Bitcoin 'bomb' alert in airport

[RocketSingh]

An email threatening to blow up an airport unless Bitcoin worth around Rs 16 lakh was deposited within 24 hours in an account sparked a security scurry at the Calcutta airport on Sunday.

Bitcoin is the most popular digital currency in the world. It is unregulated by government authorities and is used across the world.

The email, which did not specify which airport would be blown up, was sent to the inbox of the Calcutta airport's duty manager early on Sunday.

Police officers investigating the threat said it was apparently a prank but failed to track down the sender till late on Sunday.

The mail was sent from the id 911@sigaint.org. Sigaint is an email service that can be operated with the help of specialised software and settings, and is used to mask a user's identity and location.

When officers of the Bidhannagar commissionerate's cyber crime division tried to reply to the sender's ID, the mail bounced back.

"The mail, which was sent to the duty manager's official ID and was read around 6am, asked for more than 60 Bitcoins to be deposited in an account within 24 hours, failing which an airport would be blown up," an officer said.

The exchange value on Sunday evening of 60 Bitcoins was a little more than Rs 16 lakh.

Bitcoin was created in 2009. Encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of Bitcoins and verify their transfer.

Bitcoin, not tied to any country, does not have any central authority or middlemen. From a user's perspective, it is nothing more than a mobile app or computer programme that provides a personal Bitcoin wallet and allows a user to send and receive Bitcoins.

Bitcoins are often used in illegal transactions like arms deals among terrorists.

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160307/jsp/calcutta/story_73193.jsp

[MarbleBoss]

This seems to be a petty prank mail. Funny that this type of bogus news gets place in a newspaper. But, these newspapers never pick up bitcoin stories that create huge positive impact on society. Hypocrisy at its best.

[SFR10]

Another thing that keeps on destroying BTCitcoin image. Hate when these types of news pops out and just to turn out, it was a prank and thank GOD, was a failed one. Regarding the article, the last line to be exact, can't agree with it since it has been proven that BTCitcoin was not used for arms deals among terrorist groups in multiple known outlets already. It would be really good that whoever made that reports, knew what actually happens instead of giving false information.

[Blawpaw]

This is a shame. It is exactly the sort of thing that gives Bitcoin and the whole cryptocurrency industry a bad name.
I just want to see these guys caught and jailed!

[nickenburg]

Yes, also criminals will realize bitcoin is a better way to recieve money, the change of being cought is bigger if you say deposit the money on a bank account you will get caught.

In holland there was also a case where a man demanded bitcoins, where he would planr bombs in the jumbo supermarkets,  you can look it up on google.

[RodeoX]

"Bitcoins are often used in illegal transactions like arms deals among terrorists."
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160307/jsp/calcutta/story_73193.jsp

Interesting. Although this part is total BS.

[BellaBitBit]

Another thing that keeps on destroying BTCitcoin image. Hate when these types of news pops out and just to turn out, it was a prank and thank GOD, was a failed one. Regarding the article, the last line to be exact, can't agree with it since it has been proven that BTCitcoin was not used for arms deals among terrorist groups in multiple known outlets already. It would be really good that whoever made that reports, knew what actually happens instead of giving false information.

Exactly.  The news is quick to report on anything negative with Bitcoin. I am thinking back to the Los Angeles hospital incident where they demanded bitcoin before hacking into the network.  This story is so useless.

[teddy5145]

This seems to be a petty prank mail. Funny that this type of bogus news gets place in a newspaper. But, these newspapers never pick up bitcoin stories that create huge positive impact on society. Hypocrisy at its best.

I don't think this is a prank email
Some guy threatened to blow up a mall unless he get Bitcoin
In the end he only received 0.25 because the mall officials thought it was a prank joke
But it was not, the mall did really get bombed
Luckily there was no one hurt there
I don't wanna play with the bomb if i were the security

[bestluck]

It may be prank or maybe someone has tried in order to check that if they got the money, but now is the time that governments have to do something for it to make it non-anonymous otherwise it will be dangerous.

[Yakamoto]

I'm curious as to how big the airport is supposed to be, because it seems unlikely that someone would blow up an airport for a seemingly fairly low amount of money.

I had a situation similar this not all that long ago in my area, some kid asking for 4(?)BTC or he would blow up a school or something. I can't remember the specifics, but nothing happened with it.

[European Central Bank]

This type of stuff is gonna get more and more common. Not actual terrorism/ violence, but the threat of it. If you were an asshole then why not? There's nothing to lose.

[twister]

What a fucked up prank, let's hope they made some mistake in hiding themselves and get caught soon but here's the thing, terrorist have done similar things in the past, only difference was they had other demands like freeing up one of their friends from jail etc.

tl;dr criminals will do crime with or without bitcoin.

[NUFCrichard]

So from now on whenever there is a hostage situation, or bribary, or blackmail it should be called a fiat crime.
Someone asking to be paid in Bitcoin, does not make it a Bitcoin crime.

The final line was proven to be wrong last week I am pretty sure.  Apparently terrorists don't use Bitcoin to trade.

[LiteCoinGuy]

This seems to be a petty prank mail. Funny that this type of bogus news gets place in a newspaper. But, these newspapers never pick up bitcoin stories that create huge positive impact on society. Hypocrisy at its best.

[Gleb Gamow]

"Bitcoins are often used in illegal transactions like arms deals among terrorists."
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160307/jsp/calcutta/story_73193.jsp

Interesting. Although this part is total BS.

"I just sent the Amos clan an email threatening to cut off their beards if they don't sent 60 BTC to a bitcoin address I provided within 24 hours. Assuming they have computer access and comply, how do you suggest I move them bitcoins and what should I buy with the windfall? FWIW, The Gleb assured me that I won't get caught if I allowed him to fuck my goat, Ginny. I hope it's not a problem that I didn't use Tor because I'm allergic to onions, so I sent the request via Yahoo because I've always wanted to be a yodeler."

[Kprawn]

FUD Alert ---> Bitcoins are often used in illegal transactions like arms deals among terrorists. Where is the proof of these kind of statements? My guess is, the 60 Bitcoins will never see the light of day and the

stupid idiot behind this threat, will soon be caught. You do not mess with airports and make bomb threats.. they will hunt you down and you will end up in jail. I would not write this off as a tactic to discredit

Bitcoin.... Nothing is strange these days, when it comes to this scene.  

[Patatas]

Sad to see such news coming only from India .I'm very sure its not a terrorist attack ,just a hoax.Some random scammer Indian would have used this attempt thinking Indian police is worthless shit and they can never trace jack.People like him and escrow.ms are the reasons Indian government will ever put a ban on use of bitcoins.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

More tedious bitcoin FUD. Getting a bit bored of reading about stuff like this. Some people in high places really want bitcoin to fail don't they. Stuff like this story is really scraping the barrel though.

[watashi-kokoto]

The question is, could these types of threats sink the Bitcoin project itself?

[richardsNY]

Prank or not, it's once again Bitcoin that's receiving the hate of the media. I wonder what new nonsense policy governments will force through when something like this happens for real.