For my own safety, I quit

[viljy]

Well, apparently such advertising attracts criminals, who rightly expect to then anonymously exchange bitcoin through mixers or anonymous exchanges and cover their tracks. This is impossible with ordinary money, even with cash, because the bills have serial numbers. Moreover, bank transfers are monitored all over the world (it's only in Russia that banks don't know where scammers transfer money and can neither find nor freeze the payment... because the bank employees themselves are in cahoots with the scammers). If the threat is serious, it makes sense to remove provocative advertising and arm yourself (within the framework of local law).

[Furball808]

If let's say, the criminals demanded cash, will you also quit using cash, and only accept transfers or cards, a lot of people use tools in different ways, a kitchen knife can also be a weapon, quiting because people are taking advantage of Bitcoin to do evil doesn't make sense, you know what they say, evil prevail cause good men do nothing, so spread the good news about Bitcoin and keep a positive mind, it ain't Bitcoin that is bad but those who use it.

But still, if the usage of Bitcoin threatens your peace, then of course u should be careful.

You have a point. At the very least, OP should just be more careful. But totally removing the use of bitcoin is too extreme and would only make the criminals win. Maybe instill more security as to lessen anxiety. Businesses don't suddenly remove their cash because someone might steal from them. But again wherever you are at most comfortable then you should do that.

[MarjorieZimmermanGinger]

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

When it comes to safety, there's no reason to continue using Bitcoin payments in your business, even if it can be quite profitable. It's far better to maintain your own safety than to insist on using Bitcoin payments in a high-crime neighborhood. I personally wouldn't choose any other option when it comes to safety and I'd certainly do the same for you. There are still plenty of ways to get Bitcoin and you can still sell as usual, so the money you earn can be used to buy Bitcoin and save it, making it much safer and more practical for your safety. Crime often occurs due to opportunity, so when we live in a crime-prone area, remaining anonymous is much better.

[Bluedrem]

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

It seems that criminals are very clever and have a good understanding of blockchain. Yes, it is not yet possible to track the history of blockchain to reach the receiver and no technology for key tracking has been opened to the world so if criminals demand ransom in Bitcoin, they are much safer in terms of collecting money or in the system of collecting money. Maybe that is why they are demanding Bitcoin as ransom. You say that Bitcoin is legal in your country, in that case, even if you put up a banner from your business saying "Payment in Bitcoin coins is accepted", people still have a good understanding of blockchain so they can still demand Bitcoin as ransom.
So for now, I do not see your signboard as a threat to your life, in fact, you have to move more consciously to maintain the security of your life. Also, the rest is fate's writing.

[Jet Cash]

Have two wallets, and keep one with a small deposit in them.  Then tell them that they can have all of that, but you have to cash your coins because you are not rich. In addition, you could install security cameras, and advertise the fact that all visitors are recorded on a remote server.

[Alone055]

I have been in fear for two days straight after I heard that few numbers of people are kidnapped and I happen to know one of the victim, they are asked to pay ransom in Bitcoin, I don't know maybe I should call this stupid or not but I am lost in my thoughts....

As a developing country that I am from, my people don't even have their ways of tracking criminals on the Blockchain, even in other countries that are well developed than mine, wrench attacks still happened and none of them attackers got caught.

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

Those who tell you not to remove the sign because nothing would happen are the ones who don't care about you and your safety. If you know that you live in a place where such things can happen, and you mentioned that someone you know has become a victim of this thing, which is a clear sign that you should take necessary precautions before you also become a victim of what others are going through because if there is a specific group targeting people who potentially have bitcoins and you have that sign for your business, you better take it off before something happens.

Doing business in countries or places where robberies and stuff are common is very difficult. You never know which day someone might come with a gun and take everything from you, and then you spend the whole year recovering that loss and then it happens again before you even fully recover the previous loss. It's a nightmare, and I know this because this happens in our region as well and I know how difficult it is for business owners. If there is proper security and safety at the place where your business is then it's not a problem, but if that's not the case, then you will have a tough time running your business.

[Zlantann]

What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

Kidnappers can ask for any form of payment they think is best for them. Fiat cash is the most popular type of ransom payment in most countries. Maybe the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie has made asking for ransom in cryptocurrency popular.

If you think accepting Bitcin payment puts you at risk of being a victim of kidnapping, you would have to remove the sign. However, Kidnappers are well informed about your financial capacity. They usually have insiders who give them valid information. My take is that you will not be a target for accepting Bitcoin but how much you are worth.

