For my own safety, I quit

[HONDACD125]

Let's forget the bitcoin for a moment, i assume you got a business that is why it says "Bitcoin accepted here" now if you don't accept bitcoin still you will have the business running, customers paying and the cash register will have cash and your bank account will have money.

Now you say what is stopping those criminals or wrench attackers to do the same, I mean bank transfer is possible to track but grabbing money from the register it is not possible so we should also remove currency accepted here?

Just a though came to my mind after reading the term I quit.

I actually had the same thought as you initially, but after reading OP's post more carefully, I realized that he mentioned that there has been some kidnapping around where he lives, and he even knew one of the victims, and the attackers or kidnappers demanded that the ransom should be paid in Bitcoin, which makes OP afraid that if there is a group of kidnappers or attackers who are mostly looking for people who are associated with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, his board in his shop or business place that says "Bitcoin accepted here" could make him a potential target, and he doesn't want that to happen, so that's why he decided he will remove the sign.

I think it's understandable, because when you come to know that a person did a specific thing and he had to face consequences for it, you wouldn't be willing to do the same thing because you will think that what happened to that person can also happen to you. There must be a lot of businesses there, but maybe they are not targeting simple businesses or business owners, but only kidnapping or attacking Bitcoin or cryptocurrency owners.

[Findingnemo]

Let's forget the bitcoin for a moment, i assume you got a business that is why it says "Bitcoin accepted here" now if you don't accept bitcoin still you will have the business running, customers paying and the cash register will have cash and your bank account will have money.

Now you say what is stopping those criminals or wrench attackers to do the same, I mean bank transfer is possible to track but grabbing money from the register it is not possible so we should also remove currency accepted here?

Just a though came to my mind after reading the term I quit.

I actually had the same thought as you initially, but after reading OP's post more carefully, I realized that he mentioned that there has been some kidnapping around where he lives, and he even knew one of the victims, and the attackers or kidnappers demanded that the ransom should be paid in Bitcoin, which makes OP afraid that if there is a group of kidnappers or attackers who are mostly looking for people who are associated with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, his board in his shop or business place that says "Bitcoin accepted here" could make him a potential target, and he doesn't want that to happen, so that's why he decided he will remove the sign.

I think it's understandable, because when you come to know that a person did a specific thing and he had to face consequences for it, you wouldn't be willing to do the same thing because you will think that what happened to that person can also happen to you. There must be a lot of businesses there, but maybe they are not targeting simple businesses or business owners, but only kidnapping or attacking Bitcoin or cryptocurrency owners.

I understand that he did for his safety and it is his choice but I can't relate how this save him and I wonder why the kidnapper just focusing the people who got bitcoin and bitcoin alone, some kind of bitcoin maximalist went rogue an wanted to have all bitcoin for himself?

If there is a crime the government needs to take care of it but if the government is not capable of it then we must take the necessary measures on our own.

[EFS]

I understand OP's concerns about this. Some countries aren't really safe and people looking at it from a developed-country perspective might not fully grasp the reality.
In our country, the government directly banned payments with Bitcoin. If there's no such restriction in your country but you're still worried about environmental risks, it makes sense to remove the BTC accepted sign. You can still help your regular customers if they want to pay with BTC, but you won't advertise it to people you don't know. That looks like the most reasonable option to me.

[MinoRaiola]

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

I suspect you have more fiat money in your system than Bitcoin. By that I mean your customers pay more often and in larger amounts with fiat. If you were to put the two on the same level, maybe you also worry that someone could came to you because of the fiat money. This perspective is maybe not the best one, but it is just meant to show you one way of thinking about it. I wouldnt let negative things influence me, but Id still prioritize security. Put up a big image on the store “Security monitoring” and install highly visible cameras. Perhaps a picture: We monitor everything and protect the security of our customers.

