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[Carnth]

There really needs to be a better vetting process.  Instead of hiring Private Investigators after the fact, someone should have spent the money flying out to meet him first hand and getting a copy of his ID and running a background check on him.  But nobody is going to do that, because it would cost X% of their potential BTC value.

This doesn't matter either. Take a look at the BAKEWELL case.

Ian Bakewell posted his photos, photo ID, home address, etc and he still scammed. It was only through the vigilance of dedicated asset holders that they were able to recoup any value at all.

[1715675383]

1715675383

[deltanine]

I doubt any legal action will take place because the work involved to track him down doesn't seem to be worth it for law enforcement.  There isn't enough to go on.  We're not even sure of his real name being correct.

Regardless of whether anything comes of it, a criminal complaint against creativex is imminent.  You underestimate the information the PI was able to get.  Creativex is able to avoid us because we are scattered across the world.  It will not take much for local law enforcement to locate him.

Honestly, a bunch of people (Me included) invested in someone who nobody apparently met, vetted, or even has a picture of the guy.  Seems to be a common theme in Bitcoin investing that folks will throw good money at anyone who just writes up a big post with the promise of future $$$. 

There really needs to be a better vetting process.  Instead of hiring Private Investigators after the fact, someone should have spent the money flying out to meet him first hand and getting a copy of his ID and running a background check on him.  But nobody is going to do that, because it would cost X% of their potential BTC value.

I chalk my investment up to money lost.  Even if you guys do find him, and sue him, he'll be broke and whatever equipment he has will be worthless.  I'm not saying he should get away with it, but the reason he is going to get away with it is because nobody (Including me) did the necessary vetting to make sure this guy is legit.

I totally agree with all of this.  Revisiting the thread to find users to PM was a bitter reminder how convinced I was back then that this guy was on the level.

I consider all the coin I invested gone also, but if he can get away with it now he'll likely scam again.  The least I could do is participate in a criminal complaint that may prevent future scam victims.

[Alphi]

I totally agree with all of this.  Revisiting the thread to find users to PM was a bitter reminder how convinced I was back then that this guy was on the level.

I'm certain it wasn't his intention to scam people initially... but then when things got too heated with the regulators etc.. he just cut and ran.. showing his true colors as a man who was only in it for a quick buck and clearly wasn't cut out to lead a cooperative mining operation for the long run.

the fact that he buried his head in the sand and showed no regard for his investors changed his status from a failed business operator to a fugitive.
while the coins weren't being touched I was still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
But now that he has clearly been using BASIC-MINING (OUR!!!) funds to pay for his own expenses, I have absolutely no problem seeing him go to jail now for stealing our money.

I too don't expect to see my money back (that's just the nature of bitcoins) but dangit if I will be denied justice.

looks like I just bought a very expensive ticket to go and see a show about a guy who goes to jail for bitcoin fraud.

[Alphi]

I doubt any legal action will take place because the work involved to track him down doesn't seem to be worth it for law enforcement.

there is plenty to go on, all the evidence is in the google group.
authorities need only track down who pays the utility bill and they have the man behind the scam.

its child play for them, they use this technique all the time to track down the criminals behind drug operations in residential areas... and those people are usually anonymous.

Eric left a huge trail of evidence behind... which only makes his decision to go to ground even more stupid.

[tempestb]

Ok, I'm not in the Google group, so just tell me this.  If you have the evidence to find him and the proof of the scam, why isn't law enforcement already involved?  What's the hold up there?

[runam0k]

Ok, I'm not in the Google group, so just tell me this.  If you have the evidence to find him and the proof of the scam, why isn't law enforcement already involved?  What's the hold up there?

The guy running the group was going to speak to a lawyer to figure out our options (civil claim first, criminal claim or approach the SEC, that sort of thing). Unfortunately, he seems to have lost interest and there doesn't seem to be anyone in the US that wants to take the lead. Christmas got in the way and now we're already into February.

xhomerx10 has stepped up so hopefully we can make something happen.

