Considering Buying Bitcointalk.org account..

[TheCoinChief1]

Hi, I understand it is kind of frowned upon to buy an account but I have a question about the process. Is there a safe way to finish a transaction? I have read something about a signed message. I'm not sure what this is or how this could help me secure a newly bought account. I understand escrow is a must. Someone with experience buying/selling accounts, could you give me a quick run through of what you would do? Thanks for any information that you can give me, sorry I'm pretty new to this.

[tmfp]

You have one already, why do you need another one? You're not one of those scammer people are you?

[achow101]

Hi, I understand it is kind of frowned upon to buy an account but I have a question about the process. Is there a safe way to finish a transaction? I have read something about a signed message. I'm not sure what this is or how this could help me secure a newly bought account. I understand escrow is a must. Someone with experience buying/selling accounts, could you give me a quick run through of what you would do? Thanks for any information that you can give me, sorry I'm pretty new to this.

To verify that seller actually owns the account, you should ask for him to sign a message with an address that was posted in either a post that was unedited or was quoted by another person. The post should be old, at least a two months. The signed message indicates that the seller owns the private key to that account and thus reliably proves that he is the owner of that account. To verify a signed message, you can use websites like https://coinb.in/#verify or through Bitcoin Core. If the message does not verify to be the address it was supposedly signed with, do not buy the account as that seller could have hacked that account.

If you use an escrow, then the escrow will typically verify all of this for you. If you do use an escrow, make sure that he is trusted. I recommend that you use any escrow from this list: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=855778.0

You have one already, why do you need another one? You're not one of those scammer people are you?

Usually people buy for sig campaigns, not scamming.

[TheCoinChief1]

no I'm not trying a scam, just looking for some information is all. I'm interested in a older account maybe a member rank to participate in some of the campaigns I'm seeing. just trying to earn some more bitcoins

[tmfp]

no I'm not trying a scam

Yeah, that's what they all say.

[TheCoinChief1]

thank you for the information. Once an account is bought, how can I ensure the seller cant just reclaim it? Again any info is appreciated.

to tmfp: I'm only asking for information, not your money.

[achow101]

thank you for the information. Once an account is bought, how can I ensure the seller cant just reclaim it? Again any info is appreciated.

When you get the account, you will receive the username and password. Change the password, email, and secret question if set (you should really never set the secret question as that can result in the account being locked) as soon as you receive the account. If everything is to your liking and once all that is done, inform the escrow to release the funds to the seller. If you aren't using an escrow, you risk the seller changing the password on you or not giving you the account after the payment confirms.

[tmfp]

to tmfp: I'm only asking for information, not your money.

And I'm only having a little joke.

[TheCoinChief1]

ok, once I change all that the email, password and secret question, I have full control over the account? there is not some sort of password retrieval that would allow the seller access? your awesome thanks for the help

[achow101]

ok, once I change all that the email, password and secret question, I have full control over the account? there is not some sort of password retrieval that would allow the seller access? your awesome thanks for the help

Unless the seller wants to claim that the account was stolen and opens a thread in meta to attempt to reclaim it, then nope, there is nothing else that you need to do to claim the account. If the seller does try to do that though, all you would need to do is to post the entirety of the PMs that went between you and him (without the passwords of course) and also bring the escrow in to vouch for you that the account was indeed sold. The admins can also check and verify the authenticity of the PMs. The fact that the trust page of the account will also indicate a password change will help to support your case. In those situations, the seller would not be able to recover the account so long as you are there to give your side of the story.

[notlist3d]

ok, once I change all that the email, password and secret question, I have full control over the account? there is not some sort of password retrieval that would allow the seller access? your awesome thanks for the help

No if there is a staked address they could claim it as compromised or even just a address used in a deal they can sign for.  So are you playing a risky game?  Yes... you are.  Is it guarenteed you keep the account... no it's not.

I suggest raising your own account.  You will learn over time more about BTC and the forum.  

[nwfella]

Don't do it.  Far better to build your own reputation/history than purchase anothers when it could very well end badly.

[TheCoinChief1]

thanks everyone, you have been very helpful! will take all of this into consideration.

[Hazir]

thanks everyone, you have been very helpful! will take all of this into consideration.

In addition account you potentially bought could be banned before and in poor standing, after another ban said account could be banned forever and you will lose access to it.
And there is no way to tell if account was banned on your own. Be extremely cautious.

[Karpeles]

Never buy an account without a signed message from an old post, no matter how cheap it is, because you might buy an hacked account and you'll probably lose it in the future.

For the signed message info and others see this topic:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=990345.0


Also buy ticking bomb accounts that are about to be banned or receive red trust is an issue, but there is no simple rule to avoid it

[Amph]

no I'm not trying a scam, just looking for some information is all. I'm interested in a older account maybe a member rank to participate in some of the campaigns I'm seeing. just trying to earn some more bitcoins

buy a senior not an hero, since the earning for sig, are the same basically always, it will cost you 0.2 if you're lucky enough