[lizarder]

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 respect people who consider their own safety even if they have to sacrifice something that can produce results because in living life in this world we don't always talk about money. When our country is not well educated on the use of bitcoin as a means for transactions for various reasons or safety considerations, it is natural for us to avoid it because then we are much safer from attacks that could endanger ourselves. After all, talking about achieving financial freedom can be done in many ways and does not require accepting payments using bitcoin.

When you see bitcoin as a means to achieve financial freedom then getting involved in investing independently is much better so that other people never find out about involvement in it and thus we can still make changes in life, especially regarding achieving the freedom we want. Personal safety is much more important than money, so this needs to be considered and must be taken care of because when our lives are threatened, money will be of no use.

[Byebyebtc]

This is not about Bitcoin, it's general security
You taking it down might give you peace of mind, but wouldn't fix the issue of such related activities,

Government should try harder, in securing their citizens. This is a total failure of the country's security.
But meanwhile reduce anything that will attract such, like advertising, promoting etc just to be in the safer side.

[Stalker22]

This is not about Bitcoin, it's general security
You taking it down might give you peace of mind, but wouldn't fix the issue of such related activities,

Government should try harder, in securing their citizens. This is a total failure of the country's security.
But meanwhile reduce anything that will attract such, like advertising, promoting etc just to be in the safer side.

I agree.  If you are living in a place where criminals can walk up to your business and attack you as they please, the problem isnt the payment method - its the fact that you are an easy target in an unsafe area.

@OP, removing the sign might hide the fact that you have crypto, but if you are a business owner, criminals already assume you have cash, gold, or other valuables.  A "$5 wrench attack" can happen for a Rolex just as easily as for a private key.  Taking down the sign may not be enough to keep you safe.

[Versatile_choice]

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?

Well, since you're already feeling unsecured then I will advice that you do what you think is best for you. Personally I would say that you shouldn't bother about that since it's a  business that you're using it for not something you post just to tell people that you're holding bitcoin just like other guys are doing out there so I think your own case could be different but my major concern is that I don't know how reliable/ or tight the security is over there, because this is also what you need to consider although I know it's only God if not the watch man watchet not but in vain so since I don't know the compitent of the security over there I would advice you remove bitcoin and only use your local Fiat for the main time.

[Hazink]

This is not about Bitcoin, it's general security
You taking it down might give you peace of mind, but wouldn't fix the issue of such related activities,

Government should try harder, in securing their citizens. This is a total failure of the country's security.
But meanwhile reduce anything that will attract such, like advertising, promoting etc just to be in the safer side.

Security is a big problem in most countries and where your business is situated happens to be one of them, since there are already kidnapped cases of people you know, removing the Bitcoin acceptance sign won't do. You have to take extra measures to protect yourself because if the kidnappers are coming because of coins alone they might have already seen the sign and waiting for the right time to strike. Just be careful out there and, since the thread was created last year, you are safe and have found a working security solution.

[Furious 7]

@OP, removing the sign might hide the fact that you have crypto, but if you are a business owner, criminals already assume you have cash, gold, or other valuables.  A "$5 wrench attack" can happen for a Rolex just as easily as for a private key.  Taking down the sign may not be enough to keep you safe.

Taking down the nameplate may not be enough to make the OP fully secure but it can still minimize it assuming for the worst case scenario only physical assets might be able to be obtained not with crypto including bitcoin owned.
Indeed, this is also still dangerous but on the one hand this will also minimize the risk especially if you reflect on the case that OP felt, the vulnerability occurred due to kidnapping which required redeeming with bitcoin as their security deposit.

There is no better option actually because the risk in business will definitely remain and those business people (including OP) must be prepared for the worst, not that expecting it to happen is just that anticipation from the start is important here.

[letteredhub]

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

I suspect you have more fiat money in your system than Bitcoin. By that I mean your customers pay more often and in larger amounts with fiat. If you were to put the two on the same level, maybe you also worry that someone could came to you because of the fiat money. This perspective is maybe not the best one, but it is just meant to show you one way of thinking about it. I wouldnt let negative things influence me, but Id still prioritize security. Put up a big image on the store “Security monitoring” and install highly visible cameras. Perhaps a picture: We monitor everything and protect the security of our customers.

