is he trying to scam me?

[BCB]

By the way this isn't really a technical discussion thread.  Its a scammer thread.  While the comments about confirmations are helpful the tactic used here is all too common both here and bitcoinary and irc.

On bitcoinary scammer will create multiple account and "trade" which himself giving highest rating.  Then when scammer gets in touch with victim (who is usually a new user) he will say I have higher ratings then you and tell victim to send first.  Victim sends and scammer will give excuses like the payment "got stuck in the blockchain."  Another popular ploy is scammer will tell victim to send BTC first and then scammer will tell victim he will pay once he sees "x" amount of confirmations.  Meanwhile by the time the transaction confirms the scammer is gone.

Scammers will also use a "friend" to handle escrow.  Make sure who ever is providing escrow is legitimate.  DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU TRADE.

I'll post some conversations who you can see how it works.

In the mean time tomatocage has posted a very helpful primer to spotting scammers in lending and trading.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=119896.0

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[BCB]

Here is another scamming attempt by our friend harrison hower.  He uses many of the tactics discussed in Tomoatocage's post.

victim:.
I'd like to sell a total quantity of 10 Bitcoins in exchange for
Paypal (USD) and I'm looking for a price of Negotiable .

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Hey ill buy 10 bitcoins for 11 paypal usd

victim:.
sure send to xxxx@gmail.com and post your BTC address here.

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
alright its 1AwbR5HeqjtyiXMSNuxSN3tc2R6hEUzWyB
SCAMMER TACTIC: you send first and they disappear.

victim:.
ok all set. Send PP to xxxx@gmail.com. Thanks.
NOTE: always ask for payment for BTC first unless you know or trust the buyer/seller

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
ok

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
did you send coins?

victim:.
not yet. The are not reversible. You should send the PP first. Thank you.

victim:.
xxxx@gmail.com

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
ok

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Sorry i never send first and im rated on many bitcoin trading sites.
TACTIC:  Higher rating/false statements (“many bitcoin trading sites” – which ones??)

victim:.
I never send bitcoin first. I always send paypal first. that is the rule in bitcoin. Are you new here?

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
About a week old on this site but been trading bitcoins for a couple months.

victim:.
then you should not that paypal always sends first. Once I send you the BTC they are not reversible. Thanks.

victim:.
Are you sending. I have another offer

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
I can do it so the paypal money will not be reversible.
Send me a invoice and put no refunds or disputes allowed, thats usually what i do for my trades. If you dont want to do that then you can go to the other offer.
NOTE: ALL PAYPAL TRANSACTIONS ARE REVERSIBLE.  DOES NOT MATTER HOW YOU SEND.


victim:.
ok sent

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
you still need to send the bitcoins then ill send the paypal and it cant be reversed
TACTIC: trying to speak authoritatively about something which they have not clue.
ALL PAYPAL TRANSACTIONS ARE REVERSABLE.

victim:.
oh no. I can't do that. I just told you I would not dispute in the invoice.
 Please send the paypal and I'll send the BTC.
I already have your address in my client. Thank you

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Sorry i dont work that way its just my safety policy.

victim:.
Are you BTCmixers on IRC
did you scam Manes out of a 170 money pack?

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
no


MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
No i am Glooboy
TACTIC: Nic Squatting.  Pretending to be someone reputable in the community.  If I really wanted to trade with this guy I would have told him to hop on irc, authenticate and if it really was his and his rep was acceptable, I’d send first. (I may ask others I trust about him before I trade if I never heard of this nic)

victim:.
oh you've got good ratings

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
ya i told you ive been doing this for a while
TACTIC: I’m got more experience so you should trust me.

victim:.
ok cool we've traded before on irc.
So go ahead and send paypal and I'll send BTC.
You the one who always says paypal send first. lol

victim:.
Glooboy, I didn't get it yet. Did you send??

