I can start by sharing the contract that I wrote up. - This agreement is what safeguarded me as I followed it to a T.
Caribbean Treasures was also a huge help. - Me and CT have been friends for a while and he helped me bounce ideas off of him regarding the deal. He helped keep me aware and cautious. He was an asset during the process.
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Story:
On July 3rd, I received a message from a newcomer to our Facebook group, "Physical Bitcoins and Bullion," named Skyler Johnson, or simply Sky. He expressed interest in acquiring Casascius and Lealana coins and asked if I could assist him in obtaining them. I explained that while I could potentially help, given my connections with various collectors, I couldn’t make any promises.
Sky presented himself as financially well-off and seemed particularly keen on high-denomination loaded coins. Although I approached this with caution, I decided to show him some items from my collection to gauge his interest. While I found his fixation on loaded coins somewhat concerning, I brushed it aside when he expressed interest in two of my non-loaded coins.
Our conversation continued, and he appeared to be a legitimate and serious buyer. He came across as straightforward, fulfilling his commitments, including covering my travel expenses and verbally agreeing to our contract terms. However, upon my arrival in Miami on July 6th, things took a turn. After three days of constant communication, filled with hours of voice and text conversations, he attempted to make several last-minute changes that compromised my safety and control over the situation. He executed these changes in a very slick manner, which raised my concerns significantly.
As the situation unfolded, it became clear that he was fabricating stories and making excuses to deceive me. I had already shared my itinerary with him, so he was aware of my approximate arrival time. Upon landing at Miami airport, he insisted on changing our meeting location, citing his child's need to eat and other commitments that made him late. I refused to bend to his excuses, knowing that leaving the airport would put me in a vulnerable position without any means of protection. He even suggested I could pick the meeting place and proposed the local police station. I declined, realizing that it wasn’t about the location; it was about intercepting me between Point A and Point B, which I wasn’t willing to risk.
He attempted to salvage the scam he was pulling and was forced to meet me at the airport as originally agreed. The day before, he mentioned bringing his daughter and said he would arrive around 1 PM. I got there around 12:15, thinking I was being proactive, even though our contract stated the deal would take place at 2 PM. I even brought a gift for his daughter, anticipating meeting her, and he had promised to bring me a drone he had accidentally ordered duplicates of.
When he finally showed up around 3 PM—hours later than promised—he was alone and without the drone or his daughter. Upon seeing him, I noticed he didn’t completely resemble the photo ID he had provided; it was as if he were an off version of the person in the ID. He appeared tense and had a high-energy demeanor, which made me uneasy. My friend CT later joked that he looked like a "crackhead Ronald McDonald." His face was caked in makeup, and despite the circumstances, he still tried to control the dynamic of our interaction.
Another off-putting thing he did was show me a video trying to prove that he had a bunch of money by displaying stacks of cash on a kitchen counter. It felt like he was trying to convince me of his financial status without actually providing any real proof. This only added to my suspicions about his character and intentions.
I had set up a safe spot for us in the airport, surrounded by security, but it was clear he was uncomfortable. Preparing for the worst-case scenario, I brought two bags with me. One bag contained the two unloaded coins and several items for the deal, which was heavy. The other bag, discreetly hidden under my clothing, held the physical Bitcoin with 0.5 loaded onto it. I let him handle the contents of the "dummy" bag, not overly concerned if he attempted to run with it, given its weight and the surrounding security presence.
The moment we initially sat down, I had him sign our agreement in person. I then showed him a bag full of items. As he began transferring items from my bag into his duffel bag, I sat next to him, consciously positioning myself to ensure he couldn’t escape. I patted him on the back, conveying through my body language that I was right there, and everything was okay—let’s just finish and close this deal. When he asked about the 0.5, I informed him that I had it on me and offered to let him take pictures of it while I held it. He seemed agreeable to this arrangement, indicating he wasn’t concerned about holding it and preferred to verify in that way. After he took his pictures, I carefully put the Bitcoin back and secured it under my clothing.
Suddenly, he stood up abruptly, grabbing the duffel bag with the items. I firmly grabbed the bag and asked him where he thought he was going. He quickly responded, "Oh, I forgot my ledger," revealing that he didn’t even have the means to pay me, claiming he had forgotten the ledger he intended to use for the transaction. This left me even more wary of his intentions.
At this point, I was furious and told him to go get his damn ledger. He dropped the bag and said, "Okay, I'll be right back," claiming it was in his car parked right outside. As the minutes passed, I sensed something was off. Fifteen minutes went by, and I realized he had run away. I attempted to contact him, but he continued to play the fool, acting as if nothing was wrong and that I couldn't prove a thing. The whole situation felt like a carefully orchestrated scam, and I was left feeling frustrated and cautious about trusting anyone in the future.
When I pointed out his evasions and lack of payment, he turned on me, dismissively stating that he never read the contract and even called me a "retard," claiming that I was sketchy and unprofessional. I responded that professionals abide by the contracts they agree to. His dismissive attitude only confirmed my suspicions; if I hadn't followed that contract to a T, I am certain he would have tried to intercept me while I was going from point A to point B to rob me. It was a harsh reminder to remain vigilant and trust my instincts when it comes to business and personal interactions.
This is our signed contract:
