I most likely have been scammed by initforthemoney. He was and still is offering Asicminer Blades for a low price.
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/delete-262699https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/delete-264149https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/delete-264554Below is a copy of all PMs(Sorry for the lousy formatting, his replies are in italic):
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 06:15:32 AM »
I'll buy one if you still have one.
Cheers, Ben
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 29, 2013, 06:19:57 AM »
Okay, please send payment total to: 1k7U5LRT1r1Cvdpyffb7D7sWwo58HsUr9 and send me a PM with blade quantity & shipping address along with transaction ID. Price is 16 BTC per blade, thanks.
-Mat---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 06:28:24 AM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 06:19:57 AM
Okay, please send payment total to: 1k7U5LRT1r1Cvdpyffb7D7sWwo58HsUr9 and send me a PM with blade quantity & shipping address along with transaction ID. Price is 16 BTC per blade, thanks.
-MatHi Mat,
Thanks, I will pay 15BTC now and another 1.8BTC within 10 minutes (waiting for enough confirmations).
Shipping address is:
XXX
phone: NNN
Cheers
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 29, 2013, 06:29:16 AM »
I have reserved 1 blade for you just let me know when you send the payment with the information for me to confirm it,thanks.
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« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 06:29:21 AM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 06:19:57 AM
Okay, please send payment total to: 1k7U5LRT1r1Cvdpyffb7D7sWwo58HsUr9 and send me a PM with blade quantity & shipping address along with transaction ID. Price is 16 BTC per blade, thanks.
-MatSmall correction, shipment is 0.9BTC so I will pay another 1.9BTC in a minute.
Cheers, Ben
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« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 06:31:00 AM »
Hi Mat,
First payment:
https://blockchain.info/tx/e78ae6140218413023d94757066e64b4f963dbaf815c21e18b562e3435fa58b1remaining 1.9BTC in a minute.
Cheers, Ben
---
« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 29, 2013, 06:35:52 AM »
Perfect, I can see the 15 BTC being confirmed now. Will update in the morning and confirm the 1.9 remaining as it is late here now, thanks for the prompt payment Ben.
-Mat---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 06:36:27 AM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 06:35:52 AM
Perfect, I can see the 15 BTC being confirmed now. Will update in the morning and confirm the 1.9 remaining as it is late here now, thanks for the prompt payment Ben.
-MatThank you too and have a good night sleep!
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« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 07:27:25 AM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 06:35:52 AM
Perfect, I can see the 15 BTC being confirmed now. Will update in the morning and confirm the 1.9 remaining as it is late here now, thanks for the prompt payment Ben.
-MatThe remaining 1.9BTC has been paid:
https://blockchain.info/tx/2acd2942ac71fdbd914f9f1eae0644c3d5848f8411f062764d3451b9d0ad796bHope to receive the shipment tracking number in a day or two.
Cheers, Ben
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« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 02:00:21 PM »
Hi Mat,
Can you confirm receiving 16.9BTC and the shipment address for the blade ?
When will you be able to ship it and supply me with a tracking number ?
Cheers, Ben
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« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 05:21:33 PM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 06:35:52 AM
Perfect, I can see the 15 BTC being confirmed now. Will update in the morning and confirm the 1.9 remaining as it is late here now, thanks for the prompt payment Ben.
-MatHi Mat,
You're rather silent, everything OK ?
Cheers, Ben
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 29, 2013, 05:23:40 PM »
Yes everything's fine I was running rather late to work so I didn't get chance to mail it yet very sorry (my sisters cat had to be put down last night I was up very late). I will pack it up tonight and either ship it today or tomorrow, sorry about that. Will update you asap.---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 05:26:31 PM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 05:23:40 PM
Yes everything's fine I was running rather late to work so I didn't get chance to mail it yet very sorry (my sisters cat had to be put down last night I was up very late). I will pack it up tonight and either ship it today or tomorrow, sorry about that. Will update you asap.Ok thanks for your reply,
Cheers, Ben
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 29, 2013, 10:24:27 PM »
About to go to the post office. You didn't want to buy the 2nd board by any chance? I could make a deal for you since you already bought 1, let me know and we'll go from there thanks!---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 10:27:48 PM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 10:24:27 PM
About to go to the post office. You didn't want to buy the 2nd board by any chance? I could make a deal for you since you already bought 1, let me know and we'll go from there thanks!I might be interested, if you can send me a pic with both the board and this message on your monitor to my email address: aaa@bbb
At the moment I can offer you 11BTC for the 2nd board.
It's over bedtime here, but I'll be online another 15 minutes.
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 29, 2013, 10:35:54 PM »
Well I got both packed up i'm selling the other board for 12 BTC I can do that price for you since we already have a transaction in place. I have to say this was a smooth transaction thus far and I would rather sell to you since I would like to build a better reputation and your recommendation would help me out alot. Appreciate your co-operation!---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 10:38:19 PM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 10:35:54 PM
Well I got both packed up i'm selling the other board for 12 BTC I can do that price for you since we already have a transaction in place. I have to say this was a smooth transaction thus far and I would rather sell to you since I would like to build a better reputation and your recommendation would help me out alot. Appreciate your co-operation!OK, we can have a deal at 12BTC, if you agree with a split payment (due to confirmation waiting again) 9BTC right away, 3 BTC tomorrow.