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
I just recently stopped doing that because i ran my tests and i lost more money by getting scammed when i didnt go first.
Its my new policy im sorry but it safer for me and my customers.
TACTIC:  “Ran my tests”  WHAT TESTS?  Scammers are expert if not pathological liars.


victim:.
Dude, that's a little sketch. You talking like a scammer. lol
come on just send. I gotta hop.


MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
I told you my tests say i have more profit at the end of the month. Im sorry im just a little tight on cash flow and im trying to maximize it.

victim:.
wait, why aren't you using your glooboy account here??

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
IRC and this site are both different. And when i tried to use the name glooboy on here someone already stole it. I was really pist.
TACTIC: Scammers have a shady excuse for everything.

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Are we going to do otherwise i got to find another person.
TACTIC: Rushing the trade. SCAMMERS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS IMPATIENT.

victim:.
no you have glooboy here too. What's this mike johnson shit??


MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Im not that glooboy on the website the guy is trying to take my ratings.

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Mike Johnson is my real name btw.

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Alright so no deal?

victim:.
Let me hope on irc an ping you.

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
victim:.
Dude your on a path to nowhere either now or never.
TACTIC: once I suggest IRC he gets desperate and tries to rush the trade.  Anyone time ANYONE trys to rush you through a trade you are not comfortable with walk away!


MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
We traded before and i want to do business again with you.

victim:.
ok let's just get this done. Send now and I'll send btc

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Do we really have to go over this again. Uggggh.
just recently stopped doing that because i ran my tests and i lost more money by getting scammed when i didnt go first. Its my new policy im sorry but it safer for me and my customers.
TACTIC:  empathy.  “I’ve been scammed man.  I know how you feel.”


MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
there sent it i guess but don’t scam me

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
I went against my new policy for you
TACTIC: making fake concessions just for you.
NOTE: at this point Scammer sent me and invoice NOT a payment to paypal.  If someone was not paying attention, they could possibly release funds with our realizing they received no money.


victim:.
Thanks man

victim:.
i didn't get anything yet

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
check your email i sent it in a invoice you need to accept it, and i got rid of the fees by sending it as a gift


victim:.
Is your name Harrison Hower?
NOTE:  his nic here is Mike Johnson.  He tells me his is glooboy.  Now I receive an invoice from Harrison Hower.  At this point victim should RUN not walk away.

victim:.
No?

victim:.
I thought your name was Mike Johnson??

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
o lol my friend forgot to log off guess i just sent you the money from there, damnit

victim:.
The invoice say pay 111 to harrison hower

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
ya thats my friend you can accept it
NOTE: NEVER receive a payment from a paypal account you are not certain belongs to the owner.  

victim:.
but its and invoice for payment. Your suppose to pay me???

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Its a payment from me....

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Are you new with paypal, thats what it says for you to accept the payment.

victim:.
no it says PAY Harrison Hightower

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Wtf i might have misclicked or something can we pick this up in the morning is 2 am here.

victim:.
no is says invoice form Harrison Hower you said that is not you. I know that name from somehwere.

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
Very sorry this seems very unprofessional.

victim:.
Wait I know that name.
You the scammer from bitcoin talk. I say your photo on there tonight.
You are a scrawny kid and thier was some photo of you looking like douch in a porshe.
You were just trying to scam me!
   

MikeJohnson5898(SCAMMER);
No you were trying to scam me

[ATC777]

We might have to contact his Mixed Martial Arts coach Charles Johnson from Waukesha, Wisconsin on facebook  and let him know what his student has been up to.

Do it. Fuck scammers. We've let them cheat people with impunity for too long.

BTW, he kinda reminds me of the "sashatoshi" kid who showed up on OTC begging for 1 btc, claiming to own a bitcoin casino and trying to scam TheGent lol. Might wanna look into the possible link -- the English skills are too equally bad to be coincidence! 

[Got BTC]

Yeah, he's probably trying to scam you. Always use Escrow if you're uncertain about a trade.