Bitcoin Forum

I think marcotheminer (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=147773) is/will be a scammer. Need opinion from experts. The reason for thinking it:
1. He came back on bitcointalk after a long gap.
2. He was a lender and now he is a borrower.
3. He is trying to only take loan after came back. He is not contributing anything on this forum.
4. He was active lending service as well as borrowing (we told several times then he locked his lending service).
5. The first time he trying to take about 0.04/0.05BTC loan when failed tried to take small loan once repaid the small loan to bill gator received positive trust then again took a loan from Pamoldar (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5115749.msg49974820#msg49974820), o.o4BTC and then again took loan 0.033 (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5116545)BTC
6. Now he has two active loans and trying to take another loan 0.33BTC (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5118189.0) loan. Where all loans are non-collateral.
7. When a borrower took multiple loans without collateral are usually scammer.
8. According to Timelord2067 (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=131361): and 9. He asked loan from another person on the 6th march on PM archive. (https://archive.fo/ZZbiT#selection-2507.0-2611.34)


Why I am  Posting:
1. As marcotheminer has positive feedback few people who do not know research may allow the loan which happened for the second loan. The previous lender did not give a 2nd loan because he knows the risk but new lender gave. Also the 2nd lender didn't give any neutral trust.
2. Trust can be changed for a different amount. For example, I may not scam for 0.05BTC but I may scam for.2BTC
3. I know "prevention is better than cure", so want to keep him away from taking the loan as want to stay him away from scams.
4. I have posted here as scam still not proved but I highly believe that it will be scammed.

Let me know if I am wrong.

it is bizarre to me that he would be honest enough to put "risky" in the thread title, not sure why anybody would take him up on his offer. also 2 things to consider:

- 2double0 has an open loan with him (and another member)
- his activity is pretty spotty, went from managing campaigns to applying for them, giving loans to taking them

Not certain he's an outright scammer but even he knows its "risky" to do business with him, probably a red flag, lol.

No, BIG NO.
You the lender has the right to disapprove his loan application when in your own judgement he is not capable of paying the loan for some reason.
Outside crypto, I've known a lot of people who have multiple loans but they were able to pay it because they have the capability.

So my point is, you only call it a scammer once he failed to comply with the agreed terms in case you approved the loan.

I am not calling scammer, but I am telling e may scam base on my above points. Not for this single point. Please read all point. and also this point indicates scamming which happen at least 80% time for point number seven.

Yeah, he strikes me as kind of shady, I wouldn't lend to him.  Ever since 2double0 made this loan request (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5102150.0) I've had my suspicions about marcotheminer.  

Honestly you can't call him a scammer on doubt basis but its true that his activities are kinda strange. when a lender suddenly become a borrower it creates so many question for all and its undeniable. But current lender who are working with him should be careful before doing any big deal IMO. 

In the meanwhile time he was not active in this forum,anything may happened to him like he lost all his savings on bets or to the borrower who got never paid or whatever the reason maybe.For that calling him as a scammer is not appropriate until he did that.He is in need of money looks like because he only asked for loans on his recent posts.

I suggest you to not to give any loans for him until the already lend money gets repaid,because he might not be able to repay them in my guess.

He is not posting anything except asking loan, which refers to something wrong too. His recent days passing only by asking loan. No legit user take loan such a way where the first small amount then increases the amount. If you can find out 100 people like this then you may find out at least 95% loan default.

You could be right OR could be wrong!  ???

It would only be cleared at the date of repayment of his previous loans.

Note: I would personally go with not funding the loan, as I don't find the reason of getting a 3rd loan legit. But it does not mean he is sure to default the loan.

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I don't know how can you label a person risky before he has done any shady work here you can just keep it to a probability.

I see this forum as a place to make friends and on they way if I can help someone, buy just trusting him once  I am happy with funding him a loan for checking his trustworthiness. I am looking forward for 2double0 to repay the loan before the decided date. Hope this step of mine in funding the loan makes the situation more cleared.