But, I do want to see that picture with the boards and this message on your monitor before I pay.
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 29, 2013, 10:44:23 PM »
That sounds perfect! I don't want to do any communication outside of the forums until you get the blades (I just need to establish some rapport). I hope that is okay with you. I will send them both out while I wait for confirmation to finish and have your tracking number asap. I wouldn't be selling at this price if it wasn't for my requirement of bitcoins atm and banks take 3-5 days to transfer so I am still waiting on my deposits). You've been great so far and will give a recommendation at anytime for you.---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 10:52:34 PM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 10:44:23 PM
That sounds perfect! I don't want to do any communication outside of the forums until you get the blades (I just need to establish some rapport). I hope that is okay with you. I will send them both out while I wait for confirmation to finish and have your tracking number asap. I wouldn't be selling at this price if it wasn't for my requirement of bitcoins atm and banks take 3-5 days to transfer so I am still waiting on my deposits). You've been great so far and will give a recommendation at anytime for you.Hmmm, can you imagine my hesitation to send over us$2500 to a stranger with only two weeks on bitcointalk ?
You can post the picture on
http://www.imageshack.us/ to prevent communication outside bitcointalk, you don't need an account there.
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 29, 2013, 10:55:37 PM »
I know I can understand it. In fact it's the only reason i'm selling so low as I don't think anyone would pay me market value tbh but overall I think this will benefit me in the long run and for my requirements.---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 29, 2013, 11:07:17 PM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 10:55:37 PM
I know I can understand it. In fact it's the only reason i'm selling so low as I don't think anyone would pay me market value tbh but overall I think this will benefit me in the long run and for my requirements. Ok, if you don't want to make that picture, how about you send both boards to me and I will pay the second board after receiving a track & trace number that works. Once it works I will pay. Of course that's still a risk for me, you could send me a brick in the box, but so be it.
My address is:
XXX
phone: NNN
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« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 30, 2013, 04:09:34 AM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 29, 2013, 10:55:37 PM
I know I can understand it. In fact it's the only reason i'm selling so low as I don't think anyone would pay me market value tbh but overall I think this will benefit me in the long run and for my requirements. So, what did you do ?
Send one or two ?
Cheers, Ben
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 30, 2013, 05:00:04 AM »
I did ship out the 1 blade.---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 30, 2013, 05:21:20 AM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 30, 2013, 05:00:04 AM
I did ship out the 1 blade.Great, and the track & trace number is ?
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 30, 2013, 05:07:56 PM »
To be honest the tracking wasn't an option it was too much money. I sent the item without tracking it may take a little bit longer the post office said but I couldn't afford to send it with anything but what was offered.---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 30, 2013, 05:55:30 PM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 30, 2013, 05:07:56 PM
To be honest the tracking wasn't an option it was too much money. I sent the item without tracking it may take a little bit longer the post office said but I couldn't afford to send it with anything but what was offered.Jason,
Which company did you use to send the package to the Netherlands ?
Cheers, Ben
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« Sent to: BenTuras on: July 31, 2013, 05:53:26 AM »
Canada Post.---
« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 31, 2013, 06:22:04 AM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 31, 2013, 05:53:26 AM
Canada Post.You probably took International Parcel - Surface, the cheapest one.
1. I paid 0.9 BTC for shipment, you probably paid about halve. So you owe me.
2. Do you realize it will take 4-6 WEEKS for the package to arrive ?! For an item that is time sensitive to receive ?!
3. How will I ever get any ROI when it eventually arrives, if ever ?
4. You should have contacted me before sending. I could have paid the shipment by CC and you could have refunded me the 0.9BTC.
5. You have seen all the scam accusations, your actions till now are not very positive in my eyes.
Oh well, lesson learned. Never buy anything when just back from a nice holiday. My guards were down, will not happen again.
(I will be surprised when the package arrives in 4-6 weeks, for now I tend to think I have been scammed and lost 16.9BTC).
Oh, you could make a scan of the receipt you received from Canada Post, but I am sure you will not.
And since you didn't deny it, thanks for nothing
Jason Aldridge from Winnipeg, Canada.
* frustrated and disappointed *
Ben
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« Sent to: initforthemoney on: July 31, 2013, 08:07:28 PM »
Quote from: initforthemoney on July 31, 2013, 05:53:26 AM
Canada Post.
No more replies ?
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And then he went silent...
Few things to note:
1. I was really NOT thinking at all. Multiple red flags by other forum members, still I went for it.
2. He signed his messages with Mat now and then. When I got suspicious, I did some investigation and found his real name,
Jason Aldridge from Winnipeg, Canada. When I mention his first name out of the blue, he didn't even notice it, nor reacted on it.
3. No spelling errors (that I could see) from his side, so must be a grown up and educated.
There you go Jason, my first scam accusation, congratulations.
In the unlikely event that I will receive a blade in 4-6 weeks, I will update this message.
I have sent him a PM with a link to this thread.