Disreputable BTC Users

[c4n10]

****Edited: Added new names Sep. 26th 2012****

So, as I've been browsing through the forums, I have come across some names that seem to be generally distrusted around the community. I figured why not make a list of those who are believed to be frauds, cons and just generally untrustworthy. Hopefully this thread will get a sticky as I think it will be beneficial to ALL users but especially for newbies.

I invite all members of the community to help me grow this list.

The only requirement I ask is that if you are going to name someone, please provide a link to the thread or evidence you have that said person is not to be trusted.

Here are the names I have seen so far:

Matthew N. Wright - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=107287.0
Bruce Wagner - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=106350.0
DonShrents - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=106350.0
Trendon Shavers - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=106350.0
Pirateat40 - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=106350.0
Atlas - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=106350.0
Shakaru aka Andrew Nollan (andrew.nollan@gmail.com) - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=83794.0
bulanula (self-admitted scammer) - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=107094.20
getbitcoin - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=25528.0

Also any and all users on THIS list: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=98684.0

Who do YOU know that's dirty...?

****Edited: Added new names Sep. 18th 2012 and changed thread name****

[theymos]

Here are the names I have seen so far (and I THINK they are all actually the same person):

Bruce Wagner
DonShrents
Trendon Shavers
Pirateat40
Atlas

Trendon Shavers is pirateat40, but the others are different. DonShrents and Atlas are just trolls -- they haven't scammed anyone.

[c4n10]

Trendon Shavers is pirateat40, but the others are different. DonShrents and Atlas are just trolls -- they haven't scammed anyone.

If DonShrents ISN'T pirateat40, then why does he own pirateat40.com, btsct.com AND GPUMAX.com which are all pirate's sites...?

Evidence:

http://whois.domaintools.com/pirateat40.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/btcst.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/gpumax.com

And I have found more than one reference around the forums that Atlas is also pirateat40.

Trust me, I do research before I run someone's name through the mud...

[sadpandatech]

Trendon Shavers is pirateat40, but the others are different. DonShrents and Atlas are just trolls -- they haven't scammed anyone.

If DonShrents ISN'T pirateat40, then why does he own pirateat40.com, btsct.com AND GPUMAX.com which are all pirate's sites...?

Evidence:

http://whois.domaintools.com/pirateat40.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/btcst.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/gpumax.com

And I have found more than one reference around the forums that Atlas is also pirateat40.

Trust me, I do research before I run someone's name through the mud...

anyone can pretty much create any forum nick they want is the short answer.

add c4n10 to the list just to be on the safe side. ;p  Not to be funny but there is fundamental need for would be scammers to often point out others who have been or may be scamming. It's quite interesting to observe from a psychological perspective.

that said, I'm only half kidding about adding your own name. but.....

[c4n10]

User thosecoins is a confirmed scammer: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=106045.0

[c4n10]

Trendon Shavers is pirateat40, but the others are different. DonShrents and Atlas are just trolls -- they haven't scammed anyone.

If DonShrents ISN'T pirateat40, then why does he own pirateat40.com, btsct.com AND GPUMAX.com which are all pirate's sites...?

Evidence:

http://whois.domaintools.com/pirateat40.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/btcst.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/gpumax.com

And I have found more than one reference around the forums that Atlas is also pirateat40.

Trust me, I do research before I run someone's name through the mud...

anyone can pretty much create any forum nick they want is the short answer.

add c4n10 to the list just to be on the safe side. ;p  Not to be funny but there is fundamental need for would be scammers to often point out others who have been or may be scamming. It's quite interesting to observe from a psychological perspective.

that said, I'm only half kidding about adding your own name. but.....

What does anyone being able to choose any nickname have to do with anything? Don Shrents is the name registered as owner on pirateat40's websites. You're going to imply that the Don Shrents who owns multiple bitcoin based websites is different than the Don Shrents here on the BitcoinTalk forums...? Maybe if his name was something more common like Joe Smith I would believe that, but being that I've never even heard of the last name Shrents before today, seems pretty unlikely...

And if you want to distrust me, go right ahead. I don't recall asking you for money or BTC so I don't need your trust. Now either contribute information to this thread that's helpful to the community at large or go troll elsewhere...

[JoelKatz]

You're going to imply that the Don Shrents who owns multiple bitcoin based websites is different than the Don Shrents here on the BitcoinTalk forums...?

Yes, exactly.

Maybe if his name was something more common like Joe Smith I would believe that, but being that I've never even heard of the last name Shrents before today, seems pretty unlikely...

The name "Barack Obama" is a pretty uncommon name. But if you saw a forum user with the name "Barack Obama", would you think it was the President? Obviously the forum user who picked it would know that the name "Don Shrents" was associated with Pirate. Nobody's saying it's a coincidence.

