NYC man robbed of bitcoins

[bryant.coleman]

That's all pretty confusing. Katz claims to be robbed out of BTC, while police say his case is not bitcoin-related (?).

Katz lost the following, in addition to getting stabbed:

1. Bitcoin worth some $8,500
2. Fiat cash in US Dollar worth some $3,500
3. His new Samsung mobile phone
4. His credit cards.

As we can see here, the most valuable item was the Bitcoins. Can't understand why the cops announced that his case was not "bitcoin-related".

[Gleb Gamow]

Its NYP, you really trust their so called source?

Look at the article, 1/3 of it (altho the whole thing is shorter than a damn forum post) is about Silkroad again

Just read it and that's what I noticed. I'm leanin' toward there not being a police report on record for the supposed incident, with NYP gamblin' that nobody will check, and if somebody did and found nothing, NYP would then claim that the info was from an unnamed source. Meanwhile, they garnered eyeballs for their rag via the coy ploy, the likes that's in vogue to gain readership.

[subSTRATA]

The media is deffinitely corrupted.

of course, negativity is the main criteria for the media in this country. the news stations here cant even make a calm report on the status of ebola in the US, what makes you think they can make an informative report on bitcoin, which they probably know next to nothing about besides that it was used to buy drugs on silk road

[NorrisK]

For me this is a reason to just use exchanges online for selling my bitcoins.. Luckily in the Netherlands there are plenty services that provide easy buying and selling of bitcoin without any wait time. It costs a couple % though.

[leopard2]

the BurtW or Ross U. robberies are much more troubling, this was just a self employed robber - the organized criminals are much worse 

[randy8777]

For me this is a reason to just use exchanges online for selling my bitcoins.. Luckily in the Netherlands there are plenty services that provide easy buying and selling of bitcoin without any wait time. It costs a couple % though.

i'm from the netherlands as well. i use bitonic for buying and selling. when you buy, you only pay €0.50 bank fee. for selling it cost you around 1 or so %.

[TheButterZone]

Economically and potentially physically suicidal to trade BTC in NYC, if you don't go through metal detectors with armed security at all access points (ie courthouses). Or just violate "gun control", because violent criminals give zero fucks and have all the guns they want at all times everywhere else.

[masterzino]

Regardless of almost anything you're trading, it should take place in a crowded place during daylight to minimize risk.

[TheButterZone]

Regardless of almost anything you're trading, it should take place in a crowded place during daylight to minimize risk.

Umm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

[BTI4LIFE]

Regardless of almost anything you're trading, it should take place in a crowded place during daylight to minimize risk.

what part of anonymous transactions are you confused about? ^ satoshi laughs! :-)

[bryant.coleman]

Regardless of almost anything you're trading, it should take place in a crowded place during daylight to minimize risk.

We are normally cautious when we are trading for the first time with someone. But if we are dealing with some person, who has been doing trade for a long time with us, then sometimes we ignore the negative consequences, and get somewhat relaxed. Normal people tend to trust strangers after a few nice deals. And conmen are quick to exploit this trust.

[shorena]

Regardless of almost anything you're trading, it should take place in a crowded place during daylight to minimize risk.

what part of anonymous transactions are you confused about? ^ satoshi laughs! :-)

Bitcoin is not anonymous by design.

[Amph]

they think that doing it in real life is less anonymous, but they forgot about all the risk that this can lead

at least if you want to really trade in real life, do it with a very good friend and none else

[Possum577]

This is not the first robbery of bitcoin in NYC. There's a documented instance that happened last year and there's a thread about it in this forum. Anyway, the theft of bitcoin is rarely newsworthy, we all know that pure nature of the currency lends it to being a target for theft. Is it news if someone claimed "I was robbed, someone took my cash!"? No. Unless the volume is in the tens of Millions.

I think a better take on this is that if the NY Post is writing articles about bitcoin, bitcoin is becoming more mainstream. People in NY aren't going to be turned off of bitcoin due to the theft, they're going to be intrigued thinking "maybe this bitcoin is something I need to have!"

[subSTRATA]

they think that doing it in real life is less anonymous, but they forgot about all the risk that this can lead

at least if you want to really trade in real life, do it with a very good friend and none else

the loss of anonymity and the potential danger is what you risk for selling at a higher price; imo the tradeoff is definitely not worth it, id much rather use an exchange.

[BTI4LIFE]

Regardless of almost anything you're trading, it should take place in a crowded place during daylight to minimize risk.

what part of anonymous transactions are you confused about? ^ satoshi laughs! :-)

Bitcoin is not anonymous by design.

sure ! tell that to all my friends who were using it back in 2012! it worked well for anonymous payments then ...did something change? * ? :\ hmmmmm

[manselr]

http://nypost.com/2015/06/05/nyc-man-robbed-at-gunpoint-for-his-bitcoins/

be careful on lbc

It looks really similar to a fake news posted somewhere last year. That not few people took as real until proven false

The other news were fake? Where is the proof that shows that was a fake?
I've considered sometimes using localbitcoins but im so paranoid about meeting IRL, who knows who is at the other end lol.

[BlueYozakuraBTC]

My question is why is he selling his bitcoin? Coinbase has a wallet to transfer btc automatically into your own currency = into your bank acct the next day. Also he can get a xbit card.

Am I missing something here? Why would you need to sell your bitcoin to someone in person?


I've read some of the scams on localbitcoins where people show up with fake checks, threaten someone or worse and it always seems to be some sketchy meet up situation.

[Za1n]

Regardless of almost anything you're trading, it should take place in a crowded place during daylight to minimize risk.

Umm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

The crowded space is not because they feel other people will step in to help you, it is more of a disincentive from someone trying to rob you as there will be more witnesses later who can describe the thief and corroborate the victims story to police. While it is true some purse/phone snatcher type may attempt this anyway, they rely more on speed and not standing around conversing with someone for any length of time.

Anyway, this type of exchange might be best to take place at the police station, bank or somewhere with lots of cameras (and people). In any event I don't think getting into a car in a dark ally with stranger is wise under any circumstances, Bitcoin related or otherwise.

[Za1n]

That's all pretty confusing. Katz claims to be robbed out of BTC, while police say his case is not bitcoin-related (?).

Katz lost the following, in addition to getting stabbed:

1. Bitcoin worth some $8,500
2. Fiat cash in US Dollar worth some $3,500
3. His new Samsung mobile phone
4. His credit cards.

As we can see here, the most valuable item was the Bitcoins. Can't understand why the cops announced that his case was not "bitcoin-related".

It probably was not Bitcoin related in the sense that they were not specifically out to acquire Bitcoins. I am sure they exchanged them for cash at the first chance they got so it was more of a crime about acquiring fiat. They could have held up someone selling PM's, or an expensive watch, etc. and the crime wouldn't be a watch related crime, it is just a robbery of items of value that can be easily converted into cash.