Came back on the forum long after and then asking non-collateral loan is one of the shadiest work. Almost all the cases it caused scam. Eg: loan default, account trade or something else.

After looking at the post history and password change lot,the account might changed hands on 2018 or in Feb 2019,so as you said this may be an act of big scam attempt but tagging an user based on suspicious is not a right way.

Might need more suggestions from other DT members.

Anything might happen which we don't know but we may guess. Check the sent feedback by VOD (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=30747) then you will get clear understand how s/he thinks the borrower might be a scammer or default a loan.

I am not marco. I am not sure why timeloard thinks I am him, although I would not be surprised if he posted it somewhere and the logic is convoluted.

The multiple loans will not automatically make him a scammer, although the multiple loans taken over a short period is suspicious.

In the past, marco has had a lot of sockpuppets, including one of which allegedly took out a private loan (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5102150.msg49435265#msg49435265) from him. I am unsure if this account is still one of his sockpuppets, although my intuition says it is.

Prior to last month, I was not aware of him engaging in any kind of fake trades with his sockpuppets, although I do know he was engaged in trust farming, including asking people on DT for positive trust.

IIRC, in the past, he was entrusted with ~50BTC to run a signature campaign (worth ~$20k at the time), and to my knowledge he paid out appropriately, and returned excess funds when the campaign closed, although it is possible he accepted people who shouldn't have been accepted, and/or paid for posts that maybe shouldn't have been paid, and/or something similar in exchange for a portion of the improper payment. 

I have found it on https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=trust;u=147773 (trust page of marcotheminer.) you may have a look from there.

There is a long gap and earlier he was a lender but now he is a borrower also then how was a manager but a few days ago I saw he tried to join on a campaign where he has not been accepted. So totally opposite from earlier, in the meantime, anything can happen.

It looks like it stems from this (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1702409.msg17398918#msg17398918), which looks like for some reason keybase was saying a PGP message that I signed was signed by marco. It appears that marco might have deleted his keybase account, however based on what I posted at the time, the "proof" keybase had for the PGP key associated with marco's key was not signed by my key.

It is possible his financial situation has changed from when he was managing the coinsbank(?) signature campaign, and may be willing to scam for $500 today when he was unwilling to scam for $20k years ago if he is now desperate for money. It is also possible, he is trying to engage in many trades so he can gain additional reputation, so he can have additional business opportunities, such as managing campaigns. It is also possible he had a series of unexpected expenses that came up, and has income he will be receiving in the near future.

On that time the managing or getting campaign/bounty and current time I do not think the same also I think marco also think the same. Also, I do not think comparing with that time with the current time is the same. That time people traded account without any problem now it will be tagged immediately. Then the earning amount of a bounty hunter is more than a bounty manager/campaign manager now. So, forget the previous reputation. Try to understand its recent reputation and behavior.

Well maybe I'm just talking in a general point of view but the way you started your entire posts goes like this


That clearly means to me that you are judging him already and I think there's no need to ask for other's opinion on this matter.
I'm sure you'll dissaprove his loan request the moment he will apply a loan on you.

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Okay, so if I'm in your shoes, I would disapprove his loan because of his shady behavior that cause him a negative trust, it's very risky considering he is asking for a loan without a collateral. And remember this, every lender has their own judgement, so just follow what you think is right.

It looks like the issue of me possibly being the same as marco was cleared up here (https://github.com/keybase/keybase-issues/issues/2762) in a GitHub issue for keybase.

According to one of what I believe to be devs of keybase, marco was one of the "alpha" users of keybase, and never proved ownership of the PGP key in his keybase profile (mine). It looks like he input my public key as being his, and never verified it (because he doesn't have the private key) -- note at the time, I was one of the most trusted people here. According to the dev, this was a bug in the keybase software and a fix was made in Early 2017, when this was reported.

