No more scam busting!

[BitcoinDistributor]

We do need someone to nail these guys. Vod glad you did well with BTC and hope you enjoy that trip  

You seem to be active on the forums just as much as Vod was, you should appoint yourself the new scam buster. You seem to be impartial, fair, unemotional in decisions and affairs and dont have a vested interest in having default trust (such as being an account seller). You would make a fine Vod minus the antonizing and asshole personality that Vod had.

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[thebitcoinquiz.com]

I just saw someone named as "Vod" yesterday on FunRun2. I did ask him if he was the Vod from bitcointalk, he said "maybe", I just hope that you really have retired this name from everywhere else.
Anyways all the best for your future. The forum will miss you.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

The great Vod is hanging up his scam busting gloves.
You've served the community well my friend but I guess all good things must come to an end.
You said that as an early adopter you have been lucky enough to retire at the young age of 43.
Hey man, go & enjoy your retirement, leave the scam busting to others, relax & enjoy life.
Still pop back in every now & again though for leisure & fun just leave the serious stuff behind.

[Blazed]

We do need someone to nail these guys. Vod glad you did well with BTC and hope you enjoy that trip  

You seem to be active on the forums just as much as Vod was, you should appoint yourself the new scam buster. You seem to be impartial, fair, unemotional in decisions and affairs and dont have a vested interest in having default trust (such as being an account seller). You would make a fine Vod minus the antonizing and asshole personality that Vod had.

Thanks for the compliments, but I am not a scam buster. I think it takes a certain personality to be effective at something like that. I am too laid back and mostly give people the benefit of the doubt...probably not judgmental enough to catch people early.

[koelen3]

That is really sad to see you living but it's good to hear that you're running for your dream Boat.
i wish you a very Safe Journey and i'm sure you will have so much fun!
Be sure to add some pictures for us if possible

[TECSHARE]

That is really sad to see you living but it's good to hear that you're running for your dream Boat.
i wish you a very Safe Journey and i'm sure you will have so much fun!
Be sure to add some pictures for us if possible

I am sad to see him living too. This thread is also very sad and transparent. Vod is just making this post (like last time) to feed his ego so he can read the list of people kissing his ass and reenforcing his belief that no matter how many people he abuses he is invaluable to this community, thereby reinforcing his behavior. He did this a few months previous. He is not going anywhere. His obsessive compulsive personality will prevent that. His primary reason for doing this besides inflating his ego is so that he can lay low for a little while and escape the backlash from his abusive behavior, and so he doesn't overstay his welcome with the more influential people in this community.

He will just take up another identity but will quickly be spotted again because his behavior is very abusive, and he can't help himself. I got a message today from a company attempting to raise funds to become tax exempt status (including copies of their filing paperwork), and he is harassing them over the technicalities of their filing. Now he is messing with people ACTUALLY trying to create charities.

He is doing far more damage than he ever prevented stopping scammers. This is the kind of stuff that drives good people away from Bitcoin forever. Any scammers he "stops", however will be right back again within minutes setting up another scam. Vod is running his own little version of the drug war here on the forum, only the war is on scammers, and he doesn't care how many good people suffer in order for him to "win" this war that in reality will never end.

[tspacepilot]

He is doing far more damage than he ever prevented stopping scammers. This is the kind of stuff that drives good people away from Bitcoin forever. Any scammers he "stops", however will be right back again within minutes setting up another scam. Vod is running his own little version of the drug war here on the forum, only the war is on scammers, and he doesn't care how many good people suffer in order for him to "win" this war that in reality will never end.

Sorry, TECSHARE, but that's hyperbole.  I think a lot of people confuse using bitcoin with using the bitcointalk forum.  I don't think many people get into bitcoin in order to enjoy an online forum about it.  I think it's quite more likely that most of enjoy (or not) using this online forum because we're into bitcoin.  Bitcoin is useful and beautiful and interesting no matter what state of affairs exists in this forum.  This forum is not bitcoin, it's a place to chat about bitcoin.  Bitcoin exists as long as there are nodes running the protocol, not as long as there's a bitcoinforum for chatting.

Just my 2 satoshis.

