[2018-03-15]Bitcoin Thieves No Longer Just an Online Threat, How to Stay Safe

[Diced90]

Cryptocurrencies, as the product of the digital realm, have always existed in the ether - no pun intended - meaning that physically there was nothing to hold, or to lose/have stolen. The threat for Bitcoin users when it came to getting fleeced of their digital currencies always existed online, leaving savvy investors safe offline.

Now however, thieves are cottoning on to the fact that there is a way to reach coins offline and have taken their plundering to the streets. A number of cases have been reported where Bitcoin owners are being attacked face-to-face by thieves and being forced to deposit huge amounts of digital currency into anonymous wallets.

It seems that even the usual safety measures taken online are no longer good enough, but there are some steps people can take to make sure they do not become a victim of face-to-face Bitcoin burglary.

Read more https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-thieves-no-longer-just-an-online-threat-how-to-stay-safe

[davis196]

This is old news.There were many cases of people being robbed,while they were trying to trade bitcoins offline 
using platforms like localbitcoins.com and craigslist.org.Online cryptocurrency trading is far more secure and nobody in the real life would know that you have crypto wallets and you trade on crypto exchange platforms.
The tips provided in the article are vey useful,as well. 

[Lucius]

People will learn with time that is not a good move to talk about cryptocurrency,especially with some "friends" which can be turned against you at any time.So it is best to keep information about how much crypto you have&where you keep it just for yourself and for some trusted family member.As stated in the article if you do opposite and bragging around about how much BTC you have,you actually become a target.

Thieves are everywhere around us,they stealing bikes, cars, pets, and in fact all that can be sold.Such things can still be found,but in case of crypto theft in most cases there is no help.

[Kemarit]

We can categorized them as criminals already and not just ordinary thieves you can find in the street. They used social medias as tool to spot their potential victims and carry this face-to-face attacks. I guess everyone should keep quiet as how many bitcoins you have, or how many you made just on crypto currency alone. Because those criminals will go after you, no matter. As @Lucius have said, you don't need to talk it publicly with friends or even close family members because you really don't know what's on their mind or something. Its like saying that you don't need to trust everyone now because crypto is going mainstream and as a result is the new targets for criminals, so better be safe than sorry.

[zattayu]

kita harus menjaga rapat rapat akun bitcoin dan jangan sampai terditeksi oleh orang lain

[churrosndips]

I'm wondering why the examples cited in the article are all from the former USSR. Does it mean that it is not safe to roam around the streets of those places? I'm pretty sure things could be much worse in some other parts of the world.

Whether you have investments in crypto or not, it is always prudent for one to take extra precautions to avoid falling victim to thieves be it online or in the real world. The tips in this article may provide added info on how to keep yourself safe online:

http://bitcoinist.com/secure-cryptocurrency-wallet-16-simple-tips-beginners/

[1Referee]

Keeping your mouth shut helps. Stop bragging about your profits and holdings helps. I know a few people locally who share their crypto progression on Facebook, which is mind boggling. Their Facebook account contains pictures from their house, their street, and contains even location tagged posts. Like seriously, if you want to become a target, then this is the way to follow. I personally just browse through profiles for curiosity purposes, to see what's up locally, but there may be enough ill minded people out there looking through profiles with completely different motives. Funny thing is that if you ask the average person what amount he has in his savings account, you'll be told that it's not your business, or that it is even rude to ask. But if you ask them about their crypto holdings? You'll likely hear this; I just made like $10,000 yesterday, and that while last year I made like $50,000! Crypto rocks! Fools.

[Aikidoka]

How do thieves know you own bitcoin? I mean, it is all about anonymity, no one can know who you are and it is untraceable even from the government itself. If that's the case, then the safety security should be improved to avoid getting stolen by some creeps. Honestly, I have never heard of a bitcoin user getting attacked by thieves before. But I guess I should be expecting the unexpected because this world is really weird.

[Basmic]

I'm wondering why the examples cited in the article are all from the former USSR. Does it mean that it is not safe to roam around the streets of those places? I'm pretty sure things could be much worse in some other parts of the world.

