, car thefts could have been avoided by parking elsewhere.  You can look at any crime and twist it so that the victim is to blame.
hero member
Activity: 868
Merit: 1000
September 29, 2011, 05:04:16 AM
#83
If people put the same amount of effort into finding out who they're dealing with before doing business with these ventures as they do into trying to locate that information after the horse has bolted, half of these dramas wouldn't happen in the first place.
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
September 29, 2011, 04:33:46 AM
#82
What an interesting combination of contradictory statements and bad advice!  Something about that last post rubs me the wrong way, so I'm going to break it down.  The post starts out by bashing the scammer to earn trust, then gives bad advice that will not likely lead to prosecution.  The first problem is that he suggests both that the scammer resides outside of the US, then says that people outside the US are SOL.  This is contradictory.

I would expect his IP to resolve to Lagos or Moscow.

Non citizens who have been stolen from by Americans almost never recover a penny.

This makes me think LoupGaroux has unsaid intentions, or at least doesn't know what he's talking about.  Then he recommends that people contact local police instead of the FBI experts in internet crime or his school police who would be better able to assess the situation locally.  This comes across to me as intentionally bad advice and sets off alarm bells.

Upisdown's linguistic skill degraded rapidly before LoupGaroux's post, which pointed out that he has poor language skills.  It seems like someone is trying to distinguish themselves as a different author.  Look at upsidedown's earlier posts, he knows how to speak proper English.  He describes 'paradox' as a 'literary device' here: https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.308325

Upisdown took the same break from bitcointalk.org.  Sept 5/6 - Sept 27/28.  LoupGaraux also began posting on this topic hours after upisdown left.

Finally, LoupGaroux reports having other personas here: https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.507350

...and LoupGaraux means werewolf, which has traditional ties to the moon.  Very clever!

If this is MrMoon, of course he would influence people to report to local police instead of the FBI experts on internet crime.  Even if it's not Mr Moon, this is a federal matter, not a local matter.  Report directly to his school police: [email protected] or to the FBI here: http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx
sr. member
Activity: 574
Merit: 250
September 28, 2011, 10:15:13 PM
#81
Somebody is getting dangerously close to the Godwin Wall here. Everything about this character screams scammer, and I say that with extensive background in identifying, and prosecuting those who use electronic means to fleece others.

Study his posts closely, you will find classic patterns that crop up in just about every online scam, from the protestations of innocence to the overly aggressive defense and turning turtle when the facts start to fly. If his claims to be college student (although one who spent too much time star gazing and not enough learning to craft a coherent sentence) didn't bear out, I would expect his IP to resolve to Lagos or Moscow, where lots of like-minded criminals use free wi-fi, and share connections, and victim leads with each other. They also tend to pimp their scam in a very similar manner, and don't think anybody will read a time stamp.

The ICE confiscation is an obvious fake, real ICE confiscations direct viewers to the Federal Court that ordered the seizure, and for those of you who concern themselves about exposure, log your IP with each hit for correlation with both known associates of the alleged perpetrator, and to find potential victims. And know that the current record of recovering losses to sites that have actually been seized, prosecuted and ordered to pay restitution is running less than half a cent on the dollar in the New York District, which has exponentially more prosecutions in this arena than any other part of the country.

And for our friends outside of the US who hope to recover using American law enforcement? Bon chance, mes amis, you are, as they say, shit outta luck. Non citizens who have been stolen from by Americans almost never recover a penny. And the US authorities always funnel any such potential recovery through the tax authorities in your home country. It's a treaty thing.

Best suggestion? If you have documented losses, and you feel that this evidence is compelling, bring charges. Contact your local police, swear out your complaint, and make damn sure they know you will cooperate as they work with the local authorities in California to investigate. One claim won't make a difference, 10,000 from around the country will. And then bring civil proceedings against those who you believe are responsible. Most jurisdictions will allow a small claims action to be brought pro se, and will allow claims up to $5,000 depending on your local law. Having somebody served several hundred times to appear in court around the country to answer charges, or risk several hundred default judgements that can be turned over to his local police for collection is a delightful way to ruin a thief's day. Realize a judge will know absolutely nothing about your case, but a clean cut appearance, and piles of documentation showing that you, the clean cut citizen, voter and all round nice person, sent your hard earned shekels, simmoleons or scam-coins using the advice provided by this self-proclaimed "expert" who touted the benefits of following his advice. He, the tout in this case, is a conniving snake oil salesman, who doesn't like his mother, claims to be an artist, and living in California, probably has a history of degeneracy and narcotics use. Hizzoner would be doing society a solid by finding against this scoundrel, and although you know your chances are slim, you want to see justice done to save little old ladies, like your own beloved mother, from the clutches of this heathen bastard.

Presto, default judgement. Send the paperwork to a process server in his jurisdiction, wait for the three attempts to get him served and satisfy his debt, and you can have the sheriff seize assets, like his bank accounts, his furniture, and his mining rig. Maybe even a garnishment against the proceeds of his summer internship?  Thinks he wants the school to find out what he REALLY spent his summer doing?

Use the system to your benefit- its what you pay for.
sr. member
Activity: 252
Merit: 251
September 28, 2011, 09:51:11 PM
#80
Well bitcoin just lost another merchant, who has a great sells reputation. And I'm not going to take the time to try to set you straight (already tried that), I'm going to stop accepting bitcoins and not look back.

Great sells reputation? Yet someone on bitcoin otc says you scammed them? Or is that just another magical coincidence of someone trying to frame you using your known aliases?

http://bitcoin-otc.com/viewratingdetail.php?nick=upisdown&sign=ANY&type=RECV

Also my school hasn't contacted me

They will, you've defrauded over $20000 USD from people around the world. That's a big step from your first fraud you've committed, what's next for you? There's enough evidence here to start a proper investigation, and it will start with your friends and family who may have also been in on this scam with you. You shut down your google+ and facebook accounts to hide but you've made too many mistakes.