[xetsr]

That is really sad to see you living but it's good to hear that you're running for your dream Boat.
i wish you a very Safe Journey and i'm sure you will have so much fun!
Be sure to add some pictures for us if possible

He is doing far more damage than he ever prevented stopping scammers. This is the kind of stuff that drives good people away from Bitcoin forever. Any scammers he "stops", however will be right back again within minutes setting up another scam. Vod is running his own little version of the drug war here on the forum, only the war is on scammers, and he doesn't care how many good people suffer in order for him to "win" this war that in reality will never end.

So just let the scammers do whatever they want and drive even more people away from Bitcoin, forever?

Looks like you're forgetting about the people that are also scammed and never return. I know quite a few people including family members who got scammed their first or second attempt at buying and gave up on Bitcoin.

Can't win either way.

[Xialla]

ahh...thanks for you effort and never stop licking your boob. enjoy your boat journey.) bb

[CrackedLogic]

This made me emotional 

Wait what? Although I never knew Vod personally, I feel emotional about this too. Vod was an Iconic user to the forum. Peter Griffin has become an iconic character to me. I can't not watch Family Guy and be like "Oh look, it's Vod". Yeah, these will be the ol' days. Vod's antics in the Off-topic was pretty amusing too. It's going to be a shame that some of the newer users might not be able to interact with him, this may feel like a good thing to the ones of a red status, but, you're going to feel a Vo(i)d.

I have vastly reduced my computer clients and built my dream home while making this forum my virtual home.

It's great reading this, you deserve it. I'd give you a pat on the back if I could. You probably won't see this message soon, but good luck and have fun!

thanks for you effort and never stop licking your boob

[VPScreator]

please remove the feedback you gave me, I already asked you via message, please I beg !

[saddampbuh]

congratulations on having made enough money out of btc to retire

[TECSHARE]

Sorry, TECSHARE, but that's hyperbole.  I think a lot of people confuse using bitcoin with using the bitcointalk forum.  I don't think many people get into bitcoin in order to enjoy an online forum about it.  I think it's quite more likely that most of enjoy (or not) using this online forum because we're into bitcoin.  Bitcoin is useful and beautiful and interesting no matter what state of affairs exists in this forum.  This forum is not bitcoin, it's a place to chat about bitcoin.  Bitcoin exists as long as there are nodes running the protocol, not as long as there's a bitcoinforum for chatting.

Just my 2 satoshis.

What you said is technically correct, however most new users of Bitcoin gravitate or are directed here in order to learn new information, ask questions, and get involved with the community. Bitcoin would live on if this forum was gone tomorrow, but the fact is it still represents Bitcoin for better or worse. There is such an atmosphere of abuse here that is so rampant it often turns the benevolent skepticism of new users into active rejection of the entire idea of Bitcoin, because unlike veteran users, they don't know that difference.

So just let the scammers do whatever they want and drive even more people away from Bitcoin, forever?

Looks like you're forgetting about the people that are also scammed and never return. I know quite a few people including family members who got scammed their first or second attempt at buying and gave up on Bitcoin.

Can't win either way.

The primary factor in people getting scammed is THEIR OWN LACKADAISICAL ATTITUDE. People like Vod help foster that attitude by giving the impression that the community stops scammers. In reality a fool and his money will ALWAYS be parted, no matter if it is Bitcoin, cash, credit, or anything else. In stead of teaching awareness and skills to prevent being scammed, the community is hyper-focused on outing scammers, which in reality does little to them but delay their scams, and provide entertainment for rubberneckers.

Vod by no means stops scammers, he simply delays them by forcing them to start over. The fact is the scammers WILL NEVER STOP, and believing otherwise is naive. The question is, is it worth it to tear down and drive away lots of honest users in this inquisition on suspected scammers that will never stop? This is not just a Bitcoin problem, it is a global problem, and the scammers are unfortunately winning. Lets not sap our resources even further flailing aimlessly about damaging contributing members of the community over an endless war that can never be won.

[tspacepilot]

So just let the scammers do whatever they want and drive even more people away from Bitcoin, forever?

Looks like you're forgetting about the people that are also scammed and never return. I know quite a few people including family members who got scammed their first or second attempt at buying and gave up on Bitcoin.

Can't win either way.

