Bitcoin Forum

I just wanted to warn everyone:  There are multiple (brand-new) accounts being created trying to scam using me as an escrow.

This is how they are working:

They work out a deal with a seller, offering BTC.  They have no problem with escrow.

Once the deal is set and the scammer and seller needs to find an escrow, the scammer sends the seller this:

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These PMs have already scammed multiple users.  Please, always, CHECK FOR THE ACTUAL ESCROW'S CONFIRMATION.  Ask for a PGP signed message.  Stay safe everyone.

Same thing happening with OgNasty and other escrows.


@monbux: Could you provide a list of addresses used in those scam attempts, so I (and others) can have a look into them?

Thank you for the heads up.  I have yet to use escrow, but I don't do many deals here anyway.  Unbelievable how many scammy asshats there are on this forum.

I'd encourage everyone receiving faked messages like that to report the users who send you those asap via a scam accusation.

Why the fuck is it that easy to trick people?? Why dont they think before they act... god damn.

Before my hiatus here, I spent a LOT of time in the Altcoin Announcement sections (in the IPO scam "hay day") and would point out obvious scam after obvious scam.  Didn't matter how big, bold, and/or red you made the text, nor how blunt you were in your "this guy is obviously scamming people" posts, people would still happily send bitcoin after bitcoin to these douche canoes.

So  basicly i should post an address and let people throw money at me...

You gotta admit, there is some (albeit woefully misplaced) creativity in this. Fake quote, fake link, fake website, it's not your average penny scammer.

Yeah, I wonder how many times it's worked? I can imagine it'll sting a few people. Quite a few have fallen for newbies pretending to be reputable higher ranked members so I'm sure this will work eventually if it hasn't already.

Always check for the "This user is new and may not be who you think they are warning" above as I imagine most of these accounts are newish.

I did, but I was adding this as im sure some people have tried this in PM also. The more information the better really, right?

I've been contacted multiple times by people who actually got scammed.  The thing is, they didn't try to impersonate me... They claimed that they got a PM from me and forwards it to the buyer/seller.  I've got to admit, it would seem pretty legit to a person who is new to the concept of escrow.

And yes, be SURE to actually verify the quote, guys.  Report any users that seem suspicious.

@Lutpin I'll have to do some research.  Some of the PMs I got, the link has been taken down by the scammer, and some I didn't receive the link.  In the end I might be able to only get 1 address.

One address might be all I need. If you think it's worth the effort, I'd appreciate getting hands any addresses connected.

Seems its usually users who are trading with a currency, a trade which seems too good to be true - Escrow available, around 0.5 BTC being traded, which usually scam. Think its time to ask for signed messages from the address they claim holds the amount, and posting a warning that they should get a PGP signed message before sending BTCs to addresses claimed by the other person to be from the escrow

This scammer is providing a great service to the community.

If you are stupid enough to fall for this, you are going to lose your coins anyway, at least this guy is just ripping off the band aid fast and taking a bunch at once instead of bleeding you to death over time like some of the scam "companies" out there.

Are people really dumb enough to send coins to an "escrow" without communicating with them on their own?

This forum's escrow services are really that much better than not using an escrow at all. First master-p and now this. The forum is seriously going down fast.

Case of master-p was different but how is this escrow's fault?

Anyone can PRETEND to be anyone, the simple solution to this is, talk to the person directly and ask for signed PGP + BTC address message and verify those before conducting any business. Infact this rule applies to anyone you're dealing with because this is clearly an attempt to scam and/or harm other person's reputation.

I request all escrow providers not to send same type of messages for every escrow deal. Change the pattern of writing on every escrow. By same type I meant pms with same template because a scammer can easily fake that just by copying the template and sometimes many users including me skip to verify the trust rating when viewing on my mobile screen.

Similarly signing the message with pgp is the most secure way too.

Seems like another scam attempt: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1376070.msg13998900#msg13998900

Better watch out for those.

See this thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1374283.0

I recently got scammed by this user without escrow, but he offered to use Ognasty as escrow as well. I believe he is an alt of https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=159338(same 0.5 BTC, same escrow etc.)

Can someone confirm my suspicions?

That depends, can you show us a PM that was sent by him?

Thanks for the heads up.

Can anyone recommend trusted escrow still operating here or on btco.in/forum  ?  JohnK seems to be inactive lately.

OgNasty is the safest option if you're willing to pay a fee and if you want it done for free, SebastianJu

Hope this helps.

I dont see how this is related to fake escrow PMs.

I believe what he's trying to say is that the user would've scammed regardless of using escrow or not, i.e impersonate OgNasty if the user didn't agree to going first

Thanx mexxer,