If there are any shareholders that haven't yet sent their details to xhomerx10, please do so. The more people involved in the complaint, the better.

[webbrowser]

+1.  The "hold-up" is to include more of the affected parties (you and me) in the complaint.  So if you are affected, please contact xhomerx10.

[Nightmoonk]

I'm confused here, is deltanine's efforts to collect 'affected parties' and xhomerx10's going to the same place? I've already sent info from deltanine's pm so what does xhomerx10 have to do with it?

[webbrowser]

xhomerx10 is helping to coordinate the complaint effort.  That email address goes to xhomer10.  So all's well.

[Nightmoonk]

Gotcha. Thanks for the reply.

[stereotype]

I'm surprised no one has hired me yet to investigate this guy. If you're willing to do $50, I can provide you with his full SSN, full assets, any bankruptcies he's been through whether dismissed or not, any liens and judgments he's received an full details on those. I can provide a 10 year address history and his current address, if he owns his property and all the details on that. Also, any vehicles he currently and has owned in the past and all the associated details on that, from the VIN to the license plate #, make, model and more. I can provide you with a verified cell or home number, perhaps both. I can provide any criminal history he had since he was 18yo. I can also list any corporations under his name and full details with that and finally his relatives, their contact details (I won't do their addresses, but will provide their names and phone numbers. And probably more details too.

Search "tldoctor" on this forum (that was my old user name) to see the testimonials that others have given. The person that hires me, will need to disclose their real name, age, city and state for me to take the case. They must also email me a reason of intent. For example, "I plan to use the data in court against the person to recover stolen money." That way I'm in the clear for providing all these details.

Anyone that wants this service, feel free to let me know. Turn around time is about 48 hours, but most cases, I can do right away. Also, this isn't data found on sites like spokeo or wherever. I use my licensed collection agency's tools and access to get the data and my experience and skill to verify it.

Eric

Search for Jon Montoll, Weexchange, and Bitfunder threads. Pretty sure some people have had enough of the aforementioned, and would consider taking up your service offers, if you are genuine. 

[webbrowser]

I think we already know these.  Thanks for the offer.

[ethought]

Any updates?

[runam0k]

This seems to have stalled (for want of an investor in the US willing and able to take the lead).

xhomerx10 was collating investor details but I gather the response from investors was poor.

xhomerx10 - any updates?

It's never too late, of course, if someone can dedicate a bit of free time and be proactive.

[zero3112]

Do we have a big enough case yet built?

[zero3112]

how much did he scam?

Not sure how much he got because it would have just been how much money was raised and the equipment bought.  He has all the bitcoin mining equipment which was paid for with 2,000 bitcoins and an addition 500 bitcoin from the reinvestment fund which was funds that came from bitcoin mining never paid out and funds that had not been spent on equipment yet.

He just vanished and did a runner fleeing with all the bitcoin and mining equipment. The company was valued at over 16,000 BTC just a month before he vanished.

[lunarboy]

The company was valued at over 16,000 BTC just a month before he vanished.

This is what astounds me. Who were the big holders here, and why are they not doing more to get this guy into court?

[tekke]

The company was valued at over 16,000 BTC just a month before he vanished.

This is what astounds me. Who were the big holders here, and why are they not doing more to get this guy into court?

More astonishing is that this guy has an abandoned and almost open house full of Asics and mining rigs and none of this big holders in the US have not gone there and take justice by their hands. If I were in the US I would have visited that place taken it all and burn that shit hole to the grounds

[Nightmoonk]

Yeah this company was actually run really well until he disappeared. I remember thinking we were in a really good position before Eric split.

I don't have access to the google group so maybe someone else can tell me - where is all the hardware at right now? It might be impossible to recover the wallets but the hardware should've been able to be located. Have we determined whether it was bought in the companies name or Eric's name?

[tekke]

This fucker is laughing at us with the all the bitcoins that he took. Hope he gets anal cancer