Shasan i gave him neutral now,sorry didnt do before, as its my first time here lending, and didnt know its good for help community

His trust level to me is/was up to 0.03BTC. And you are right I would not or will not approve too much. Few days ago he took 0.02BTC loan from another lender and then asked me for another 0.02BTC then I had not approved that.  And also I never allow any loan if there is any active non-collateral loan. I have faced a few problems (loan defaulted) where I sent earlier then another lender gave more. Result: Loan default and I lose my fund with the new lender.

It must be helpful for the community. For example, I can trust you to lend 0.05BTC but I will not trust you 0.1BTC. In this case, if I see you got already 0.05BTC loan then I will not give any loan to you.

It's really good to do some background investigation prior approving a loan.
It would be nice if all the regular lenders in the forum will share information about their borrowers and just summarize it in a list so it would be easy for the lenders to check the status of the applicant, and that includes loan history.

Actually in real life we have that, it's called credit bureau where we can log in into a system and checks names on the list, it's very convenient and we can avoid lending people outside his capacity to pay.

---

I'm just curious, how much you can rate my account in case I will apply for a loan?

Oh boy more forum drama for no reason! ::) Let's how many hours we can waste running around in circles.

I'll get to some replies shortly, short on time now.

In marco's signature:


Oh man. Now you are advertising a Ponzi telegram bot in your signature? Not a good look man.

https://i.imgur.com/bh6ipAh.png

That's a Ponzi scheme, or else straight up scam. There's no doubt about it.

Really as a Legendary member you should know better.

Screenshotted:

https://i.imgur.com/jLMwyyL.png

Now I'm beginning to feel like you're a scammer too. Why else would you advertise this bot?

Someone may give you 1BTC or more. At first glance, I may take a risk about 0.1BTC for you rest depends on your post history, post gaps time, recent merit, post quality etc.

A lot of hero/legendary leaving away by taking only 0.03BTC there are a lot of proof see on lending board.
If I am wrong then that will be good for the community. It is not a traditional bank. It is a virtual place just a forum where I have not seen anyone who gives a loan and takes a loan at the same time except you.

I think if you get that loan you will obviously scam.

I have not yet seen when marco posted it, if it's recent then marco can't be trusted. As Ponzi promoter is a scammer. Soon I will check it.
Edit:
Just checked and seen the image posted by nutildah that you are promoting ponzi. So, you can't be a trusted person. I think you should be tagged immediately for promoting ponzi. Archive for reference (https://archive.fo/yWXB7#selection-545.0-567.92)

A random Legendary with 2 red tags (from Mitchell and BadBear, both former Staff members) seeking a $1000 quick buck doesn't make it any better.

I'm pretty sure the other party doesn't consider it repaid until it is actually repaid.

You are absolutely right and also there are two active loans. Also I guys he is promoting Ponzi which is showing on his signature (https://archive.fo/yWXB7#selection-545.0-567.92).

I think that is easy to understand that the user has tried to build a trust by take and pay little loan, with the hope to gain trust : now he is arrived at the end of the scheme, and he asked bigger amount for scam.

You have mentioned a valid point. I just noticed that bill gator revised his positive trust to neutral. And base on the rank which has made by default (only 4 earned merits), don't deserve such a loan also has two negative trusts by reputed members.

Not necessarily true, I used to take loan for couple of months, I was forced because of my bad financial condition. marcotheminer was a lender back in the days and has turned into a borrower now. Probably he is passing worst days now. I am not vouching anyone here. Never give a loan without a valid collateral (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=577765.msg6311902#msg6311902). And all of the borrowers giving a valid collateral must think of collateral scammers (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=577765.msg6309543#msg6309543).
At the end of the day, always using a trusted escrow is the best deal.

On your post history, I can't see any loan. I think you might have taken a loan from your well-known person or from a bank. Take a loan from a well-known person and a bank is not the same to take a loan from here.

