Bitcoin Forum

Yesterday I tried making a Bitcoin transaction and I accidentally added the same address it's coming out of. Mistakenly I may have tap the copy to clipboard without realizing. Luckily for me I did not click the send button before I realized my self.

Just a reminder, always double-check your receiving address before sending. Bitcoin fees are high, and if your Bitcoin gets sent to the same address it's coming out of, it might return, but you'll lose the fees. You can't afford to lose $10 due to a careless mistake that could've been prevented.

If it’s possible don’t use the copy and paste address method so that you can also avoid clipboard malware, just type the receiving address straight into your wallet and triple check it before you broadcast your transaction. It’s a bit more time consuming but yet it’s better than sending your coin to a completely different address due to an unknown malware.

In your case you could have lost more than usual due to high transaction fees, but if the network wasn’t congested you could have only lost a few cents since you’ll still be the one receiving the coin back into your wallet more like you just gifted miners your fee, lol.

What I think you did was to just copy and paste the address from the last transaction you sent to that account. This is a very bad way because first there is an issue of getting affected with the clipboard malware and without checking your receiving address properly you could send your bitcoin to scammers address. Also there is this dust attack (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5466445.msg62829924#msg62829924) you could also get caught with copying address from last transaction sent. If you plan to copy your address right it out in another file and whenever you want you can go and copy it from there.

And yes you’re right bitcoin can be sent back to the same address it is send out from, that’s probably what the Cancel options you see on wallets actually do or when you designate that particular address to receive the change again

You can actually send bitcoin to the same address. Although, it is not making sense and it means no privacy.

But it is good to check and recheck the address that you are sending to for you not to send to a wrong address.

This is helpful, but it could become stressful because the person needs to input each alphabet and letter individually. It won't be practical for multiple or bulk sending. In my opinion, it's better to compile all addresses in a spreadsheet. Then, whenever you want to send, you can simply go there, copy, cross-check, and send without having to type all the time.

You can use QR code. With the use of QR code, there is nothing copied to the device clipboard for clipboard malware to change.

---

If you want to avoid clipboard malware, the best is to avoid malware generally. Also checking and rechecking the bitcoin address will also be helpful. Even while using QR code, I still check and recheck the address again.

Manually typing in the address can also risk typing errors, especially for users who often experience typographical errors when typing.

Copy and paste addresses can still be used, but double-check the address before sending the transaction.

If it turns out that the pasted address is different from the copied address, most likely, there is clipboard malware. If so, I don't recommend using the device for transactions before it is completely cleaned from viruses and other errors.

If you have concerns that your system may have a virus, then by default, you should not send anything anywhere. Writing a wallet address manually is very tedious, and if you are afraid that you might make a mistake when copying and your wallet will be replaced by another wallet, then there is a possibility of a virus, which will do its job, if not this time, then another time. Simply keep the system clean. If you know where you go online and what you do on your device, you won't get into trouble.

Maybe this is worth mentioning, that malware and virus are not the same because all viruses are malware while not all malware are viruses. Clipboard malware is not a virus. What viruses do to devices is to damage file data, damage files and also make the device to work as it supposed not to be, like to slow down the system or to make it work abnormally.

I made this mistake or I just really wanted to try what would happen I don't remember why I did that but I did when the fees were a few sats. Already we have threads like How to lose your Bitcoins with CTRL-C CTRL-V (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5190776.0) which convey the same what you are talking about and the importance of ensuring the recipient address while sending BTC. For the convenience, we can use the QR codes now and its better compared to copy/paste.

Oh, my God ::). Would you argue with the statement that if a device is not clean, then it should not be used? Why explain to me what a virus or stealer is? The point is that if you are not in a sterile room, one or another infection will reach you. To avoid this, just be sure that there is no malware on your device. You can never be sure what a virus or other crap can do to your device because you didn't create it.

I am not implying that you are wrong, you are definitely right, but just for you to know that virus is different from clipboard malware. Even if someone is reckless enough to mistakenly get virus on his device, probably other type of malware may be on his device.

Op are you thinking that your Bitcoin will get lost if you want it back to your address? I don't think so, you will pay for the transaction but you will get your Bitcoin back into your wallet, I haven't made this mistake sending Bitcoin but I have done this sending Ethereum before, I mistakenly copy my address and send the ETH back to me, the gas fee was deducted and my ETH came back to me.

To avoid Clipboard Malwares I now always use QR Code instead, most crypto wallet have this option available and also crypto exchanges too, just scan and send, way better and secured than copy pasting the wallet address.

I only have this weird feeling of copy pasting on PC, I believe it's the home for malware attacks on your PC, I have witnessed few Clipboard malware before and I haven't seen such on mobile smartphones, so if you are a PC user, your chances of getting this Clipboard malware is very higher compare to using a smartphone.

Are you serious? Bitcoin addresses are typically 26-35 characters long, and it is difficult for an individual to write 26 characters with zero probability of error. Therefore, scanning the QR is the ideal solution, or copying and pasting the address, making sure of the first 7 characters and the last 7 characters, or the entire address if you have time, but The first 7 and last 7 can be considered safe.

Writing it down manually or typing it manually is terrible idea as it opens so many chances for typos, mistakes. Solution is copy and paste it or print it on paper that are safer than writing or typing manually.

Double check with first few and last few characters are good steps to avoid mistakes when broadcasting a transaction, of course with a condition that a device is clean. Years ago, exchanges did not have pop-up for checking first and last characters but nowadays, I see they require users to check addresses or first and last few characters before making a withdrawal request. I think it is their good preventive protection for their customers.