Here is a cached version of your google+ account you deleted, still linked on Robbie Miller's page
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:cEl6XaqeaYkJ:labs.mirror.me/googleplus/106162443326279040431+%22alex+dunn%22+christian+verdun+google%2B&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au&client=firefox-a
legendary
Activity: 1190
Merit: 1000
September 28, 2011, 09:26:51 PM
#79
I doubt the police will get to you before one of the hardcore crazies from these boards does.

Carl Schroeder, I hope that wasn't a threat of violence (I'd watch what I say because you guys are just as easily to lookup).


I haven't defrauded anyone out of any money or services, so I can't imagine why anyone would wish me harm.  Also, I have been using this handle continuously since Doom II was released. It is the opposite of an anonymous one.  I have neither sought nor needed any sort of anonymity to protect myself as a member of the internet community. Finally, I have never executed a single line of code from Solidcoin, nor did I ever use your exchange, so I was never harmed by any of your activities.

I find it mildly amusing that you bothered to look me up on google, but not read my post history on these boards.  Roll Eyes

At this point I hope the police come because I haven't committed a crime and it would be easy for me to prove it (considering I have been doing a field internship most of the summer).

But if any of the crazies from the board want to continue harass me (continuing to believe I'm guilty without any evidence), I guarantee I will go to the police.

That was my point. Given the sort of people who were devout supporters of Solidcoin, and the fact that they were defrauded out of thousands of dollars, you should probably call the police and explain the situation to them. Rapidly.
member
Activity: 322
Merit: 10
September 28, 2011, 07:53:07 PM
#78
I doubt the police will get to you before one of the hardcore crazies from these boards does.

Carl Schroeder, please stop with the threats of violence. If you really think I'm involved bring your evidence to the police and let the justice system decide. They will do what everyone here failed to do and talk to my professor I did field research with and confirm I have no involvement.

At this point I hope the police come because I haven't committed a crime, beyond playing poker with everyone here for Bitcoin.
legendary
Activity: 1190
Merit: 1000
September 28, 2011, 07:30:41 PM
#77

Simply put, you guys can all go fuck yourselves with the way you have been treating me - the fact that you have no real proof I did anything and yet you treat me as if I'm already guilty (and then make the claim I have to prove my innocence). If you have anything to say, bring it to the police, because I don't give a shit anymore, I am done.

Also my school hasn't contacted me, guess they don't give a shit about your flimsy allegations either. Feel free to keep wasting their time though, I am sure your letters will not be ignored.


I doubt the police will get to you before one of the hardcore crazies from these boards does.
member
Activity: 322
Merit: 10
September 28, 2011, 06:41:10 PM
#76


If this were me that was being accused of anything, I would be screaming from the tallest building that I'm not guilty. I would contact everyone I know, personally, to give them complete details of way what is being said of me is false. I would not take the time to address each point with vague reasons. The way I read it is that something is being hidden. Please prove us wrong, CV.

Bruno

I didn't realize that's way justice works: guilty until proven innocent. This poorly done investigation and vigilante justice is just resulting in people harassing me and my family and sending us threats of violence despite having no involvement beyond being a user like you. It isn't fair to make me the scapegoat based on flimsy evidence and it is not the appropriate way to handle the situation to resort to vigilantism.

legendary
Activity: 1918
Merit: 1570
Bitcoin: An Idea Worth Spending
September 28, 2011, 02:54:11 PM
#75
Quote
You guys are really stretching to make me the martyr here.

I think you meant fall guy.

If this were me that was being accused of anything, I would be screaming from the tallest building that I'm not guilty. I would contact everyone I know, personally, to give them complete details of way what is being said of me is false. I would not take the time to address each point with vague reasons. The way I read it is that something is being hidden. Please prove us wrong, CV.

Bruno

newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
September 28, 2011, 01:45:49 PM
#74

There were many more then 2 people posting about mooncoin. But I guess its better if you ignore them right?


There's a difference between "posting" and "actively promoting".  You actively promoted the obscure cryptocurrency exchange of a scam artist who shares your ip address.  You might just be terribly unlucky, but I'm sure you can see that it looks bad.

Either way, you're right that the authorities should be contacted.  This is the FBI's website for reporting internet crime.  I'd encourage everyone who lost currency on Moonco.in to use it.  The longer we wait the less likely we'll be to recover lost funds and catch the scammer.  Don't assume everyone else will report it.

http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx
member
Activity: 322
Merit: 10
September 28, 2011, 01:08:45 PM
#73
Nobody is stretching anything.  The group of people who used Mooncoin and Solidcoin was very small.  The group of people who actively participated in promoting mooncoin like you did, included only 2 people.  Two people who often posted within minutes of each other.  In the same style.  From the same ip.  It's not a stretch at all.  Actually, it's a stretch to believe otherwise.

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.388004

There were many more then two people posting about Mooncoin, I found out about it through reddit and was encouraging others to use it so I would have people to play poker with. I used Mooncoin before Solidcoin existed. You are selectively ignoring all the other posts to satisfy your confirmation bias.

I also promoted for Betcoin when I found out that it was the original, and several other open source Bitcoin projects. I did not invent those either.
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
September 28, 2011, 01:00:42 PM
#72
You guys are really stretching to make me the martyr here. 

Nobody is stretching anything.  The group of people who used Mooncoin and Solidcoin was very small.  The group of people who actively participated in promoting mooncoin like you did, included only 2 people.  Two people who often posted within minutes of each other.  In the same style.  From the same ip.  It's not a stretch at all.  Actually, it's a stretch to believe otherwise.

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.388004
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