How I was scammed ......

[aftergeometry]

Hi........I just wanted to give a brief summary of how I was recently scammed......mainly for informational purposes and so others can be on the look-out for this method. I also would like to hear if this is a fairly common way to scam people...or something rather new.     I know I will get a lot of ridicule for falling for such a blatant scam............but I thought this could be a learning experience, so hopefully I  won't get too many negative comments.   

The scammer saw my post and asked me if I had ICQ      (trading BTC for prepaid debit card codes)

I set up my ICQ, and we negotiated rates, etc. He was very professional, patient, and he said said "I'll go first."  (He would start the transaction)

He asked me to create a Bitcoin wallet on blockchain.info so he could see that I had the coins ready for trade. So I moved my coins to the blockchain wallet.

He then said that since he will be taking the risk by sending the codes first, he would like to view my screen to make sure the code is used properly. (There may have been another reason for this too.)  In order to do this....he wanted me to download a program called "Team Viewer" that allowed him "see" my screen in real-time. 

I downloaded the program "Team Viewer" and started it up ...... he told me he could see my screen, etc......then somehow he asked to see my bitcoin wallet to verify the coins on blockchain.   Once I logged into my bitcoin wallet on blockchain........BLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAM....... I saw my bitcoin balance being withdrawn in a flash.     END OF STORY


So obviously, besides my stupidity, it was the "Team Viewer" program that allowed him to pull off this scam.  I'm still not sure how that program works.....for instance, how could it allow him to also be logged into my bitcoin wallet on blockchain???  How could two computers be accessing the same wallet like that? 

Thanks for any input and hopefully this will help somebody in the future from being scammed in this way.   I appreciate any constructive feedback...........

[enhu]

its ridiculous of course. you never research what the team viewer software can do?  its not a new scam, its actually a ridiculous way of scamming.

He then said that since he will be taking the risk by sending the codes first, he would like to view my screen to make sure the code is used properly.

so you told him you don't know how to use the code, is that what you said to this scammer?

[The Sceptical Chymist]

Ugh...that's fucking horrible.  I would say you made a really bad decision that probably should have been obvious to you, but I don't want to rub salt in your wounds.  Thanks for sharing about this honestly; usually we all require a lot of proof of such things, but I believe you.  It just sounds like he had his way with you the whole time.

How much did you lose, if you don't mind my asking?

[btc-mike]

He did NOT gain access to just your wallet, he gained control of your computer. It was as if he was sitting in the chair instead of you.

If you are going to trade, look into this sub-forum to learn about these things.

[Gronthaing]

He did NOT gain access to just your wallet, he gained control of your computer. It was as if he was sitting in the chair instead of you.

This. Did you check for malware in the computer aftergeometry? Scammer may have left something behind too. Maybe best formatting and reinstalling everything to be sure.

[SebastianJu]

Did you enable that he could do more than just seeing your screen? Did you download the software from a link he gave you instead from the official website?

[aftergeometry]

Thank you for some great feedback...........and not for laying it on so thick.....lol.  Yeah, I walked right into it. 

1.  He scammed me for about $350

2.  I downloaded Team Viewer from the website, not a link.

3.  Thank you for the tips about securing my computer, I haven't noticed anything weird...but I will do all the necessary scans.

4.  The question about the code.....no I told him I knew how to use it, but he wanted to see it applied to my debit  account online (we never got that far obviously....I'm not sure what exactly he said to me to get to my wallet right away.   I think something about needing to verify that I had the necessary amount available for the trade.)     I'm not exactly sure how the particulars of the Team Viewer work where he could actually gain access to my computer.............and empty those coins out.....did he somehow key-log my password on the blockchain? 

The funny thing is I used to scam....so it's like it all comes back around.  Scam and be scammed.  I don't know why I fell so hypnotized in this scenario....part of it was being a noob to this particular style of trading, part of it was just being too gullible - nice- thinking everybody was my friend.  Part of it was greed and needing to make a fast buck.  LOL, it's been a long time since I was on the opposite end of a scam....so perhaps I was overconfident.     I hope this helps somebody...or at least serves as a lesson on WHAT NOT TO DO.......

Thanks everybody for being constructive and not telling me how stupid I am (because I already am aware of that......lol)

[shorena]

Thank you for some great feedback...........and not for laying it on so thick.....lol.  Yeah, I walked right into it. 

1.  He scammed me for about $350

2.  I downloaded Team Viewer from the website, not a link.

3.  Thank you for the tips about securing my computer, I haven't noticed anything weird...but I will do all the necessary scans.

4.  The question about the code.....no I told him I knew how to use it, but he wanted to see it applied to my debit  account online (we never got that far obviously....I'm not sure what exactly he said to me to get to my wallet right away.   I think something about needing to verify that I had the necessary amount available for the trade.)     I'm not exactly sure how the particulars of the Team Viewer work where he could actually gain access to my computer.............and empty those coins out.....did he somehow key-log my password on blockchain.info? 