The primary factor in people getting scammed is THEIR OWN LACKADAISICAL ATTITUDE. People like Vod help foster that attitude by giving the impression that the community stops scammers. In reality a fool and his money will ALWAYS be parted, no matter if it is Bitcoin, cash, credit, or anything else. In stead of teaching awareness and skills to prevent being scammed, the community is hyper-focused on outing scammers, which in reality does little to them but delay their scams, and provide entertainment for rubberneckers.

Vod by no means stops scammers, he simply delays them by forcing them to start over. The fact is the scammers WILL NEVER STOP, and believing otherwise is naive. The question is, is it worth it to tear down and drive away lots of honest users in this inquisition on suspected scammers that will never stop? This is not just a Bitcoin problem, it is a global problem, and the scammers are unfortunately winning. Lets not sap our resources even further flailing aimlessly about damaging contributing members of the community over an endless war that can never be won.

I agree with this point almost wholeheartedly.  Instead of teaching newbies a caveat emptor mentality, the trust rangers merely delay the inevitable lesson that everyone eventually need to learn---how to watch out for yourself.  What's more, this attitude is built into the trustlessness of the bitcoin ethos---no central authorities, just validation of known shared information.  The trust rangers brigade basically works against this ethos.  And the part you said about infighting and innocent people getting caught in the crossfire of the trustranger inquisition is particularly salient for me (having recently gone through an episode of this).

[xetsr]

The primary factor in people getting scammed is THEIR OWN LACKADAISICAL ATTITUDE. People like Vod help foster that attitude by giving the impression that the community stops scammers. In reality a fool and his money will ALWAYS be parted, no matter if it is Bitcoin, cash, credit, or anything else. In stead of teaching awareness and skills to prevent being scammed, the community is hyper-focused on outing scammers, which in reality does little to them but delay their scams, and provide entertainment for rubberneckers.

Vod by no means stops scammers, he simply delays them by forcing them to start over. The fact is the scammers WILL NEVER STOP, and believing otherwise is naive. The question is, is it worth it to tear down and drive away lots of honest users in this inquisition on suspected scammers that will never stop? This is not just a Bitcoin problem, it is a global problem, and the scammers are unfortunately winning. Lets not sap our resources even further flailing aimlessly about damaging contributing members of the community over an endless war that can never be won.

I agree that users should be made more aware of the scams that happen here and how to prevent themselves from getting scammed. Unfortunately, nothing can or will be done because staff and mods simply won't (or can't in their words) moderate the scams that happen here no matter how obvious they are so people turn to trust to at least warn others.

New accounts should be redirected to a page with guidelines and warnings when trying to access the currency exchange forum. Maybe even warnings seen only by new accounts when they receive a PM (most scams are done over private message) showing the risks of trading, how to use escrow and how "Trust" should only be used only as a guideline. This trust system might look like it's working to newer member but IMO, it's only setting up long term and larger scams which we'll probably see soon, especially with bitcoin's price continuing to drop. People put way to much trust into other's trust. I always suggest escrow but get "no, it's okay you have a lot of trust" and similar messages all the time from members that have never traded with me before so have no reason to trust me besides taking the word from others who they probably never traded with either.

[tidus1097]

How about newbie account being able to ask for loans to begin with. I honestly can say that I have ever seen someone fund a newbie loan. I'm not gonna say that its not happened. Usually theres a reason for rules. Someone usually has been there and did that. Its not hard to become a jr. member and be a productive member of the forums, but to say that a newbie should be able to ask for a loan is another question. I don't think they should be able to. No need. Get involved with the community before asking for money at least.

[xetsr]

How about newbie account being able to ask for loans to begin with. I honestly can say that I have ever seen someone fund a newbie loan. I'm not gonna say that its not happened. Usually theres a reason for rules. Someone usually has been there and did that. Its not hard to become a jr. member and be a productive member of the forums, but to say that a newbie should be able to ask for a loan is another question. I don't think they should be able to. No need. Get involved with the community before asking for money at least.

My question: Why is there a thread stickied in the loan section by TomatoCage and one by squall1066 in the goods section but nothing in the currency exchange section besides the paypal and reversible payment method thread?  Let me rephrase that, why are there warnings in most sections except the one that is used the most by scammers?

