My fiat story: How I nearly lost a brother because of banks

[Fiatless]

I was informed that my elder brother had been kidnapped. Few minutes later I called his phone number and the kidnappers were requesting for outrageous ransom. After three days of contacting them, we were able to negotiate until it got to the amount we could afford.

Since they requested that his wife bring the money in cash, we had to transfer what we had gathered to her account. After buying all the materials because they also requested such as cartoons of milk, biscuits, and other food items. My sister in-law headed to local money changers to collect fiat since banks are restricted to give such an amount in cash.

As she was transferring the money to the local money changer's bank account, it was later discovered that she could not move all the money since her daily transfer limit was below the amount the kidnappers demanded. When she rushed to the bank to upgrade her transfer limits, they said there was no service in the bank. When she tried to inform them that it was an emergency, they told her that there was nothing they could do about it.

It was a problem because we had already informed the kidnappers that she was bringing the money that day. When we informed them about the latest development, they told us that we were working with the police and were planning to get them arrested. They informed my sister in-law to forget about my brother because he would be killed that night. That period was the most terrifying night of my life.

Long story short, they accepted the change of plans and my brother was released the next day after his wife's account was upgraded and the money delivered in cash the next day. But my brother's leg was broken because of the delay, and he told us that he was beaten through the night.

I know that we shouldn't promote ransom payment using Bitcoin, but I would have done anything for my brother to be released. Each time I was called for ransom negotiations, I would be hearing the beatings and threats on the background and it was terrifying.

I have learned to always have Bitcoin as a backup because centralized platforms cannot be trusted. With Bitcoin:
-No need to upgrade the account
-No network failure
-No transaction limit.

[_act_]

Sorry about your brother.

But how can we know that you are actually telling the truth? There should be a news about this in your community but you may not want to post it because your brother name will be on the news.

Be it true or not true, these are some of the advantages of bitcoin over fiat but these are not only the advantages because they are more. You have complete control over your bitcoin but you do not have complete control if it is fiat.

[Pandorak]

To be honest the story you told is very interesting, i was quite touched, plus this is a true story that you experienced yourself, i am sorry about that, i hope your brother is given health and protected by God always.

Behind it all, the important lesson to learn is that no one really cares about the problems we face, even if it's our own money, it's frustrating, considering we can't ask for our own money when needed, with the excuse that there are rules that must be obeyed, just imagining it makes me angry.

I have learned to always have Bitcoin as a backup because centralized platforms cannot be trusted. With Bitcoin:
-No need to upgrade the account
-No network failure
-No transaction limit.

I'm grateful to have learnt about Bitcoin earlier, a coin that has many benefits and potential in the future, a symbol of freedom without complicated rules to follow. It only takes a few minutes to move money, to anyone and anywhere, if you think logically it is something extraordinary, even the transaction fee is very cheap, much cheaper than the fees applied by banks as a third party to send money abroad.

[Fiatless]

Sorry about your brother.

But how can we know that you are actually telling the truth? There should be a news about this in your community but you may not want to post it because your brother name will be on the news.

But be it true or not true, these are some.of the advantages of bitcoin over fiat but these are not only the advantages because they are more. With bitcoin you have complete control over your coins.

I am surprised you are asking this question. This was a true life story that few members of my community knew about. These kidnappers were later caught by the police, and my brother identified them.

But I am surprised that someone is asking if a story is true or false instead of enjoying the moral lessons. Let me ask you again, @_act_, why would I have to lie,? Or maybe for merit or donations?. I would have dropped a link to the news of their arrest but it it will not be good for privacy.

[FatFork]

A surreal story! Kidnapping, ransom demands for milk and cookies, banks with "no service" during an emergency, then a last-minute change of heart from the kidnappers? Sounds like a bad movie plot. But hey, if it did happen, congrats on getting your brother back!

But there's a plot hole in your story. Bitcoin wouldn't have magically solved your "outrageous ransom" problem either. If you couldn't afford the fiat, what makes you think you'd suddenly have a pile of Bitcoin lying around that was enough? Centralized or not, if you don't have the funds, you don't have the funds.

I am surprised you are asking this question. This was a true life story that few members of my community knew about. These kidnappers were later caught by the police, and my brother identified them.

And when did this supposedly happen?

[_act_]

I am surprised you are asking this question. This was a true life story that few members of my community knew about. These kidnappers were later caught by the police, and my brother identified them.