I know how things go here and I have borrowed from this forum. Leave that part. You would definitely lend money to Suchmoon/LoyceV/Vod if they asked, you would not even think what happened with them. marcotheminer was not active doesn't reflect that he is scammer. You probably have missed my points here. I am not trying to prove marcotheminer is honest.
LoyceV has a point here although. imo, marcotheminer was tagged for shady activities which is why he should not be trusted.

https://i.imgur.com/n4ugszm.png

https://i.imgur.com/ZQSJj0q.png

the guy disappears for a while and comes back and does this post and then starts ask for loan and wants to participate in the signature campaigns and promotes MLM, not a good sign. Something is not right. So you are right

This thread has brought actions to my attention that give me the impression that marco is too high risk for me to leave a positive trust, especially with the context of my feedback. I thought the user had just come back after some time away from the forum, but the switch from lender to loan-requester is a strange one. Then having multiple active loans that the user "considers repaid", despite them not being repaid and asking for another third loan that is an order of magnitude higher than previous requests; all while offering strange explanations, no collateral and following the pattern of a loan-scammer.

I've changed my feedback to a neutral and am still considering changing the wording, because at this point I have my doubts.

If you remove that one and give a new one then if there is any positive word then that might misguide. I saw after a few moments that you have changed your feedback though according to the current situation seems positive. You may give any type of feedback you want. But right now there is another case "Ponzi Promoter Trying to take multiple loan (Non-collateral)" (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5118302). Already tagged by two DT for promoting Ponzi.

I had just copied and pasted the feedback and changed it to a neutral, but you are correct; stating "Would happily loan to again." is not how I feel anymore, given these circumstances and I feel that it gives the possibility to lull an unsuspecting lender into a sense of security. I have updated my feedback and thank you for bringing this to our attention as a community.

The part that really bothers me is marco stating he considers those loans repaid. That's just not a normal thing to say.

I am sorry but could not see any post on lending thread https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2542493;sa=showPosts so if you took the loan from the forum then that is from your another ID. Okay, leave it.

Thanks for updating the feedback.

Oh god!
You guys painted him red already? I hope I get my repayment today. I left him a PM. It will be safer for him not to ask anymore loan once he pay my payment and other ones payment. If he pays back then give him a break.

Thanks

He was painted previous two DT and new 2 Dt. I do not think he would pay you if got another loan also I thought he will default the loan as already got more than his desired. But might repay to take more and you could lose more money. I can't remember probably you lend money where I wanted to lend after taking money from you asked me again and I refused to give. I never give any loan if I see any active loan.

Great way to have discussion on this forum: attack and slander. 2 thumbs up.

Its actually libel since it was written. But uh, you didn't address the point of why you are advertising a Ponzi in your sig. Care to take the opportunity to do so?

I mark it as it is: a possibly risky investment. It is very possible it is legitimate please see: https://t.me/arbitrageops

For those who don't want to click and think for themselves, that group shows some possible arbitrage opportunities. Their youtube on revenue generation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9S6nWwpn2c. 50% interest in 3 months. Is that far-fetched? Not to me, hence why it *could* be a real trading bot.

It would probably be best to remove the advertisement. Sure, it *might* not be a Ponzi scam, however the overwhelming chance is that it is.

Done. I apologise to those I offended, I did not think it would attract such negativity toward my character/account.

As my negative feedback for Marco was based solely on him running a Ponzi sig, I have removed it as per our PM conversation.

This is all very convoluted and confusing.  Quickseller, marcotheminer, 2double0, and hacker1001101001 all seem to be entangled with each other in one way or another.  I'm not suggesting they are all linked accounts, I don't have any hard proof of that, but there several odd things that seem to suggest they may be under the control of the same person.

