What with bitcointalk .COM, it's a bit misleading.

[TheBeardedBaby]

I got a new computer and in the fresh-installed browser wrote without thinking bitcointalk. com instead of .org.
I ended up on the "New Bitcointalk". Reading the trough the site you get the impression that this is the new forum,
but build on phpBB. For the old members here it won't be a problem but for the newbies can be quite confusing.

I think domains like bitcointalk .com and .net should be registered to the real bitcointalk community just to avoid such misleading activities.

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[The Sceptical Chymist]

Lol, I did the exact same thing when I got my new PC a couple weeks ago.  I had to re-bookmark all the sites I visit most, and I completely forgot that bitcointalk is a '.org'.  Silly 'ol me typed in the .com version, and I was greeted with a completely different look, which my frazzled pea brain thought might be the new software being tested (don't ask, but you can ridicule me if you wish).  And yep, I typed in my username and password and eventually realized my error. 

Let me tell you, I panicked for a few minutes while I pulled up the real bitcointalk and changed my password.  I got lucky in the face of my stupidity, because I could easily have been successfully phished.  Glad you didn't lose access to your account, iasenko. 

I think domains like bitcointalk .com and .net should be registered to the real bitcointalk community just to avoid such misleading activities.

I agree, but I don't know the logistics of doing this.  I'd imagine that Theymos would have to purchase the .com and .net domains from whoever is cybersquatting them, and the owners probably would want a princely sum. 

[crwth]

Lol, I did the exact same thing when I got my new PC a couple weeks ago.  I had to re-bookmark all the sites I visit most, and I completely forgot that bitcointalk is a '.org'.  Silly 'ol me typed in the .com version, and I was greeted with a completely different look, which my frazzled pea brain thought might be the new software being tested (don't ask, but you can ridicule me if you wish).  And yep, I typed in my username and password and eventually realized my error. 

That was a close one. Not to mention all the .to sites that I have kept seeing and getting all the information also from this forum .org to that one. I stumbled upon that one when I was searching for something and led me there. It has exactly the same stuff and it's up to no good too. I guess having myself connected to Chrome and having it connected with my bookmarks would make it easier for me (If I bought a new PC)

[stompix]

I think domains like bitcointalk .com and .net should be registered to the real bitcointalk community just to avoid such misleading activities.

Judging by the activity there, a few posts at a rate of 2 spam posts per day the place is deserted so not that many people went there.

But still, it would be interesting to contact the owners and maybe through crowdfunding acquire at least the com.
.net...who uses .net anyhow?

[mk4]

Yikes. I can see how some people could get tricked from this as people are waiting for the new forum. "New bitcointalk":

But still, it would be interesting to contact the owners and maybe through crowdfunding acquire at least the com.
.net...who uses .net anyhow?

Possible. But one thing's for sure.. that's going to be pretty expensive as far as I know.

[TheBeardedBaby]

So I'm not alone in this.  I was quite exited at first but when I checked the bottom line with powered by phpBB then I knew what happened.
At least people should be aware that the .COM site is not in any way connected to the .ORG site.
Seems like it might not be a phishing site, more like alternative crypto space, but I don't advice anyone to register there.

[mocacinno]

I just visited the site and i was allmost tempted to open an account to answer some of the questions that are asked over there... People on that forum seem to ask completely newbie questions that go completely unanswered... I kinda feel sorry for them.

[stompix]

But still, it would be interesting to contact the owners and maybe through crowdfunding acquire at least the com.
.net...who uses .net anyhow?

Possible. But one thing's for sure.. that's going to be pretty expensive as far as I know.

Yeah, no crowdfunding I used the wrong terminology, we could gather the money with an ICO ...
After the success of Howeycoins that made us all rich, we could have another real ICO to raise capital to buy that domain.

It might be expensive but if we manage to get back at least 1% of the money lost in scams here we cold but all the tld  

I just visited the site and i was allmost tempted to open an account to answer some of the questions that are asked over there... People on that forum seem to ask completely newbie questions that go completely unanswered... I kinda feel sorry for them.

Really?
Nothing strange in those question?

[coinlocket$]

All browser can save your bookmarks as a file and import this file on others pc/browser. You should make this file and save (without saving the cookie and password of course) and upload it in your safe cloud service or google account to safety import it when you need it.