But I am surprised that someone is asking if a story is true or false instead of enjoying the moral lessons. Let me ask you again, @_act_, why would I have to lie,? Or maybe for merit or donations?. I would have dropped a link to the news of their arrest but it it will not be good for privacy.

Do not let the question market confuse you, I did not ask you any questions. Or let me say I asked you question and I also answered the question. Which still mean I did not ask question because I know it will affect your privacy which I also included on my post. Good to hear that the criminals were later apprehended by the police.

But I am surprised that you did not include in the OP that the criminals were later apprehended by the police. Good that they were arrested.

[Fiatless]

A surreal story! Kidnapping, ransom demands for milk and cookies, banks with "no service" during an emergency, then a last-minute change of heart from the kidnappers? Sounds like a bad movie plot. But hey, if it did happen, congrats on getting your brother back!

Kidnappers stay in the forest, and they usually ask for food items plus ransom. Some of them can't buy in the market. Bank service failure is almost a daily experience in my country. So it's now strange. I told you that they were angry and broke my brother's legs. You should also know that kidnappers needs your money badly. So they can change their minds just to have the money. Some of them don't want to kill victims, all they want is just the money.

But there's a plot hole in your story. Bitcoin wouldn't have magically solved your "outrageous ransom" problem either. If you couldn't afford the fiat, what makes you think you'd suddenly have a pile of Bitcoin lying around that was enough? Centralized or not, if you don't have the funds, you don't have the funds.

Simple answer to your question. If I had a Bitcoin backup, I would have simply sold it in an exchange and sent the money to the money changers. And I would have immediately received cash that would be used for payments. The story is not about kidnappers or my financial status but the benefit of owning Bitcoin.

[headingnorth]

Good to hear your loved one made it out alive. Very scary.

Did this take place in Mexico by any chance?
I heard kidnapping for ransom is a common crime over there.

[Fiatless]

Good to hear your loved one made it out alive. Very scary.

Did this take incident take place in Mexico by any chance?
I heard kidnapping for ransom is a common crime over there.

Nigeria. We also have a rate of kidnapping for ransom. In fact, it's now big business..

[headingnorth]

Good to hear your loved one made it out alive. Very scary.

Did this take incident take place in Mexico by any chance?
I heard kidnapping for ransom is a common crime over there.

Nigeria. We also have a rate of kidnapping for ransom. In fact, it's now big business..

Wow. Sorry to hear that. Some of my long-time customers at my business are from Nigeria.
They are great hard-working people and always honest in their business dealings with me. One has a wife recently graduated from UCLA.

[Fiatless]

Good to hear your loved one made it out alive. Very scary.

Did this take incident take place in Mexico by any chance?
I heard kidnapping for ransom is a common crime over there.

Nigeria. We also have a rate of kidnapping for ransom. In fact, it's now big business..

Wow. Sorry to hear that. Some of my long-time customers at my business are from Nigeria.
They are great people and always honest in their business dealings with me. One has a wife recently graduated from UCLA.

I am glad you have had experience with Nigerians and you can testify that they are good people. The news is filled with stories of bad things about Nigeria, especially in the area of scams. But people don't know that there honest and wonderful Nigerians. 

[Publictalk792]

This is very upsetting story and I can only try to imagine how scared and desperate you and your family must have been during those terrible days. Problems you had trying to get money for ransom in cash through regular banks and money places are really surprising especially since it was matter of life and death. Fact is that bank could not help you when it was such big emergency.
It makes sense that you would do anything to get your brother back safely. Point you made about how regular money systems can have problems and can not always be trusted in really serious situations is clearly shown by you. Difference between that and good things about Bitcoin like not having limits on how much you can send not needing to make your account better to send much money and system not usually failing is very convincing in this specific situation.
Lesson you and with you story we learned about having Bitcoin ready as backup for when regular money systems do not work is strong one and it came from truly terrible thing that happened. Thank you for sharing this story it gives very clear and personal look at how money like Bitcoin could be useful in extreme situations. I really hope your brother is getting better after his injuries.

