Return address on a transaction

[bittycoin]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but how can I use the JSON-RPC to get a transaction's "return address"?  If I need to refund bitcoin, how can I get that address?

Many thanks!

[1713910129]

1713910129

[JoelKatz]

There really isn't one. The only safe way is to get the sender to tell you where he wants the coins returned. There are many ways a person may send you coins from an address on which he cannot receive coins.

[bittycoin]

So how do all these ponzi games and lotteries work?  They send bitcoin back to the depositor.

There's no way to get that return address with the API?

I understand that refunds won't get back to the sender when sent from an online wallet, but when sent from the client isn't there a "from" address?

[JoelKatz]

I understand that refunds won't get back to the sender when sent from an online wallet, but when sent from the client isn't there a "from" address?

No, there isn't. Coins are never sent from an address, only to an address. Some of the coins in a transaction may have been claimed by particular addresses, but that is not a requirement, nor need a transaction have only one address used to claim the coins used in it. For example, I could mine a block and send your address the 50 coins I get for mining it. What's the "from" address in that case?

[jackjack]

In most cases you can find it with blockexplorer