Topic: So I went down to the bitcoin ATM today... - page 5. (Read 13529 times)

This general theme is a SERIOUS problem.  I sell bitcoins to people on localbitcoins.com.  Most of the time, these people do not really know how to handle their bitcoins.  I spend 2 hours with all of them.  I started telling them to come into the sale with electrum downloaded so I can show them how to back up their wallets.  And I end up explaining what a hash is.

It is our duty as people who stand to get very rich off this to help these people.  This is for two reasons, one selfish and one unselfish.  

1)  if we do not quickly figure out how to make bitcoin idiot proof, we are going to run into problems with the media

2) it isn't very nice of us to stand by and watch someone fuck up their coins (op not saying you did. Just incensed rhetoric). It truly feel obligated to help them.  Why?  Because I know bitcoin took effort - it  was pretty time consuming for me to unravel all the information when I adopted it.  I am a fucking physicist by trade.  I'm by no means insulting the general population... the fact is people like us have a clear advantage in handling this money which is distinct from fiat money.  

I love bitcoin because of equality.  I don't want to see people lose money because they are lacking in internet/computer/mathematics/problem solving competence that isnt related to earnings, wealth, and well...money.

This is especially true for the elderly.  It's straight up NOT FAIR to expect them to use bitcoin the way it works now.  This story struck a nerve because I imagined somebody taking advantage of my grandmother or even mother and father.  We have a duty, really.  

Please help others with bitcoin.  

She was pretty flustered and said that it was actually her work computer, so I don't think she could take me there to see it.  I told her that her bitcoins were on the paper, and that she had to keep the code hidden and safe.  I gave her contact information for both the Bitcoiniacs (the owners of the machine) and the Bitcoin Co-op in Vancouver.  Hopefully this was enough.  

But it was really tough for me.  I wish I could have done more.  And then she says that she "paid $60" and I'm thinking "well that's not enough for 1 bitcoin."  I just couldn't break it to her that it would likely cost a lot more than $60 to get her files back.  

lol what a bs madeup story

funny none the less

Oh my god.... that's horrible a new type of crime: Kidnapping Files! nd releasing them after payment in BTC...

Poor old lady...

*sigh* did you look at her computer?

did you offer to have her send the hackers payment address to you, so you could handle the transaction for her? did you offer to inform her next of kin in a more technical terms what was happening?

damni wish you had a way to contact he

tell her to put that piece of paper into a safe place.

Oh I tried to help her!  Even offered to look at her computer!

there is a very well known virus that locks your computer and they creaters demand 250e payment in ukash or bitcoin, which would be around 1BTC right now.

go help the old lady !!!

edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CryptoLocker it's the worst!!!

...and lo and behold there is a late-60s lady moping around the RoboCoin.  I was with my Dad (he wanted to learn how to buy BTC)--I start putting 20s in the machine and he starts talking to the older lady.  After I finished with the ATM, my dad says "Peter, maybe you can help this women."

She tells me that she put money in the machine but never got any bitcoins out.

I asked her if she used her phone and she says "no I don't have a 'smart phone,' the machine just gave me this receipt" as she hands me the paper.

I look at the receipt and can immediately see that it is her private key, so I tell her that those are her bitcoins and she needs to load them onto her computer if she wants to spend them.  

She says, "you mean my bitcoins are in this piece of paper?"

Uh oh.....so by now I'm thinking that she really shouldn't be investing in bitcoins without some help from her son or grandson.  I ask "so, are you investing in bitcoins?"

And she says, "I don't even know what bitcoins are but my computer says I have to give it one to get my files back."

and then she gasps:

"and I've been trying for days to buy one!"


Well, I tried my best to help her, but I have my doubts.

Cryptolocker strikes again