[actmyname]

And yep, I typed in my username and password and eventually realized my error.

This is why password managers reduce the possibility of human error. If there's no data for the website then you know it's not the right one.

[DdmrDdmr]

I’ve taken a look at it in archieved pages to see how much the “.com” site has mutated over time. There isn’t really much achieved, and what is very often error pages.

I did find this curious page header of the ".com" site back in 2014 (completely different UI): https://web.archive.org/web/20140208014228/http://bitcointalk.com/

<…> BitcoinTalk Discussion Board - WARNING – While Bitcointalk.org has a wealth of information about Bitcoin and some very knowledgeable members be aware that the site is run by scammers.  Do not trust any of the ads even if they are endorsed by the site administrators.  The site also encourages the sale of accounts you can never be sure who you are dealing with.<…>

[mk4]

And yep, I typed in my username and password and eventually realized my error.

This is why password managers reduce the possibility of human error. If there's no data for the website then you know it's not the right one.

This. To be completely honest even though I find it embarrassing as hell, I would've probably entered my bitcointalk username and password on the fake bitcointalk .to domain if I didn't have a password manager plugin on my browser. I immediately realized why there wasn't any login matches on the domain; and then I realized 5 seconds later..

[bitart]

...
I'd imagine that Theymos would have to purchase the .com and .net domains from whoever is cybersquatting them, and the owners probably would want a princely sum. 

I think the owners will sell those domains only when hell freezes over...
They can use those names for phising for accounts or for any forum related data, now and in the future, so why would they kill the goose that laid the golden eggs?
And most of the average joes are falling for these kind of attacks quite easily, unfortunately...

[tmfp]

Dust.

[TheBeardedBaby]

It's the same situation as the bitcoin.com, wrong people took over and they advertise their fake "real bitcoin" projects. Same with the twitter account https://twitter.com/bitcoin

[Quickseller]

The only thing you can do is ask theymos to try to buy the domain from whoever owns it. Otherwise you will need to know they are different.

Theymos might be able to make a trademark claim to get the domain registrar to give up the registration however this is not certain to work and would likely require a lawsuit.

[ranman09]

Dust.

Oh so it is really for sale and that a large sums amount of money. I actually got an error on this forum a while ago when I opened the website. This is the first time I encountered this problem.

Session verification failed. Please try logging out and back in again, and then try again.

Maybe just a coincidence.

[TheBeardedBaby]

Dust.

[im g]https://i.imgur.com/fbpOjSH.png[/img]

Oh so it is really for sale and that a large sums amount of money. I actually got an error on this forum a while ago when I opened the website. This is the first time I encountered this problem.

Session verification failed. Please try logging out and back in again, and then try again.

Maybe just a coincidence.

Better change your password to be on the safe side. Could be nothing but even when you have a tiny small doubt, better secure your account.

[ranman09]

Dust.

[im g]https://i.imgur.com/fbpOjSH.png[/img]

Oh so it is really for sale and that a large sums amount of money. I actually got an error on this forum a while ago when I opened the website. This is the first time I encountered this problem.

Session verification failed. Please try logging out and back in again, and then try again.

Maybe just a coincidence.

Better change your password to be on the safe side. Could be nothing but even when you have a tiny small doubt, better secure your account.

Will do. Thank you!

[timerland]

Let me tell you, I panicked for a few minutes while I pulled up the real bitcointalk and changed my password.  I got lucky in the face of my stupidity, because I could easily have been successfully phished.  Glad you didn't lose access to your account, iasenko.  

I nearly did the same thing on another bitcointalk phishing site, back when PM spamming phishing links was still relatively new. Good thing that you did change your password.


I wouldn't say that a move necessarily would need to be made for theymos to acquire all other top level domains for bitcointalk, because most people will know that .org is the correct domain, and it's simply unfeasible to be doing it due to the costs. But there could come a situation where people are phished for their login details on these sites, even if right now they may not be a phishing site and may genuinely just be another bitcoin forum with close to no traffic, who knows what could happen in the future.

But this is a reason why bookmarking certain frequented sites is needed. You don't want to be caught in a simple phishing scam because of a momentary mistake.