I wouldn't recommend typing a public address because the probability of typing it wrong is higher.
Just one alphabet wrong and you will lose your entire amount you sent to that address.
Copying the address is way better than this and much better would be just to scan the QR.
It's always mandatory to triple check the address before you confirm sending the coins.

Some exchanges have many steps for users to check and confirm a withdrawal information before finalizing it to the exchange for approval.

Like a pop-up window to double check address. A confirmation email to check the address one more step. By checking the address two to three times, chance to make mistake is small.

In addition, if that is an address you are familiar to send coins to, you can use Whitelist feature for faster and smoother process as well as avoid mistake too.

Yep, just copy paste, then check the last 3 digits and the middle too, having a same last 3-5 digits doesn't mean you're copied a correct address. Someone in this forum ever faced this before. (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5472207.msg63086113#msg63086113)

Could it be used to consolidate inputs? I only know send between address in a same wallet is possible.

Why you will use an address coming from the clipboard suggestion? I’m always sending funds on same wallet due to my commitment to donation but I’m always copying the address from the source no matter how repetitive the process since I want to make sure that address I copy is right despite I’m always sending on it regularly.

Your problem is not about sending Bitcoin on same address but rather sending Bitcoin on a  previous address that you send some Bitcoin.

You mean if you want to consolidate inputs, that can you send all the UTXOs to one of the addresses that has your UTXOs? So far you can send to the same address that you have the coins, that makes it also possible. Yes, you can.

If I want to consolidate, I will prefer another address that I have not used before.

I think inputting the letters manually is not also advisable because you can make errors while inputting the address.

The use of QR Code is probably the best way to get the right address without too much error or been affected by malware; but using copy and paste method is also good and common among us, you just need to be very careful and double check the address you copy and pasted before processing the transaction to avoid sending bitcoin to a scammer address that might have been in your device due to malware virus.

Always make sure your device is clean and free from viruses of any kind.

I consider clipboard virus as a virus. Although it doesn't directly damage the system or any files in any way, but it do damage the standard copy paste function. I still remember the time, when I first got infected by this sly clipboard virus. Everything would work normally. But whenever I copied a text that looked like a crypto address format, it would replace mine with their phishing address. Not just dangerous, very dangerous. Just imagine sending all of your assets without realizing the address is wrong.  :)

This is not the biggest problem you can face by sending your coins to your wallet, while losing $10. The real problem will arise if you send your coins to someone else's wallet. And it is for this reason that you need to carefully check the address to which you plan to make the transfer.

You probably notice this because it was a mistake on your end and the wallet in question was not in any way similar to the one you want to send your bitcoin to, or maybe you already knew the beginning and ending of both the send-out and receiving addresses.
 
If it was a clipboard address that generated and changed your address to almost an identical one with the one you are sending it to, I doubt you could have been able to notice this error; it could have only been noticed after you could have waited for days without seeing the transaction in the main receiving address.
 
Be it a mobile wallet or trying to send from a desktop, with things that are happening currently in regard to the clipboard virus, the safest way is to use your hand and type your address one after the other to make sure that they are correct and nothing changes as a result of the copy and paste, and most times I make use of the QR code scanner to scam an address directly from the receiving side. Always don't just look at the beginning of your transactions, but always look at every bit of it to be sure they are not changed.

Glad you didn't send the transaction. If the copied BTC wallet address is not yours there's chance that your computer may have been attacked by the clipboard hijacking but if not then you need to be more careful when making transaction next time and always double check the receiver address before making any transaction.

Im user trust wallet back couple of month ago and usually the wallet decide what the best fee is when you send the transaction I only check the wallet and then send it. and I pay almost 20$ in fee  :o what a joke. The case had similar with Safepal but they gave a choice of fees from low to fast.

Fee is crazy right now guys  ;D  so better to double check it before cry later

I think, newbies has learned a lot of things from this your experience because many newbies has lose a lot of money trying to send Bitcoin to their address without Cross check to know if he or she is sending the Bitcoin to a wrong address that will make such person to end up in tear because the moment the transaction showed confirmed or transaction successful show that the Bitcoin has left your wallet to another wallet. I don't see any reason that will make me to send Bitcoin to myself when I know that gas fees is too high, and I don't like to touch my Bitcoin in my wallet because am holding them for long hodling to ensure I make something good from them.

The copied bitcoin address is his own, so there will not be any loss if he sends bitcoin back to the address. But it is good to check the address you are sending to again and again before sending the coin for it not to be a wrong address.

Yes the mempool is congested but this is not related to bitcoin transaction fee.

I think I’ve read several warnings against the copy and paste technique and one thing I always do is to check my wallet address before dropping it for receiving funds and a lot of things actually requires a lot of caution as far as cryptocurrency is concerned. At some point is it possible to send coins to oneself because I have never had such thoughts as to making a mistake to send from a wallet to same wallet and if is possible, now is absolutely the very wrong time to make such mistakes.

People need to consider this as harmful attempts by people working on that methods since if we are not careful upon dealing our transaction then we might caught up by this malwares. And its good that OP didn't immediately send the balance since we all know what will happen with that after he sent. That's why for other its better to be more careful upon doing some transaction on any means and always check the wallet address where you want to send the balance so that we can verify if the one we paste still the wallet we used for payment or other important means.

This kind of malware became famous before and right now its still existing so people should be aware of its existence so that we would provably know that if we are still safe and not doing anything that can harm us also with the funds we transact.