I dont think TeamViewer allows you to log keys pressed by default. Did it happen instantly? I suspect it has something to do with the "code" you mentioned in your first post.

The funny thing is I used to scam....so it's like it all comes back around.  Scam and be scammed.  I don't know why I fell so hypnotized in this scenario....part of it was being a noob to this particular style of trading, part of it was just being too gullible - nice- thinking everybody was my friend.  Part of it was greed and needing to make a fast buck.  LOL, it's been a long time since I was on the opposite end of a scam....so perhaps I was overconfident.     I hope this helps somebody...or at least serves as a lesson on WHAT NOT TO DO.......

Thanks everybody for being constructive and not telling me how stupid I am (because I already am aware of that......lol)

Best trading advice I ever got was: never get rushed and never assume you are superior.

[RyanX]

I downloaded the program "Team Viewer" and started it up ...... he told me he could see my screen, etc......then somehow he asked to see my bitcoin wallet to verify the coins on blockchain.   Once I logged into my bitcoin wallet on blockchain........BLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAM....... I saw my bitcoin balance being withdrawn in a flash.     END OF STORY


So obviously, besides my stupidity, it was the "Team Viewer" program that allowed him to pull off this scam.  I'm still not sure how that program works.....for instance, how could it allow him to also be logged into my bitcoin wallet on blockchain???  How could two computers be accessing the same wallet like that? 

Teamviewer gives him access to your computer. But I am sure how did he type his wallet address so fast to remove your money.

[Coaxme]

Teamviewer gives him access to your computer. But I am sure how did he type his wallet address so fast to remove your money.
[/quote] Thats is what im also wondering O.o

[Joel_Jantsen]

Not sure why everybody is saying it must be a "malware".Most easiest scammed he pulled off.Teamviewer gives control of your computer to him.He would have simply opened your wallet and sent the bitcoins to his address.Its as only screen sharing as you thought it is,he basically controls your computer from his chair.

EDIT : About typing the wallet address ,he would simply copy pasted it from his browser if it was on bitcointalk or pastebin I suppose.

[MedaR]

You can't blame it on software!
You know now your lesson!
I saw those administrators from India how they helps people in securing their pc from viruses online. Instead of security they install malwares and  administrator rights ..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9uTTXA-5dE

[maokoto]

Team viewer is a program that allows control of a computer remotely. It is used a lot in technical support. I guess he had already copied his address, or used Teamviewer to send a scrypt that made the transaction. Thanks for sharing this, that's brave of you.

[arbitrage]

Everyday we read about new scams.
Scammers growing like mushrooms after rain..
How to trade safe, to whom to believe?
And people makes mistakes with such stupidity..

[BitcoinSupremo]

Shocking story, I end up in this forum because of reading about BTC being robbed from people from hackers and malwares.

[SebastianJu]

Not sure why everybody is saying it must be a "malware".Most easiest scammed he pulled off.Teamviewer gives control of your computer to him.He would have simply opened your wallet and sent the bitcoins to his address.Its as only screen sharing as you thought it is,he basically controls your computer from his chair.

EDIT : About typing the wallet address ,he would simply copy pasted it from his browser if it was on bitcointalk or pastebin I suppose.

But wouldn't this first need that the user enables the option that the other partner can interact on his pc? I think the default setting is that the partner only can see and there is a warning before you give him the right to move the mouse on your pc and such things.

So what happened here? Were the rights given?

[SebastianJu]

Everyday we read about new scams.
Scammers growing like mushrooms after rain..
How to trade safe, to whom to believe?
And people makes mistakes with such stupidity..

I can only tell you that using an escrow is momentarely the best way to prevent being scammed. Very often scammer vanish silently already when you tell them you contact the escrow. Some play it smart and back out after the escrow had work with the contract. Most probably to find a valid sounding excuse. Still a prevented scam, though often enough people don't tip when a scam was prevented with escrow. Even though he had work and saved the user coins.

I know there was a well known escrow scamming lately but that is pretty seldom. An escrow is increasing safet ALOT.

If someone has a deal you can ask me, see my user profile to find my servicethread.

[Amph]

well team viewer it's like a rootkit basically, he have the access to your device, even if it was not team viewer, is still very stupid to give control of your pc like this, with a wallet also...

[shorena]

well team viewer it's like a rootkit basically, he have the access to your device, even if it was not team viewer, is still very stupid to give control of your pc like this, with a wallet also...

Its not that powerful without an exploit. I dont think an exploit was used here either. From what I read my best guess what happened is that the attacker had some sort of script that works only with blockchain.info. Like a series of key presses that quickly create a TX when logged in. OP logged in, the attacker used the script to create a TX and the coins are gone. If they had a key logger and access to the files they could have attacked any local wallet. There would have been no need to convince the OP to create a new wallet with bc.i. The mere request of creating a specific wallet should have rung all the alarm bells though. A signed message can easily be created for proof of funds.

[chokesir]

Wow, that sucks man!
I haven't really heard of something like this before, thanks for sharing this experience. Through this we can all learn!