Man Robbed at Gunpoint for $1,100 Worth of Bitcoins in Brooklyn

[White sugar]

While digital currencies are slowly making themselves known to the world starting with Bitcoin followed by Ethereum, carrying digital currencies with you pose the same threat as having traditional fiat. Such is the case of a 28-year-old New Yorker who fell victim to a Bitcoin theft.

According to a report, the victim was to meet with a Bitcoin seller whom he contacted through Craigslist in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Upon meeting the “seller”, a gun was pointed at him and the “seller” demanded $1,100 worth of Bitcoin to be transferred to his Bitcoin wallet.

The case is still under investigation as there wasn’t any CCTV footage of the crime.

Bitcoin thefts as early as 2015

This is not the first case of Bitcoin theft. Even as early as January 2015, there were already some cases of Bitcoin holdups such as the case of Dean Katz who also was a victim of a similar case. He was also supposed to meet a Bitcoin seller and ended up being robbed of his Bitcoins.

Increasing Bitcoin-related crimes

With the rise of the Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, various criminals both online and offline have already appeared to take advantage of the new digital currencies.

It’s not just holduppers and thieves that are taking Bitcoins away from people on the streets, but similar activities are being carried out by hackers and cybercriminals as well. On August 2016, there was massive case of a Bitcoin hacking wherein a hacker used phone numbers of random people in order to steal Bitcoins from the market as reported on Forbes. Such cases alerted the cryptocurrency platforms to boost up their security.

What’s behind all these?

Just this year, Bitcoin, along with other well known cryptocurrencies, have been rising to their all time highs. In line with this, more and more people are taking interest in Bitcoin and so are the crime related to cryptocurrencies.

In light of these cases, the best way to prevent any theft would be to be very cautious with your personal information as well as being vigilant when conducting transactions that involve the exchange of money and currencies with similar value.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/man-robbed-at-gunpoint-for-1100-worth-of-bitcoins-in-brooklyn

[2bfree]

It's actually more risking then if he robbed cash, since now he has a chance to make a mistake having the trail on the blockchain and the cops can catch him. To me this is a stupid robber to risk 10 years in jail for such little amount of currency!

[FiendCoin]

Some people are beyond stupid. When dealing with craigslist, ALWAYS deal at a police station fucking DUH!

If you're going to sell bitcoins, at least do so in a crowed area with surveillance, like a coffee shop or something, damn.

[Deathwing]

Some people are beyond stupid. When dealing with craigslist, ALWAYS deal at a police station fucking DUH!

If you're going to sell bitcoins, at least do so in a crowed area with surveillance, like a coffee shop or something, damn.

There are actually spots around the USA with the sign "Safe Craigslist Trade Area" with 24/7 Audio/Video Surveillance. It all comes down to the person's knowledge, I guess. That's the right word.

[Ichijou025]

While digital currencies are slowly making themselves known to the world starting with Bitcoin followed by Ethereum, carrying digital currencies with you pose the same threat as having traditional fiat. Such is the case of a 28-year-old New Yorker who fell victim to a Bitcoin theft.

According to a report, the victim was to meet with a Bitcoin seller whom he contacted through Craigslist in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Upon meeting the “seller”, a gun was pointed at him and the “seller” demanded $1,100 worth of Bitcoin to be transferred to his Bitcoin wallet.

The case is still under investigation as there wasn’t any CCTV footage of the crime.

Bitcoin thefts as early as 2015

This is not the first case of Bitcoin theft. Even as early as January 2015, there were already some cases of Bitcoin holdups such as the case of Dean Katz who also was a victim of a similar case. He was also supposed to meet a Bitcoin seller and ended up being robbed of his Bitcoins.

Increasing Bitcoin-related crimes

With the rise of the Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, various criminals both online and offline have already appeared to take advantage of the new digital currencies.

It’s not just holduppers and thieves that are taking Bitcoins away from people on the streets, but similar activities are being carried out by hackers and cybercriminals as well. On August 2016, there was massive case of a Bitcoin hacking wherein a hacker used phone numbers of random people in order to steal Bitcoins from the market as reported on Forbes. Such cases alerted the cryptocurrency platforms to boost up their security.

What’s behind all these?

Just this year, Bitcoin, along with other well known cryptocurrencies, have been rising to their all time highs. In line with this, more and more people are taking interest in Bitcoin and so are the crime related to cryptocurrencies.

In light of these cases, the best way to prevent any theft would be to be very cautious with your personal information as well as being vigilant when conducting transactions that involve the exchange of money and currencies with similar value.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/man-robbed-at-gunpoint-for-1100-worth-of-bitcoins-in-brooklyn

Thanks for the advice. But its still safer if you keep your crypto currency,you judt gotta tighten up your security on your private informations.

[EXtremeAEX]

That is why I do not trust meetups, especially when people have armed weapons.

If you're going to sell bitcoins, at least do so in a crowed area with surveillance, like a coffee shop or something.

Yup, these are what buyers/sellers should look out for to prevent such incidents from happening. That was indeed a hard lesson to learn (quite a terrifying one too), and hopefully people will be more aware from now on..

[ozaeri]

Some people are beyond stupid. When dealing with craigslist, ALWAYS deal at a police station fucking DUH!

If you're going to sell bitcoins, at least do so in a crowed area with surveillance, like a coffee shop or something, damn.