[Fiatless]

This is very upsetting story and I can only try to imagine how scared and desperate you and your family must have been during those terrible days. Problems you had trying to get money for ransom in cash through regular banks and money places are really surprising especially since it was matter of life and death. Fact is that bank could not help you when it was such big emergency.
It makes sense that you would do anything to get your brother back safely. Point you made about how regular money systems can have problems and can not always be trusted in really serious situations is clearly shown by you. Difference between that and good things about Bitcoin like not having limits on how much you can send not needing to make your account better to send much money and system not usually failing is very convincing in this specific situation.
Lesson you and with you story we learned about having Bitcoin ready as backup for when regular money systems do not work is strong one and it came from truly terrible thing that happened. Thank you for sharing this story it gives very clear and personal look at how money like Bitcoin could be useful in extreme situations. I really hope your brother is getting better after his injuries.

Thank you. My brother is doing well and has gone back to work. He was kidnapped at a building site where he was supervising a poultry farm project. And you know that such farms are built outside the city. Since the location was on the outskirts, it was easy to kidnap him because there was no police presence in such areas.

[lovesmayfamilis]

What a terrible country you live in, OP. But all this is told just to say that storing Bitcoin is safer? Why didn't you offer them bitcoins? I think the bandits in your country are very educated if there are so many such stories. They would not refuse such a ransom. To me, this looks like another low-rating "blockbuster" with an obvious plot. However, based on your posting, OP, I see a regular presence on the forum. Even in the event of such troubles, you do not stop fulfilling your quota?

kidnappers were later caught by the police, and my brother identified them.

But I am surprised that someone is asking if a story is true or false instead of enjoying the moral lessons. Let me ask you again, @_act_, why would I have to lie,? Or maybe for merit or donations?. I would have dropped a link to the news of their arrest but it it will not be good for privacy.

Exclusively for this purpose.

[slaman29]

Another crazy story from another Stake signature user

Of course its fake, just like all the fake jackpot wins from streaming users Stake has all over the internet

OP, come on. Stop spamming and use your time for more useful contributions. Your kidnappers are so nice they negotiated 3 days until you could afford the amount. LOLLL

[Fiatless]

What a terrible country you live in, OP. But all this is told just to say that storing Bitcoin is safer? Why didn't you offer them bitcoins? I think the bandits in your country are very educated if there are so many such stories. They would not refuse such a ransom. To me, this looks like another low-rating "blockbuster" with an obvious plot. However, based on your posting, OP, I see a regular presence on the forum. Even in the event of such troubles, you do not stop fulfilling your quota?

kidnappers were later caught by the police, and my brother identified them.

But I am surprised that someone is asking if a story is true or false instead of enjoying the moral lessons. Let me ask you again, @_act_, why would I have to lie,? Or maybe for merit or donations?. I would have dropped a link to the news of their arrest but it it will not be good for privacy.

Exclusively for this purpose.

This might be the reason why people have stopped discussing their real-life encounters because it will be misinterpreted as a plot to fish merit. I am pleased with myself, and my conscience is clear that there is no iota of lies in what I have narrated.

Of course, it did affect my presence in the forum because I had three days of fear and sleepless nights. Now, I never stated the date of event so you cannot determine if it affected my post quota.

I have said that some members of this forum are aware that my elder brother was kidnapped because I told them. Maybe they can send you a pm if they want to ascertain the authenticity of my post. But I guess many of them might want to remain private.

Regardless of the perception of some people, I am glad I shared the story because it might interest some people. It should be part of the true life stories that show the failure of the fiat system.

Another crazy story from another Stake signature user

Of course its fake, just like all the fake jackpot wins from streaming users Stake has all over the internet

OP, come on. Stop spamming and use your time for more useful contributions. Your kidnappers are so nice they negotiated 3 days until you could afford the amount. LOLLL

Have you ever negotiated with kidnappers? They can call now and won't call till tomorrow. They are keeping the victim to get the best deal. They can even keep a victim until cars or other valuables are sold. Some victims have stayed with kidnappers for one month.

[Hazink]

I know that we shouldn't promote ransom payment using Bitcoin, but I would have done anything for my brother to be released. Each time I was called for ransom negotiations, I would be hearing the beatings and threats on the background and it was terrifying.

I have learned to always have Bitcoin as a backup because centralized platforms cannot be trusted. With Bitcoin:
-No need to upgrade the account
-No network failure
-No transaction limit.

Bitcoin could have saved you the time, but if your brother's wife had spoken up about her limit long before all the money was sent to her account, you could have saved yourself the extra day, as each person who sent her money could have walked to the bank themself and got the cash out to make it easier.

