[2016-0427] Gizmodo: If You're Missing $132,000 in Bitcoins Please Contact Us

[pawel7777]

And the high fee story made it to the mainstream (sort of) news:


If You're Missing $132,000 in Bitcoins Please Contact Us

http://gizmodo.com/if-youre-missing-132-0000-in-bitcoins-please-contact-u-1773337279

Among the many things that have held Bitcoin back from mainstream acceptance, even advanced users struggle with one huge issue: Bitcoin is confusing. One cryptocurrency enthusiast learned that the hard way, when a simple mistake ended up costing him a cool $132,000.

The user was apparently trying to pay a typical five cent fee to a bitcoin mining network, Bitclub, but actually sent enough to buy a house. We’ve all been there.
...
It may not be all bad news for the anonymous Bitcoin enthusiast who accidentally gave away $132,000. Bitclub sent an email to users trying to find the user so that it can return his precious bitcoins. In the email reported by CoinDesk, the mining network said:

We are currently waiting for someone to reach out to us and claim their mistake so that we can verify them and send their bitcoin back, but so far as of this posting nobody has been able to verify it.
...

[a7mos]

It is really kind from them to send the fees back. but Why do not they send it to the input address without waiting for someone to say it was me ! as there is one address only in the inputs

[pawel7777]

It is really kind from them to send the fees back. but Why do not they send it to the input address without waiting for someone to say it was me ! as there is one address only in the inputs

You can never be sure whether sender still has control over that address. He could've used online wallet with throwaway account, or someone else's wallet/computer etc.

[1Referee]

It is really kind from them to send the fees back. but Why do not they send it to the input address without waiting for someone to say it was me ! as there is one address only in the inputs

You can never be sure whether sender still has control over that address. He could've used online wallet with throwaway account, or someone else's wallet/computer etc.

But then again, how can that person prove it was really him that has made the horrible mistake with the insanely high fee?

[2015Bubble]

Why not buy ETH with it..

Then dump it 

[pawel7777]

It is really kind from them to send the fees back. but Why do not they send it to the input address without waiting for someone to say it was me ! as there is one address only in the inputs

You can never be sure whether sender still has control over that address. He could've used online wallet with throwaway account, or someone else's wallet/computer etc.

But then again, how can that person prove it was really him that has made the horrible mistake with the insanely high fee?

If he can't prove it (by signed message), that means he doesn't control the address, then the miners will keep the fee. Still better than flushing ~300 BTC down the toilet by sending them to address controlled by no one.