[BadBear]

What does anyone being able to choose any nickname have to do with anything?

He's saying there's no reason to assume the user here is Don Shrents. Given it was only registered a couple weeks ago it's far more likely it's a troll. 

[sadpandatech]

What does anyone being able to choose any nickname have to do with anything?

He's saying there's no reason to assume the user here is Don Shrents. Given it was only registered a couple weeks ago it's far more likely it's a troll.  

By "a couple weeks" do you mean "one day"?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=66121

ok ok, no need to nit pick. As we have seen from you 3 having to clarify what I was saying, we do not always present information perfectly here. whatever that means.

I thought the Don Shrents nick was pretty obvious from this line in his profile;

"Signature:
It's not a criminal offense to impersonate an imaginary person. "

[BadBear]

What does anyone being able to choose any nickname have to do with anything?

He's saying there's no reason to assume the user here is Don Shrents. Given it was only registered a couple weeks ago it's far more likely it's a troll. 

By "a couple weeks" do you mean "one day"?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=66121

Dang, I knew I should've looked that up before I posted.

  

[BadBear]

Considering the time frame, a couple weeks could have been before the Don Shrents posts on the forum, which would, in my mind, reduce the chance of it being a troll/sock puppet account. So I considered it an important distinction for the discussion at hand!

Now that I think about it, I think those posts are the ones I was thinking of when I said that.

[theymos]

You're going to imply that the Don Shrents who owns multiple bitcoin based websites is different than the Don Shrents here on the BitcoinTalk forums...?

https://i.imgur.com/KRt2h.jpg

I know for certain that DonShrents is not Don Shrents.

[bitcoinbear]

The thing about Atlas is he no longer uses that name. He keeps coming back as a new user and starting over when people discover who he is. Check out the "Hunting Atlas" thread, I think it is in off-topic, where people identify each of his new usernames. So having the name Atlas on the list does not help any new users, since they will never run into the user "Atlas".

[benjamindees]

Atlas isn't remotely questionable.  He got banned for posting too much, with too many accounts.

[c4n10]

Well, all things considered, even if DonShrents is NOT pirateat40 and IS just a troll, his username STILL belongs in this thread as someone who is not to be trusted, which REALLY IS the point of this thread. So, I'm done arguing semantics, trust him or don't, your choice.

[Vladimir]

What does anyone being able to choose any nickname have to do with anything?

He's saying there's no reason to assume the user here is Don Shrents. Given it was only registered a couple weeks ago it's far more likely it's a troll. 

But the lesson has been taught that unless you have 100.000000000% proof you cannot say that anymore! Even 99.9999999999999999999999999999% proof is not enough.

"more likely" ha don't be silly it is not how it works anymore.

[chriswilmer]

I for one, thing that this is a useful thread. I don't have anything to contribute though. Is there a thread of particularly reputable BTC users? Might also be useful (and might invoke less acrimony!).

[c4n10]

I for one, thing that this is a useful thread. I don't have anything to contribute though. Is there a thread of particularly reputable BTC users? Might also be useful (and might invoke less acrimony!).

That's a great idea, I'll keep my eye open for those who seem to be the most reputable and if no one else beats me to it I will start a thread when I have a few names...

[bitcoinbear]

I for one, thing that this is a useful thread. I don't have anything to contribute though. Is there a thread of particularly reputable BTC users? Might also be useful (and might invoke less acrimony!).

That's a great idea, I'll keep my eye open for those who seem to be the most reputable and if no one else beats me to it I will start a thread when I have a few names...

A few names for the GOOD USERS thread, if one gets started, in no particular order:

Patrick Harnett  

Goat, he does what he says, but you have to make sure you read the fine print because it might say he is taking all your money.

Nefario, despite the nefarios handle, he runs the GLBSE and is one of the most trusted and respected members of the forum.

Theymos (do we get extra points for sucking up to the admins?)

Senbonzakura

Gavin Andresan (sp?)

[c4n10]

I for one, thing that this is a useful thread. I don't have anything to contribute though. Is there a thread of particularly reputable BTC users? Might also be useful (and might invoke less acrimony!).

That's a great idea, I'll keep my eye open for those who seem to be the most reputable and if no one else beats me to it I will start a thread when I have a few names...

A few names for the GOOD USERS thread, if one gets started, in no particular order:

Patrick Harnett 

Goat, he does what he says, but you have to make sure you read the fine print because it might say he is taking all your money.

Nefario, despite the nefarios handle, he runs the GLBSE and is one of the most trusted and respected members of the forum.

Theymos (do we get extra points for sucking up to the admins?)

Senbonzakura

Gavin Andresan (sp?)

If I can get a couple senior members to confirm these names as trust-worthy I will start the new thread with their names   =)