To be on the safe side, remove the Bitcoin sign and inform your customers verbally that you accept Bitcoin.  

[fikrett]

Have two wallets, and keep one with a small deposit in them.  Then tell them that they can have all of that, but you have to cash your coins because you are not rich. In addition, you could install security cameras, and advertise the fact that all visitors are recorded on a remote server.

Also that the BTC is not anonymous, all the transactions are on the chain

[davis196]

I have been in fear for two days straight after I heard that few numbers of people are kidnapped and I happen to know one of the victim, they are asked to pay ransom in Bitcoin, I don't know maybe I should call this stupid or not but I am lost in my thoughts....

As a developing country that I am from, my people don't even have their ways of tracking criminals on the Blockchain, even in other countries that are well developed than mine, wrench attacks still happened and none of them attackers got caught.

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

I don't know anything about your situation in detail. OK, you can take down the "Bitcoin payment accepted here" sign, but what if the criminals have remembered that you've had such sign in the past? What do you mean by saying "I quit"? Do you want to sell all your crypto and never use crypto ever again? It's OK to sell everything right now, the crypto bear market will continue and I don't expect a bull run coming anytime soon. You can join the crypto space after a year or two. I don't believe that selling all your crypto would reduce the risk for you. Maybe some of the criminals would find out via other people, that you were HODLing crypto in the past. You would be pretty much safe, if nobody knows that you are dealing with crypto.

[john_egbert]

I have been in fear for two days straight after I heard that few numbers of people are kidnapped and I happen to know one of the victim, they are asked to pay ransom in Bitcoin, I don't know maybe I should call this stupid or not but I am lost in my thoughts....

As a developing country that I am from, my people don't even have their ways of tracking criminals on the Blockchain, even in other countries that are well developed than mine, wrench attacks still happened and none of them attackers got caught.

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

I don't know anything about your situation in detail. OK, you can take down the "Bitcoin payment accepted here" sign, but what if the criminals have remembered that you've had such sign in the past? What do you mean by saying "I quit"? Do you want to sell all your crypto and never use crypto ever again? It's OK to sell everything right now, the crypto bear market will continue and I don't expect a bull run coming anytime soon. You can join the crypto space after a year or two. I don't believe that selling all your crypto would reduce the risk for you. Maybe some of the criminals would find out via other people, that you were HODLing crypto in the past. You would be pretty much safe, if nobody knows that you are dealing with crypto.

If people know already about the overall fact, that OP has ties to crypto - it won't help much, but it's better to take off the sign. Overall, it's just minimization of the risk, not that it will be gone for sure..

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

If something like this is happening to someone you know and close to you, it shows that it may soon be your own turn, advisably, you should take it down, since your business has a physical location and people in your area know more of these and could target you, except you have online platforms that does not link to your physical address and they don't know you are in charge of it.

[AmaGold70]

The truth is that, before criminals or kidnappers would ask you to pay ransom in bitcoin, it means they must have known their victim as someone who is into Bitcoin business or investment, and this is the more reason why as a Bitcoin investor you don't have to flaunt yourself telling people the kind of investment you are into. There was a story of a young undergraduate who was killed by his own friend just because he exposed his bitcoin portfolio, his friend became very envious and planned for his friend's death. On the other hand, if you accept Bitcoin payment and is displayed on your signboard, such thing can frighten you but then, business without advertisement is difficult to grow, so to me I suggest you don't remove it but remain security conscious and report any suspicious movement to security agencies within your vicinity.

[AprilioMP]

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

What comes to mind is how law enforcement officials in your country work to protect their citizens and ensure their safety. If no perpetrators have been caught, it means that the performance of security officials in your country is very poor.
Since your business pamphlet states that you accept payments in Bitcoin, I will remove it so that criminals will not see it at your place of business. Of course, personal safety is more important than anything else.
I hope nothing happens to you. Take care of yourself.

[BlackBoss_]

I have been in fear for two days straight after I heard that few numbers of people are kidnapped and I happen to know one of the victim, they are asked to pay ransom in Bitcoin, I don't know maybe I should call this stupid or not but I am lost in my thoughts....