Whether you have investments in crypto or not, it is always prudent for one to take extra precautions to avoid falling victim to thieves be it online or in the real world. The tips in this article may provide added info on how to keep yourself safe online:

http://bitcoinist.com/secure-cryptocurrency-wallet-16-simple-tips-beginners/

Crime has no boundaries. In any city of the world you can become a victim of a crime. Even if you do not leave the house you have the opportunity to become a victim of hackers. As for the Director of EXMO, he himself is to blame for his abduction. People started to exchange money and to output them is required to prove the legal origin of the money. It was not a ransom. They got their money back.

[richardsNY]

How do thieves know you own bitcoin? I mean, it is all about anonymity, no one can know who you are and it is untraceable even from the government itself.

Did you even bother to read OP and the previous posts before posting yourself? Probably not. In most cases people land themselves into big problems when buying and selling face to face, or just by being a public figure from which it is known that this person holds a lot crypto wealth. Another common mistake is that people love to boast about their crypto successes as 1Referee pointed out. The 'anonymity' that you refer to has no meaning if people don't do anything to remain anonymous. If you for example agreed to sell 10 BTC face to face, the buying side for sure knows that you'll show up with that many coins, which means that from that point you're a walking target. Common sense man....

[pixie85]

How do thieves know you own bitcoin? I mean, it is all about anonymity, no one can know who you are and it is untraceable even from the government itself.

Did you even bother to read OP and the previous posts before posting yourself? Probably not. In most cases people land themselves into big problems when buying and selling face to face, or just by being a public figure from which it is known that this person holds a lot crypto wealth. Another common mistake is that people love to boast about their crypto successes as 1Referee pointed out. The 'anonymity' that you refer to has no meaning if people don't do anything to remain anonymous. If you for example agreed to sell 10 BTC face to face, the buying side for sure knows that you'll show up with that many coins, which means that from that point you're a walking target. Common sense man....

There are many ways to stay safe. You can be making smaller trades, doing it in public places, take some friends or associates with you, arm yourself. I always say that peopole who are getting robbed are usually irresponsible. Walking at night alone and talking on the phone is asking to get mugged and nowadays they will not only take your phone, watch and wallet, but they will also ask for your wallet password.

[francoise]

local trades are doubtful, though there are many successful trades, still need to be very vigilant.

[jamids]

This is the reason why you should not openly expose how much coins you have because these people are always online waiting for someone to disclose information and they would proceed with their plan of how to steal your coins. This is also one of the reasons why KYC is not safe just handling your personal information to strangers because they might use that info to have access in your personal life and if they knew you have more coins then they will make you a target. As much as possible, do not brag about how much you have and stay low key.

[Gotottack]

No matter how motherly tongue it may sound, I still would stress the importance of keeping business or money matters as private as can be. There is no way others will know of our financial value unless we would give people the reason to prey on us. I know we cannot attribute the blame to these innocent victims but we have to put a certain level of responsibility towards our conduct so as to 'somehow' deter others from committing felonious acts towards us. Keeping matters private is the only thing we can control, hence, let us take utmost advantage of it. However, though, I recognize there are really people who are capable of plotting things against us no matter how careful we are. I just hope the government delivers their solemn duty to protect the citizenry regardless of their involvement with cryptos or not.

[coolcoinz]

This is the reason why you should not openly expose how much coins you have because these people are always online waiting for someone to disclose information and they would proceed with their plan of how to steal your coins. This is also one of the reasons why KYC is not safe just handling your personal information to strangers because they might use that info to have access in your personal life and if they knew you have more coins then they will make you a target. As much as possible, do not brag about how much you have and stay low key.

It's the same with any wealth. This is one of the reasons for this new trend among wealthy people to build secure homes that don't look like much from the outside, but are packed with expensive stuff on the inside. There are places that were adopted from farmhousers, storage buildings and such and are luxurious on the inside. Learn from the best

[dbers79]

Cultivating a healthy degree of paranoia pays in this day and age. Threats are all around us and you'll never know where you'll be most vulnerable. Keeping yourself well informed is one good way of minimizing risk as being forewarned enables you to be accordingly forearmed.