Bitcoin Forum

Bitcoin => Press => Topic started by: odolvlobo on May 28, 2014, 11:14:41 PM



Title: 2014-05-28 WIRED - This Is What Happens When You Extort the ‘Bitcoin Jesus'
Post by: odolvlobo on May 28, 2014, 11:14:41 PM
This Is What Happens When You Hack and Extort the ‘Bitcoin Jesus’

Quote
When the man known as “The Bitcoin Jesus” got hacked, he didn’t go straight to the police. He just tapped the power of bitcoin.


http://www.wired.com/2014/05/dfwtbj/


Title: Re: 2014-05-28 WIRED - This Is What Happens When You Extort the ‘Bitcoin Jesus'
Post by: Bit_Happy on May 29, 2014, 02:42:39 AM
This is wild:

Roger Ver... ...was contacted by a hacker who had seized control of his old Hotmail account and used it to nab his Social Security number, passport number, and other personal information. The hacker threatened to exploit this information unless Ver forked over about 37 bitcoins, the equivalent of $20,000. But then Ver used the same number of bitcoins to put out a bounty on the hacker, and this instantly transformed the brazen cyber criminal into a penitent stooge.

“Sir, I am sincerely sorry. I am just a middleman. I was being told what to tell you,” the hacker told Ver soon after the bounty was posted, before later asking: “Are you going to order a hitman to kill me now?”


Off to read the rest now...  :)
Edit: Ver does not threaten to have the guy killed, but since BTC is used for the bounty, the thief assumes the worst.  // good article.


Title: Re: 2014-05-28 WIRED - This Is What Happens When You Extort the ‘Bitcoin Jesus'
Post by: wachtwoord on May 29, 2014, 02:45:30 AM
And the hunter became the hunted :P


Title: Re: 2014-05-28 WIRED - This Is What Happens When You Extort the ‘Bitcoin Jesus'
Post by: hilariousandco on May 29, 2014, 05:40:06 AM
Haha. I love it when this sort of thing happens. People don't mind hiding behind their computers committing crimes but sure start to sweat when the tables are turned. I don't believe in 'karma' but I think this is as close as you'll get  :D.


Title: Re: 2014-05-28 WIRED - This Is What Happens When You Extort the ‘Bitcoin Jesus'
Post by: wachtwoord on May 29, 2014, 10:53:53 AM
Haha. I love it when this sort of thing happens. People don't mind hiding behind their computers committing crimes but sure start to sweat when the tables are turned. I don't believe in 'karma' but I think this is as close as you'll get  :D.

It wouldn't have worked if the perpetrator was actually competent though.


Title: Re: 2014-05-28 WIRED - This Is What Happens When You Extort the ‘Bitcoin Jesus'
Post by: Lethn on May 29, 2014, 11:06:16 AM
Haha. I love it when this sort of thing happens. People don't mind hiding behind their computers committing crimes but sure start to sweat when the tables are turned. I don't believe in 'karma' but I think this is as close as you'll get  :D.

It wouldn't have worked if the perpetrator was actually competent though.

To be honest, if the perpetrator was competent he wouldn't pick a fight with someone like this in the first place because they'd know the consequences, the smart criminals always pick on the weak and ignorant, being competent is about knowing when to calmly quit while your ahead as well as actually go for something.