Bitcoin Forum

I created a forum testnet Bitcoin faucet last year: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5444054.0. It was not used much until 2 weeks ago, when someone drained it. I checked the addresses today, and 4 accounts were used to drain it. I took measures to prevent abuse, but those f*ckers should be marked.

Evidence: https://ninjastic.space/search?author=faucetdrainer99&board=71
Profile: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=3604170 faucetdrainer99 (funny name)

Evidence: https://ninjastic.space/search?author=negreman48&board=71
Profile: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=3604167 negreman48

Evidence: https://ninjastic.space/search?author=vorthy&board=71
Profile: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=3604131 vorthy

Evidence: https://ninjastic.space/search?author=Yungklaus&board=71
Profile: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2740330 Yungklaus

3 brand new accounts and one newbie account with just two post and activities.

Even if they are tagged for because of the reason you started it will still of no use since the person or people (if they are not alts) can simple go ahead and create more accounts and wouldn’t even bother about them since he/they will have nothing to lose.

My advise to you is; before you approve any of their requests make sure to check if they have applied before and deleted it through  ninjastic.space that way you’d be able to avoid stressing yourself over brand new accounts that won’t do you any good.

My anti abuse measures include lowering the testnet amount for users with low Activity and for requesting more than once.

This four accounts is most likely just one guy who drained all testnet coins from your faucet, and it makes no sense to give any feedback now  because he wont be using them again.
Maybe he needed this for some airdrop task or something else to get few bucks, but it's easy to find connection between all those addresses on testnet explorer:
https://mempool.space/testnet/

This is a really good measure that will reduce the abuse of your Testnet; I don't know what the point of them draining the Testnet Bitcoin faucet is. Do they think these are real bitcoins on the main networks? lol

I will add that most campaigns and bounties do not accept Brand New and Newbie accounts because they can participate with these alternative accounts and cheat using these new accounts with no activities or contributions. I agree with the previous members; there is no benefit in tagging their accounts, as this will not be a deterrent for them to repeat their previous actions.

There are a lot of crypto scams happening nowadays, and this testnet bitcoin can be used to scam others who are not aware that it's a testnet BTC that can't be used for anything and can't also be traded.
 
I have come across such a scam before where I saw someone's Coinbase wallet being loaded with one of these testnets of bitcoin, and the person said that it's real bitcoin. What surprised me about that is how they were able to make price reflections on that testnet BTC, like the same bitcoin value is showing and displaying in that testnet BTC.

But this only mitigates the problem, as opposed to solving it... From what I'm seeing, everybody who posts on your thread is automatically given a certain amount of testnet coins, so all you need to do is remove the automated part from the equation and manually check everything.

Unfortunately, there's a platform that provides unethical services for those who'd like to get something for their testnet coins ^{[as much as I hate to say this, I think we need another reset]}.

Manually checking everything can take me days. Even new users can use my testnet faucet for small amounts. They get it quickly.
To drain it again, they need hundreds of accounts and if I get too many withdrawals, amounts get decimated.

Even if manual verification takes days, it is better than having the money wasted by these scammers.

Also, why don't you put some restrictions on new users who want to benefit from the faucet, for example, the member must be at least a Jr rank to be able to tap your testnet.

Not imposing any restrictions on the accounts that can use the faucet will result in the faucet quickly running out and the system being abused by many new alternative accounts.

I would also add a rule, only forum accounts older than six months, for example. Or if an older member vouchs for someone. It was said earlier, that there is not much point in tagging these accounts, because they were created with only one purpose and will probably never be used again.
Unfortunately, every good idea or initiative becomes an opposition to itself and a target for abuse.

Testnet is not money.

I send less than 0.0001 testnet Bitcoin to new users. That is low enough to stop the abuse (for now).

are you kidding? Of course I know that Testnet is not money.
My point is clear that this will waste test money, because Testnet is test money.


Anyway I support the rule suggested by examplens

This way you will reduce abuse of the system by new accounts.

You should also put a "slow mode" on your automated system. For instance, only fulfill requests if the posts are up for at least 3 days, to prevent people from making rapid requests and then deleting their posts in quick succession like what happened now. I think that will work better than rank restrictions as it will force everyone to wait until the 3-day period is up before they get testnet BTC.

As stated by @dkbit98, one possible reason is completing airdrop tasks. In past, a former Bitcoin Core developer state there are scam ICO which demands testnet Bitcoin.

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Or use either regtest (testnet only on your device/network) or signet (semi-controlled version of testnet).

I would not want to wait for 3 days to start testing.

Hi Knight Hider.
How is situation with your faucet now?
I am receiving a lot of requests for testnet coins and I think there is something suspicious about this.
Maybe there are some altcoin projects that are paying rewards for testnet coins, because I dont believe all this newbies are doing some testing for nothing all of the sudden.
Do you know more about this?

My faucet sent 20 transactions in 3 days, but new accounts only get a small amount and can no longer empty my faucet.
Edit: I found (and fixed) a bug in my algorithm that limits new users.

You are right, they're earning rewards for sending testnet Bitcoin.


Bitcoin testnet needs to be reset (again):

Thank you for express fast answer and for confirming my suspicions! ;)
I have a clear rule of not sending anything to newbies who just created accounts in forum or to inactive members who just woke up for this.
Maybe I need to update my rules and say that liars will never be accepted, but this is not easy to prove ;D

My faucet was last used 4 days ago. Testnet interest is waning.