As a developing country that I am from, my people don't even have their ways of tracking criminals on the Blockchain, even in other countries that are well developed than mine, wrench attacks still happened and none of them attackers got caught.

https://github.com/jlopp/physical-bitcoin-attacks
https://github.com/demining/Physical-Bitcoin-Attacks
How to protect your bitcoin from $5 wrench attacks
Don't try to be famous and let the others know about your Bitcoin investment, holding, your life physically would become safer.

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

"Bitcoin payment accepted here" used to be a hot trend from your nation with many topics about it.
Announce your story with Bitcoin, first purchase, sale, business, education ...

It is hard to verify that it is actual adoption of Bitcoin in local business there and the physical attack from your story is true.

User	|	Topic	|
sokani	|	The bolt driver experience: promoting bitcoin in my business	|
Nwada001	|	Physical Bitcoin Shop in Port Harcourt (Nigeria)	|
SatoPrincess	|	Giving customized Bitcoin-themed Gifts to my clients	|
SatoPrincess	|	I now accept bitcoin payments in my Beauty shop	|
Dr.Bitcoin_Strange	|	One Month of Accepting Bitcoin for Payment	|
Merit.s	|	Advantage of accepting bitcoin in business	|
tjtonmoy	|	I started business many days ago. Now it's time to accept Crypto as a payment.	|
wnet	|	I started accepting Bitcoin at my store in September 2021, here's an update.	|
Rockson1	|	Bitcoin as means of exchange in happy day supermarket	|
Dr.Bitcoin_Strange	|	(Bitcoin payment success) 3-month statistics	|
Onyeeze	|	Gas station payment with bitcoin.	|

[SatoPrincess]

~snip~

What’s so hard to believe about OP’s story? I think OP has a valid concern if he’s scared he might become a target because he accepts bitcoin as a payment in his physical store. I don’t know about OP’s lifestyle and what kind of neighborhood he’s located, at the end of the day it is his decision to keep the bitcoin sign up or take it down.

OP if taking the sign down will give you peace, then by all means do it. Your customers who usually pay with bitcoin will continue to patronise you. And new customers can be given that bitcoin at the counter.

[macson]

If it's that serious, for the time being, you don't need to hang a Bitcoin acceptance sign in your business, because you don't know what will happen when you put it up, and criminals might think that you have a lot of Bitcoin because you accept it in your business.

You could also stop accepting Bitcoin payments for now, and when someone asks you about it, just say you don't accept it, because those people asking might be testing whether you hold that asset or not.

It's better to protect your privacy for a while and keep a low profile to minimize the chances that you might become a potential target.

[Leon_jesus]

I have been in fear for two days straight after I heard that few numbers of people are kidnapped and I happen to know one of the victim, they are asked to pay ransom in Bitcoin, I don't know maybe I should call this stupid or not but I am lost in my thoughts....

As a developing country that I am from, my people don't even have their ways of tracking criminals on the Blockchain, even in other countries that are well developed than mine, wrench attacks still happened and none of them attackers got caught.

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

My strongest recommendation is that when they contact you or anything like that, you seek help from local authorities. I can help you track that person down and we can file a proper report.
It's also a good idea to invest in protection so you don't become a victim.

[SPIDERMAN008]

If such kidnappings are happening regularly where you are currently, then you should definitely be careful. Especially if they are targeting crypto-related people, then you should take down your billboard and be patient for a while. Later, you can understand the situation and take appropriate  decision according to the time. If you feel that there is a security risk, you should take action very soon. I am surprised that the law and order situation there is so bad that such kidnappings are happening regularly.

[pawanjain]

I have been in fear for two days straight after I heard that few numbers of people are kidnapped and I happen to know one of the victim, they are asked to pay ransom in Bitcoin, I don't know maybe I should call this stupid or not but I am lost in my thoughts....

As a developing country that I am from, my people don't even have their ways of tracking criminals on the Blockchain, even in other countries that are well developed than mine, wrench attacks still happened and none of them attackers got caught.

The reason for my fear is the fact that I have "Bitcoin Payment accepted here" displayed on my business signboard, so I think it is time for me to bring it down for my own safety. What would you have done if you are in my shoe? Any better option you have in mind?

Let your intrusive thoughts in action because in this case, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Public display of accepting bitcoin is a shortcut to losing them especially when one of your acquaintances have already been a victim.
I would have done the same in this case.

[Easteregg69]

I have custodials holding some for me.

BTW. Kraken gives you 8% on usdc.. Connect the dots.