[Quickseller]

How about newbie account being able to ask for loans to begin with. I honestly can say that I have ever seen someone fund a newbie loan. I'm not gonna say that its not happened. Usually theres a reason for rules. Someone usually has been there and did that. Its not hard to become a jr. member and be a productive member of the forums, but to say that a newbie should be able to ask for a loan is another question. I don't think they should be able to. No need. Get involved with the community before asking for money at least.

My question: Why is there a thread stickied in the loan section by TomatoCage and one by squall1066 in the goods section but nothing in the currency exchange section besides the paypal and reversible payment method thread?  Let me rephrase that, why are there warnings in most sections except the one that is used the most by scammers?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1040193.0

I was bumping this thread for weeks, if not longer. I ran the idea past hilariousandco prior to making it but never got a response.

I have no idea why it hasn't been stickied.

[xetsr]

How about newbie account being able to ask for loans to begin with. I honestly can say that I have ever seen someone fund a newbie loan. I'm not gonna say that its not happened. Usually theres a reason for rules. Someone usually has been there and did that. Its not hard to become a jr. member and be a productive member of the forums, but to say that a newbie should be able to ask for a loan is another question. I don't think they should be able to. No need. Get involved with the community before asking for money at least.

My question: Why is there a thread stickied in the loan section by TomatoCage and one by squall1066 in the goods section but nothing in the currency exchange section besides the paypal and reversible payment method thread?  Let me rephrase that, why are there warnings in most sections except the one that is used the most by scammers?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1040193.0

I was bumping this thread for weeks, if not longer. I ran the idea past hilariousandco prior to making it but never got a response.

I have no idea why it hasn't been stickied.

Some will say conflict of interest since you're an escrow, but so are the other two. They just been around longer.

If a non escrower were to rewrite or repost Quickseller's thread, would it then be stickied?

[Gleb Gamow]

I am announcing my retirement from scam busting.

Bitcoin has been very nice to me, allowing me to retire early at age 43.  I felt I really needed to give back to that which had given so much to me, so I was very active on this forum fighting scams.  As of this date I have spent over 136 days fighting the good fight.  I gave up the chance to make money by escrowing, using a paid signature, running a business, moderating, etc.  I wasn't here to make money but to try and help other people from losing coins. 

Over the past year, after selling my coins, I have vastly reduced my computer clients and built my dream home while making this forum my virtual home.  Over the last few days I have given away my remaining bitcoin for various project work.  I no longer hold any significant bitcoin, and thus have a reduced vested interest in keeping the bitcoin price high.  That includes doing my little part to combat fraud here.  The only project I am working on now is exposing Armis' long term con on the official PICISI website, which will be complete by June 5th.

Luckily over the past year there has been an influx of new scam busters being added to the default trust list, reducing my work load considerably. Many times I go to leave negative trust and see it's already been done!  I am throwing the torch to these individuals and thank them in advance for their service to the community. 

On June 6th I'm planning to execute a life long dream and buy a small sailboat to leave from Vancouver, sail down the coast, through the Panama Canal, and back up to Halifax.  I'm expecting it to take most of the summer. If you live on the coast and would like to go for a beer (or just see the boat!), please email me at martin@martinlawrence.ca. 
 

Code:

DISCLAIMERS:
1.  I will be locking this thread for now as it will only be filled with complaints from scammers I have busted.  
2.  I will be blocking everyone's PMs within the week.  People may not see this and I don't want them believing they sent a message that I may never read.
3.  I am retiring the name Vod.  If anyone, anywhere else claims to be "Vod from Bitcointalk", they are lying.

I'll sincerely miss the good times I had in the Off Topic and Political Discussion sections with some great people on here.  The last couple days have been an emotional one for sure, but I know things will be better in the future, if I don't drown that is!  I got quite sucked up into this community and for that reason I don't know if I'll reconnect when I return.  Since I'm not scam busting there will be better communities to joke around on that don't have all the drama and dishonesty/scamming.  TC and Dooglus have my contact information should I need to change any negative trust I have left.

I wish good luck to all the honest people out there and I wish the overall bitcoin community continued success!  Thanks to the admins and mods for their hard and thankless work.

Feel free to blame me for this.

Vod Bless.

This fuckin' sucks! Now we only have ourselves to blame.