There are actually spots around the USA with the sign "Safe Craigslist Trade Area" with 24/7 Audio/Video Surveillance. It all comes down to the person's knowledge, I guess. That's the right word.

Well while this case could have been avoided others might not be. I think we will see increasing physical bitcoin crimes take place because its a lot easier to threaten someone for money than it is to hack them.

[I Am Hero]

Some people are beyond stupid. When dealing with craigslist, ALWAYS deal at a police station fucking DUH!

If you're going to sell bitcoins, at least do so in a crowed area with surveillance, like a coffee shop or something, damn.

There are actually spots around the USA with the sign "Safe Craigslist Trade Area" with 24/7 Audio/Video Surveillance. It all comes down to the person's knowledge, I guess. That's the right word.

and yet they get robbed again!
the New York robbery was so funny too. the thief asked the seller to come with him to the dark alley where the car is parked so they can do the trade there (probably told him i've got candy in my van)

[Pearls Before Swine]

I've no doubt the robber's arm got extremely sore waiting for the theft transaction to confirm.  lol

So people get robbed at gunpoint for fiat all the time...what's so special about this particular instance?  That it was bitcoin that was taken?  That leaves me with an enormous MEH.  This is like people who get jacked for fake Craigslist stuff.  Don't see it as news, really.

[digaran]

I wish there was an app wallet that after entering with a stress password any transactions sent afterwards could be somehow flagged then miners would never confirm such transactions, lol the thief wont wait for more than a few minutes to receive confirmation then you could blame the Bitcoin network.
In my country if we insert our credit card pin number in reverse it will notify the police of robbery in progress with the exact location.

[swogerino]

This person a bitcoin user should have been a bit smarter. I tend to believe bitcoin user should be smarter and not go and meet face to face when selling bitcoins in an area without surveillance. The other person , the robber did a big mistake as the transaction is stored in the blockchain but so were the transactions of many scammers like Hashocean and nothing have happened to them, so catching him will be difficult too.

[SotaXBT]

That is why I never, through 3 years in bitcoin ever done a face-to-face exchange, even though fraud is so much less and nobody brings counterfeits (and even those can be scanned at a bank), but the risk of direct robbery is high, you practically meet a stranger while holding a bag of money.
Of course cases like these are a minority, but there are few bad apples and it's better to avoid being at that situation.

[pixie85]

Some people are beyond stupid. When dealing with craigslist, ALWAYS deal at a police station fucking DUH!

If you're going to sell bitcoins, at least do so in a crowed area with surveillance, like a coffee shop or something, damn.

Wish they gave the robber's description. Probably some kid who took his father's gun and went on hunting for idiots to rob.
It wasn't smart of him as f caught he'd be facing armed robbery charges. That's usually 10 years for a mere $1000...

[rytyr]

This person a bitcoin user should have been a bit smarter. I tend to believe bitcoin user should be smarter and not go and meet face to face when selling bitcoins in an area without surveillance. The other person , the robber did a big mistake as the transaction is stored in the blockchain but so were the transactions of many scammers like Hashocean and nothing have happened to them, so catching him will be difficult too.

Exactly.
Never meet face to face to trade bitcoins with someone unless it is a well secured area like a police station where they have an area designated for such online deals and sales now because of so many getting mugged a robbed of their items.
Or meet a convention of the bitcoin community.
There are alot of them in your area.
Just have to look and find out where these places are where there are alot of people around so you can call for help if a trade of bitcoin goes bad.

[Slark]

New technologies will create new ways to rob, steal and exploit people. Bitcoin is nothing more that digital money.
Gunpoint bitcoin robbery still shocks people because it is 'bitcoin' that has been stolen, no one would bat an eye when it was simply $2k paper money robbery.
Just remember folks, if you carry around a smartphone with a large amount of BTC, you can be targeted in a similar way.

[Kprawn]

These types of articles have been doing the rounds for years. I have seen similar articles when I started out a few years ago. Why would you not

go to some public place with your friends and meet the contact there? I usually meet my contacts at McDonalds and I never go there without

some backup. These places have CCTV everywhere, so they will not take chances. Best place to arrange this, is at a Bitcoin meetup, where people

are familiar with the trusted traders. 

[vh]

Some people are beyond stupid. When dealing with craigslist, ALWAYS deal at a police station fucking DUH!

If you're going to sell bitcoins, at least do so in a crowed area with surveillance, like a coffee shop or something, damn.

There are actually spots around the USA with the sign "Safe Craigslist Trade Area" with 24/7 Audio/Video Surveillance. It all comes down to the person's knowledge, I guess. That's the right word.

Have yet to spot one of these signs, but surveillance cameras are a great start.

Seems some police stations offer/recommend this as as well:
http://www.safetradestations.com

[xFiber]

Well as long as something as any amount of significant value there will be thefts. But everything is logged on the blockchain so it can be traced. But then what they will only have his address and as for as I know you can't trace the owner.
I'm also wondering if the thief spelled out his address xD his arm should've been really sore.

[darkangel11]

The only thing this proves is the value of bitcoin. The more valuable it becomes the more people will be ready to take the risk and rob, steal, scam, in order to get some.
Also, I'm pretty sure this guy will try again. $1000 is not enough to satisfy your needs, he'll party for a while and come looking for another victim.
There's over 150,000 armed robberies in the USA each year. Nothing to dwell upon here.

[Wendigo]

Soon thieves will prefer pickpocketing your smart phones rather than taking your wallets because you might have more virtual than real cash with you