Is this a scam?

[joinfree]

Yes, not the first of its kind and would never be the last of it too. Don't fall for these cheap scams in this industry. Anybody who wants your $10ks in order to make you millions is just building castles in the air as they have nothing to show off than their dubious plans. The best investment is to hold for long and buy the dip especially in these times..

[yohananaomi]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and in a situation where I need some advice.
A person I know, who I have been in contact with for months now (through social media), has been trading bitcoin for me and some friends. Everything seems to be fine and seems to be really trustworthy.

However.., now he is asking me to deposit 2 bitcoin on my Blockchain(.com) account, where he previously has had access to for the following reason;

He tells me he added me to bitcoin mining but there was a `server error' which he tracked down to my account and somehow all bitcoin is `encrypted in 1 block'. The result is a large amount of bitcoin in a `non-spendable/watch only' wallet that is sitting on my account.
He says he needs a minimum of 2 bitcoin to be added to my account to remotely start `decryption of the encrypted block', which he cannot deposit, since he is region locked. (We are from different regions)

So, to me this sounds like a scam.
1: I have done my research and found similar constructions related to non-spendable wallet scams.
2: Yes, he had access to the account, so could simply have added the watch only wallet..
3: I can not find anything about large amounts of bitcoin being encrypted in one block, and decryption being possible only after a deposit of x amount of bitcoin.

So the question is; what is your opinion on this topic?
I also noticed that the value (in dollars) of the non-spendable bitcoin is affected by market fluctuations. So the value shifts depending on what the coins are worth. Is this normal for a non-spendable wallet?

thx!

Umm.. you really asking if this is a scam or not? Wake up man. This is a simple scam which only "stupid" people will fall for. The classic build trust and then scam game. He traded with you to build his trust. He got access to your account (I don't know why in the world would you give some random people to access your account? Probably gained your trust already and he noticed it!) and once you send those 2 btc *poof* he is no where to be found!

One thing that is quite confusing me is "giving account access" which is actually a very prohibited basis to give to anyone who just needs to be kept secret. I agree with the opinion above that clearly this is a scam, reinforced by telling you to send bitcoin to your account address which he himself can access.
it's a shame you can do this but it has already happened.

[davis196]

This is the most stupid scam attempt I've ever seen. 
If anyone asks you to send him bitcoins,that's a scam.It doesn't matter what's his excuse or reason.

[Bonenx14]

This is the most stupid scam attempt I've ever seen. 
If anyone asks you to send him bitcoins,that's a scam.It doesn't matter what's his excuse or reason.

yes it is indeed a mistake, whatever the reason is if you do not recognize the person then potentially as fraud. I hope this does not happen to people anymore, this mode is more targeting new people or those with less experience.

[Astvile]

Well, just by reading at what you are telling I can pretty much tell it is a big scam. 2 bitcoin for decrypting? lol absurd scammer.
Just troll him, tell him to decrypt first and then let him deduct the payment from what he can get. I'm sure he'll stop talking to you right away.

[CryptoBry]

So the question is; what is your opinion on this topic? I also noticed that the value (in dollars) of the non-spendable bitcoin is affected by market fluctuations. So the value shifts depending on what the coins are worth. Is this normal for a non-spendable wallet?

People can get so creative these days just to be able to victimize people from their hard-earned Bitcoin. While they can be able to fool some newbies, never allow such a "jerk" to be able to get into you. Of course, not unless you can be happy being one of the victim statistics all around online and littering in the world of cryptocurrency. Most of these people are appealing to our greed, that small idea in our head that what if we are missing something and what if the offer can be true. Good thing that you doubt the offer, otherwise your 2 Bitcoin can be gone to air as soon as you made the transfer, no ifs no buts. The only we can effectively fight scammers is by educating ourselves and always using the power of Google to see if others had been victimized by the same scheme.

[michellee]

So, to me this sounds like a scam.
1: I have done my research and found similar constructions related to non-spendable wallet scams.

Then you already have the answer to your question.

I hope you don't follow what he wants because that will make you lose the bitcoin. 2 bitcoin equal to $14,xxx, and I don't think that you want to give that money to "your friend."

I hope that you already make a profit from him, so you don't have to do anything.  Next time, you don't have to make a deal with someone you don't know that you meet on social media. No guarantee if they can help you to make money. Be careful if that smells like money because people will do anything to get the money.

[inanilujimi]

You say that you have known him for a long time but only with social media do you communicate without face-to-face that must be a great suspicion.
whatever the form, if he asks for something like bitcoin then just leave the conversation and stay away from him because it is certain he is trying to deceive you with words.

[haufranco]

like even in description that seems to be scam I mean 'he needs a minimum of 2 bitcoin to be added to my account to remotely start `decryption of the encrypted block' that can not be deposited

[carriebee]

The point that you will requested to deposit 2btc is obviously a scam. Much better not to easily trust anyone especially in terms of money. Think many times before doing such action since you are in doubt. Just remember there are many scammers in this crypto industry.

[danggoron]

Viewed from any side it seems to lead to fraud. Remember buddy, do not believe in people you have just met, who promised to provide large profits after sending certain funds, I suggest to leave it immediately. You better manage the funds yourself, learn to trade, rather than just relying on others. Logically, if that person can benefit so much, why doesn't he manage it himself and instead invite those of you who only know basically through the internet? think again.

[nomenclatur]

I think this is a scam 2 bitcoin is not money that is small you do not be too trusting of others you can lose a lot of money my advice you should end the relationship with your friend or better you report to the police if your friends convicted better not make a deposit to your friend's account is clearly fraud.

[mohamadreza bagheri]

Definitely a scam, OP. Do not fall for this kind of trap since he has an access  to your account.

[ohyeahhaha122]

yeah he's a scam I've seen this case so many times, often started by hello and hi, my simple job in every case is to press the block button, especially don't trust anyone online , everything on the internet is hard to guess what your job is just judging properly

[dul48]

Never, never send your assets to non-yours wallets. Only to your address.

[electronicash]

i tried to play along to someone who tried to scam me. when he see i'm asking many question like which job sites he had been and about the profile he had he already thought i'm already trying to learn who he is. he knows i'm not sending the amount he already cursed me.

when someone asks btc from you for nothing, its always going to be a scam. there is nowhere else the story will go but scam.

[Velkro]

It is a scam

Very obvious one. Its very easy to spot scam, if you feel like its a scam, it is.
Just stop what you are doing, calm down, think about it after pause, then decide finally.
You will save a lot of money

[nakamura12]

It's obviously a scam attempt. Yes it is a scam and you should make it public to everyone about what address that scammer is using and any information that scammer is using so that other newbies like you should have knowledge about situation like you experienced. Anything that ask you to deposit first is a scam so don't deposit at your own risk.

[dewin]

I've read so many articles about such scams, people offer something like profit in the future, all you have to do it pay them in crypto and then they can simply vanish. When it comes to bigger amount of money never trust people, unless that's your family or your friends. Nowadays, when the Internet grew, you can find scams literally everywhere...