On a side note, now that fiat was used to pay for ransom, the government of your country will not label fiat a terrorist's accomplice tool, as they could have been quick to give Bitcoin a bad name if it was what the kidnappers asked for as their ransom.

Another crazy story from another Stake signature user

Of course its fake, just like all the fake jackpot wins from streaming users Stake has all over the internet

OP, come on. Stop spamming and use your time for more useful contributions. Your kidnappers are so nice they negotiated 3 days until you could afford the amount. LOLLL

It seems like stories are justified to be fake or real based on which signature the OP wears or based on who posted it, or are certain members of the forum being labelled to only be good at producing fake posts, and if the OP was wearing a different signature member from a respected company, you could have perceived the story in a different way, as your comment clearly shows how judgement can be passed biasedly depending on who is involve.

[Spaceman1000$]

I was informed that my elder brother had been kidnapped. Few minutes later I called his phone number and the kidnappers were requesting for outrageous ransom. After three days of contacting them, we were able to negotiate until it got to the amount we could afford.

Since they requested that his wife bring the money in cash, we had to transfer what we had gathered to her account. After buying all the materials because they also requested such as cartoons of milk, biscuits, and other food items. My sister in-law headed to local money changers to collect fiat since banks are restricted to give such an amount in cash.

As she was transferring the money to the local money changer's bank account, it was later discovered that she could not move all the money since her daily transfer limit was below the amount the kidnappers demanded. When she rushed to the bank to upgrade her transfer limits, they said there was no service in the bank. When she tried to inform them that it was an emergency, they told her that there was nothing they could do about it.

It was a problem because we had already informed the kidnappers that she was bringing the money that day. When we informed them about the latest development, they told us that we were working with the police and were planning to get them arrested. They informed my sister in-law to forget about my brother because he would be killed that night. That period was the most terrifying night of my life.

Long story short, they accepted the change of plans and my brother was released the next day after his wife's account was upgraded and the money delivered in cash the next day. But my brother's leg was broken because of the delay, and he told us that he was beaten through the night.

I know that we shouldn't promote ransom payment using Bitcoin, but I would have done anything for my brother to be released. Each time I was called for ransom negotiations, I would be hearing the beatings and threats on the background and it was terrifying.

I have learned to always have Bitcoin as a backup because centralized platforms cannot be trusted. With Bitcoin:
-No need to upgrade the account
-No network failure
-No transaction limit.

Sorry for your brothers ordeal and thank goodness he was released from the hands of his abductors safely, but given the way your narration went and the Bank back and forth upgrade issues, it seems you would have preferred the kidnappers to ask for the amount they requested as ransom in Bitcoin instead of Fiat, making it look like the process would have been seemless and less stressful. However most kidnappers from stories I've heard will always ask for physical cash, in the African setting, some of them don't even understand the technology behind Bitcoin, so they won't even go to that direction, so asking you guys to get those things they need as food and getting their money physical is there mood of operation.

[GigaBit]

The story you shared is pathetic. What happened to you is truly heartbreaking. It is really difficult to control the situation when you find yourself in this situation. On the one hand, there is the fear of losing money and on the other there is also the fear of finding a family member alive. Now the complexity that has arisen regarding the payment issue is also a big problem. If the money cannot be sent on time, then there can be beatings for delay, on the other hand, even if there is an alternative, it is time-consuming. But if there was a way to pay the payment in Bitcoin, then such a situation would not have arisen. Although it should not be used to perform such negative actions. But considering the advantages, Bitcoin is definitely the best in all aspects.

[death69]

Your story has a lot inside than just "bad banking service". That centralisation is biassed is brought to light here.

The bank was unavailable. It's also that society quietly engineered a world where access to your own resources is a permissioned favor, not a guaranteed right. We love "safe custody" but forget that these walls can turn into prisons overnight. What's the backup plan when "Sorry, system down" costs human lives? When the infrastructure meant to keep you safe turns out to be the main traffic congestion in your darkest hour, where is the responsibility?

Bitcoin is no longer about rebellion. You didn't "almost lose a brother because of criminals". You almost lost a brother because gatekeeping and fragility are baked into the very systems we trust. That is the unspoken tragedy. Not everyone needs Bitcoin...until the day they absolutely, really, terribly do.

It's strange how we spend our life debating "mass adoption" and "price volatility" when the actual point looks at us in silence: money should never fail you when life is on the line. Thank you for sharing this; it's more powerful than a thousand blog posts on "crypto utility".