In this thread (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5102150.0) marcotheminer all but admits he has a claim on the account 2double0 (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5102150.msg49445577#msg49445577).  Hacker1001101001 funded the loan, but there were some strange transactions between the two addresses prior to funding the loan.  In this thread (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5113985.0) Quickseller makes the claim that 2double0 and hacker1001101001 are connected based on the funny business with the addresses.

Gunthar provides compelling evidence (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1702409.msg17455919#msg17455919) that Quickseller posted a PGP signed message, but the message was signed by marcotheminer.

Again, I don't know what's going on, but there does seem to be some strange happenings with these accounts.  


http://archive.fo/fDbGL
http://archive.fo/mLzuT
http://archive.fo/e3u09

Perhaps you should read this thread before posting


As an alternative, you should review the thread you are citing.

I am agree with OP, asking multiple loan at the same time is too risky. Problem is lender will not aware about his previous loan if they never bother to read post history. Since marcotheminer have lot of positive feedback's perhaps lender will trust him. I am not telling he will scam or he deserve red tag just for asking loan. Neutral feedback would be appropriate in my opinion. So lender will aware about his previous loan.

I did read the thread, and your explanation.  To be honest I don't find your argument as compelling as the evidence Gunthar provided.  Again, note the use of the compelling.  I'm not necessarily convinced all these accounts are connected, but there's enough to make me suspicious.  

Basically you can't do anything if lender trust him and accepting him after observing his recent activity. Its not gonna make any sense what we talk about that borrower IMO. Its clear that this borrower recent activity is not kinda favourable for having loan but what we can do if someone still ready to offer him.

OP is trying to make everyone careful about this kinda user and I appreciate it humbly.

I wouldn't say that taking out all of these loans makes him a scammer instantly. But it's definitely irresponsible and untrustworthy behavior to be taking out multiple loans at the same time, while the previous ones haven't even been repaid yet.

Given the fact that the amounts that he's been borrowing has been increasing over the past few attempts, it could be possible that he is trying to build up his reputation through his borrowing activities (which he used to be a lender, to be fair). My advice to lenders is that you shouldn't take into account past repayments as much when assessing your risk, because it can mislead you when you are lending without collateral.

But promoting an obvious ponzi in his sig, even if it's been pointed out that it "may" be a ponzi, is unacceptable. At least he has removed this, though.

Hmm, knowing quicky always lies, this is enough to look into the allegations.

I see someone left him trust for promoting a ponzi, and he stopped doing it.

I would like to confirm that marcotheminer repaid the loan he has taken from me.

Payment Ref: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5116545.msg50015409#msg50015409

Repayment ref: https://www.blockchain.com/btc/tx/3728f87c61c9800b7a1f2c4cb8cfbbece385cd0c693439a7936432ac627c8a70

In future I will happily help marcotheminer around slimier amount however I will suggest, please in future do not ask for another loan when you have an outstanding loan to pay. Asking for multiple loan really is very confusing for the community even if you have very good reputation. This also give pressure to the lender too. I hope you understand because once you were a lender too.

Anyway, I will request the community to remove any neg was given to him for this loan. I wanted to leave a positive feedback for you however I will leave you a neutral feedback with positive statement. May be in future I will change my feedback again.

I think you have a pretty bad sense of finding alts or account connections. Nothing is common between me and all others you mentioned (Quickseller is the most odd part for me), aside of me funding a loan to 2double0, which I found legit as he proved the ownership of his old address to me and I trusted him. This is also confirmed by Avirunes (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=175302) by verifying my conversation here (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5113985.msg49913347#msg49913347).

Instead of shilling this thread with fake connections, you could put your precious time in finding other solid forum spams.

---

As I said, you got a answer to your question from repayment. You could lock this thread now for avoiding fake assumptions as above.

My question is/was regarding additional 0.3BTC. What we got from this post
1. Avoid possibility scam if got 0.3BTC
2. Stopped Ponzi promotion.
Why you are too much curious to lock the thread? Is it scam accusation? It is a topic for discussion. If you have faith then why you are not funding 0.3BTC?

