First Localbitcoins trade

[VVine]

Hello, I'm going to purchase BTC in person for the first time using Localbitcoins. anything to be worried about? should I check for confirmations on the transaction?

Thanks in advance.

[dothebeats]

Check on where the other dealer wants the deal to take place. If it's far away from the public and places where there are people i.e. some narrow alleys, then state that you would not risk yourself to complete the deal. Security for yourself is the only thing I see that you should be worried of in trading in Localbitcoins.

[cellard]

Hello, I'm going to purchase BTC in person for the first time using Localbitcoins. anything to be worried about? should I check for confirmations on the transaction?

Thanks in advance.

Meet with a person that has a good past history of doing success trades. Meet in a crowded place with cameras everywhere just in case. It should be safe.

[Slark]

Hello, I'm going to purchase BTC in person for the first time using Localbitcoins. anything to be worried about? should I check for confirmations on the transaction?

Thanks in advance.

If you are trading with person with good reputation it should be fast and easy experience. Do as others said, just follow your brain if something won't be right then back off.
And of course check confirmations, you want to be sure that deal was flawless.

[RustyNomad]

In regards to confirmations, I'll say wait for at least 2 or more.

Ask the other party to use a 'priority' fee if possible, that will ensure faster processing of the transaction meaning less time to hang around waiting for confirmations.

[VVine]

Thanks guys. I will be meeting in a public place but unfortunately the seller is unknown becasuse there aren't many sellers in my country.

[odolvlobo]

I have done many face-to-face Localbitcoin trades with many different people and I have had no trouble at all.

Meet in a public place, use the LBC trading system for transferring the bitcoins, and make sure the verification code matches. If the verification code matches, you have the bitcoins. If it doesn't or if the seller can't provide it, then something is wrong.

Trades through LBC don't go through the block chain. The bitcoins are transferred by the seller from the seller's account to the buyer's account. It is instant. The verification code confirms that the bitcoins were transferred.

[TheButterZone]

Almost all CCTV cameras don't have sufficient resolution, focus, and zoom for facial recognition, and even if they did, would not guarantee a cop appears instantly to stop the crime, so criminals can safely give no fucks.
Crowds? Ha. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Meet past armed guards manning metal detector & x-ray in public controlled access buildings, if you can't arm yourself, because no one else will save you.

[VVine]

Almost all CCTV cameras don't have sufficient resolution, focus, and zoom for facial recognition, and even if they did, would not guarantee a cop appears instantly to stop the crime, so criminals can safely give no fucks.
Crowds? Ha. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Meet past armed guards manning metal detector & x-ray in public controlled access buildings, if you can't arm yourself, because no one else will save you.

You got me even more panicked. we'll meet in a public place, it's a very large building and I assume there are armed guards there.

[TheButterZone]

Unless you see them there every day posted where you can plan to meet (and for them to deter criminals), don't assume. Regulations for armed guards may make it economically infeasible for them to be employed at that location full-time.

[VVine]

Unless you see them there every day, don't assume. Regulations for armed guards may make it economically infeasible for them to be employed at that location full-time.

You're right, but the regulations here are tougher. I live in Israel after all.

[dothebeats]

Almost all CCTV cameras don't have sufficient resolution, focus, and zoom for facial recognition, and even if they did, would not guarantee a cop appears instantly to stop the crime, so criminals can safely give no fucks.
Crowds? Ha. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Meet past armed guards manning metal detector & x-ray in public controlled access buildings, if you can't arm yourself, because no one else will save you.

You got me even more panicked. we'll meet in a public place, it's a very large building and I assume there are armed guards there.

Assurance is better than assumption. Even if there are armed guards there, you still should be alert as always because there is no guarantee for everyone's safety nowadays (unless you hire a bodyguard for yourself). No one could ever know if those guards are with him, so yeah just be alert and stay safe.

[TheButterZone]

Almost all CCTV cameras don't have sufficient resolution, focus, and zoom for facial recognition, and even if they did, would not guarantee a cop appears instantly to stop the crime, so criminals can safely give no fucks.
Crowds? Ha. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Meet past armed guards manning metal detector & x-ray in public controlled access buildings, if you can't arm yourself, because no one else will save you.

You got me even more panicked. we'll meet in a public place, it's a very large building and I assume there are armed guards there.

Assurance is better than assumption. Even if there are armed guards there, you still should be alert as always because there is no guarantee for everyone's safety nowadays (unless you hire a bodyguard for yourself). No one could ever know if those guards are with him, so yeah just be alert and stay safe.

You think the first time a criminal is told the meeting location by the OP, they will already have bribed all the guards OP will know are armed there?

If you're dealing with organized crime who've bribed or "own" everyone in public/private armed service, you're f-ed.

[dothebeats]

Almost all CCTV cameras don't have sufficient resolution, focus, and zoom for facial recognition, and even if they did, would not guarantee a cop appears instantly to stop the crime, so criminals can safely give no fucks.
Crowds? Ha. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Meet past armed guards manning metal detector & x-ray in public controlled access buildings, if you can't arm yourself, because no one else will save you.

You got me even more panicked. we'll meet in a public place, it's a very large building and I assume there are armed guards there.

Assurance is better than assumption. Even if there are armed guards there, you still should be alert as always because there is no guarantee for everyone's safety nowadays (unless you hire a bodyguard for yourself). No one could ever know if those guards are with him, so yeah just be alert and stay safe.

You think the first time a criminal is told the meeting location by the OP, they will already have bribed all the guards OP will know are armed there?

If you're dealing with organized crime who've bribed or "own" everyone in public/private armed service, you're f-ed.

You know how hard it is for bitcoiners where regulations are imposed heavily to find a deal without getting f-ed. Good thing there are no such regulations that exist here in my country YET.

[VVine]

Okay guys, the transaction went perfectly smooth and I bought my bitcoins! Thanks for the help.

[odolvlobo]

Okay guys, the transaction went perfectly smooth and I bought my bitcoins! Thanks for the help.

Butterzone and dothebeats have some active imaginations.

[crazyearner]

Okay guys, the transaction went perfectly smooth and I bought my bitcoins! Thanks for the help.

Nice to see you have had a smooth transaction on localbitcoins. I always buy and sell on their never had any problems what so ever. Best things to look out for when buying is trade history and 100+ trades is a good start and when in green and active within 5 min are always good to trade on.

[TheButterZone]

Okay guys, the transaction went perfectly smooth and I bought my bitcoins! Thanks for the help.

Butterzone and dothebeats have some active imaginations.

You're right, any crime in crowded surveilled public spaces is just a figment of our imaginations.