Bitcoin Forum

To newbie out there, Beware on using QR code especially when you are just browsing on google for this service because Google also gives a scam Bitcoin QR website which is very dangerous for newbie that didn't do double check on the address that they will send funds. The modus was the name of the file will show as your address, but after you double check to see if the QR is right you will notice it leads to a different public address.

I hope no one will get caught on this and always do extreme caution when using random web services.

The site actually changes your address to another one of their own, that has the same 4 to 6 (roughly) leading characters as the ones on the address you were set to convert to a QR Code.

That is to say, they use a bunch of different addresses they control, and place one into the QR Code that starts with the same few character as yours, just in case you scan the QR code and are happy to just check the first few characters ... Grave error, just as using a random app for these tasks is.

When do I need to use the QR code to convert? I haven't used it before, and the transfer address is copied directly.

You can use it to prevent copy pasting of your wallet address especially when you are sending/receiving funds to your friend to make the transaction more easier. You can use it too if you have business or something that you will ask payment so that you can easily as payment by just scanning your QR code rather than sending your address to other user via social media app. It's not necessary to use it but it's just a tool to make a more convenient transaction. Just make sure that you are using a legit QR code generator website.

Solution: Just use any of the "known" explorers that provide QR codes ^{[e.g. Blockchain.com (https://www.blockchain.com/explorer?view=btc)]}.

---

Surprisingly, the one you've used as an example has been around for a few years and its registrar ^[NameCheap], doesn't seem to care ^{[unfortunately]}.

• The owner ^{[most likely]}: bitcoinmanic ^{[link (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5267171.0)]}
• OmegaStarScream reported it in 2018 ^{[link (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5091695.0)]}

Maybe they have the computational power to create the addresses with the same few leading characters in real time. Some members create up to 6 characters in just a few minutes/hours depending on the difficulty; if it is 4 and you have a really big power maybe you can create it in seconds or almost instantly. Who knows?

Apart from that, if this page has been around since at least 2018... I am curious about how much Bitcoin and Ethereum has the owner scammed.

Is there some way one can know how much has the owner scammed? I suppose that it is difficult to find out since the addresses are not easy to connect.

Thanks for bringing to light this scam Beparanf.