I appreciate your efforts in, putting an end to a ponzi promotion made by a legendary member. Good job!


I have 0 curiosity in locking this thread, I just suggested a option to avoid unwanted accusations, against my name.


I already said:

As 3rd loan has been locked, the first loan has been repaid and Ponzi promotion stopped, I am locking this thread. If I see more than one non-collateral loan request by Marco at the same time (I mean ask more loan while there is an active loan) then I will reopen this thread again.

Those people who advocate marco check this thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5123782.0
And give your opinion on how trustworthy s/he is!!!
I have reopened this thread as s/he is trying to ask something which is inappropriate.

Inappropriate? It's completely appropriate, I'm making a loan request.

To the investor to CHECK ME, ASK ME, QUESTION ME. Done deal.

I don't think it is "inappropriate" to be asking for a loan, however the loan sizes are consistent with someone trying to pull an exit scam.

It's the perception of forum. I understand it, I had the same view.

Wish there was some more I could do other than proofs and my word that I follow the plan that leads to revenue, but that's it for now.

Any real scammer would never go from 0.02-0.05 to 0.33 then 3000-5000 EUR. That's waving a flag saying don't lend to me.

That's how my events unfold though, so that's what I am requesting.

Right now: 3000-5000, 20 days repayment, all proof necessary and my word that I follow the plan (the only one that makes us money). Point a to Point b. Simple.

It's very unlikely you're gonna get that loan so you might as well tell us what the "plan" was.

This is quite literally what you are doing, so by your own admission, lenders should not lend to you.

If there really is some kind of strategy to make as much as you are claiming, your best bet would be to sell the strategy to someone trustworthy on a contingency basis for a portion of their profits. Your strategy appears to use an exchange that is probably not a good idea to trust, so even that may not be successful.

It's 20 days on an exchange that has done billions of volume. It's easily attainable income, for reasons I can get on a call and share.

I'd be open to that, but chances are they wouldn't deem the "time investment" needed worthwhile. On the other hand, I have 8+ hours daily at the ready.

Get a job. 20x8 @ 20 euros per hour > 3k and most jobs don't require you to scam anyone.

??? scam ???

I rather not enter that system, hence my "oddjobs" entrepreneur style for now. Until bigger amounts are dealt with.

This is 5000 EUR in 20 days. 250/day. 31 EUR/hr. Trust me 10x better than any job since I can do it from anywhere and other things at the same time.

Sigh, how does one NOT see the potential enough to even seriously ASK..

It's a simple equation of Risk/Reward.  You're offering up to 10% ROI, yet a potential lender needs to ask what the odds are that the loan will never be repaid.  Here you are asking for a no collateral loan, using a red-tagged account, which has very little value to anyone including you.  Your reputation is already ruined, so what incentive do you have to repay this sizable loan?  It is my opinion that the risk is far greater than the potential reward.

Reputation (which I had 0 with the people involved now anyway) is not ruined. Stands firm, as has always.

Incentive, is we both generate much more than the loan amount.

We call that a "hobo" over here. Generally nobody lends them a fiddy, let alone 5k. Get real.

Your math sucks too unless you're actually implying you can DOUBLE the 5k in 20 days, which would be even more cause for concern. All I'm saying is that a reasonably sane adult person could make 3k without resorting to insane risks, but if you really want to - you could make 3k (or 5k or whatever) and then risk your own money.

Or take the 500 that you already have, double it 3 times... fuck, double it 15 times and you're set for life.

Yeah, I'm not homeless as it stands.

5k profit from 5k in 20 days is reasonable here.

This is a stand alone opportunity. 5k income possible just out of pure good timing, verification, and inclusion. All on a reputable exchange.

Awesome. All we need to do is resist the temptation to give you 5k and you'll just go away when this golden opportunity expires because it's both reasonable and stand-alone. Good deal.