The thing about all of this is that generally the way people think about it when they know that you deal in or own bitcoin even if it's just sats, the mentality is just different about when they know you have money in fiat even if you could be said to be viewed as somewhat rich in fiat. I don't know why that perception for bitcoiners.

The OP may have it less insecure dealing with just fiats alone in his business than while he still includes bitcoin in his sign board as payment option. It's better to do what's necessary to stay safe as wisdom the bible says is profitable to direct. Sometimes not all kidnapping case that the victim do comes out alive even after ransom is paid.

[X-ray]

I agree.  If you are living in a place where criminals can walk up to your business and attack you as they please, the problem isnt the payment method - its the fact that you are an easy target in an unsafe area.

@OP, removing the sign might hide the fact that you have crypto, but if you are a business owner, criminals already assume you have cash, gold, or other valuables.  A "$5 wrench attack" can happen for a Rolex just as easily as for a private key.  Taking down the sign may not be enough to keep you safe.

@OP should be investing on a good defensive tool, a bear spray is a good starter. Taking down the sign or not, people will always find a way to rob and steal if they have the chance.

Even a $1000 iphone is subject to robbery if the criminal has the intention but with a good defensive tool, they'd think twice.

I hope @OP can find solution to this because I also could understand that wrench attack is getting out of hand right now.

[Powerjumboo]

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 understand your point, so I will say that if you do not claim to be safe, then you can remove the Bitcoin billboard from your shop because first of all you have to keep yourself safe, if you cannot keep yourself safe, then what will you do to earn money? Humans are the worst in this world because people never hesitate to do bad things, especially bad people never hesitate to do bad things, they can attack any person at any time because of the love of money. That is why I will say that for your safety, remove the Bitcoin billboard from your shop, this will help you to get away from the eyes of people a little.

[Bobrox]

I think you are the right position for your onw safety, I think what you are doing is very appropriate putting down pamphlets that accept payments with bitcoin in your business is the right step to prevent criminal acts from occurring. Looking around your environment is safety or not during have the cases and the criminal ask bitcoin for payment transaction better hidden your self and for awhile you can stop accepting bitcoin as payment transaction.

Removing the bitcoin billboard at your business place not really bad for your own safety, I believe if the criminal seeing your billboard most of them think you have many bitcoin assets and targeting by them.

[PepeLapiu]

I personally don't thinknyou are anymore at risk that if you had a sign that said "Cash accepted here"
I'm sorry to lose a bitcoiner under such circumstances. But you do what must be done to feel safe for your family.

Personally, I would use a wallet that has two seed phrases and two passwords.
In the first one, you keep a few sats as bait. And in the other you keep your stash. That way if/when you get attacked, you can always surrender the one with a little bit of change initm.
 

[summonerrk]

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?

Leave the message that you accept Bitcoins because it doesn't mean that you store them. Most people who accept Bitcoins in their stores convert them into dollars in their accounts. Therefore, it doesn't make sense for criminals to try to steal a Bitcoin wallet from such a seller. It's easier for them to take cash from the seller. However, it's unfortunate that crime is so prevalent in your country, and it's a shame that Bitcoins can only be sent to someone if it's done voluntarily.

Maybe this technology will be supported when cryptocurrencies are used together with Elon Musk's neuralink technology?)

[fikrett]

This is not about Bitcoin, it's general security
You taking it down might give you peace of mind, but wouldn't fix the issue of such related activities,

Government should try harder, in securing their citizens. This is a total failure of the country's security.
But meanwhile reduce anything that will attract such, like advertising, promoting etc just to be in the safer side.

Gov thinks only about their own pockets to fill, first and foremost, unfortunately.

They come to good regulations only when it suits them the most.

[ZeroVinsonN]

I understand OP's concerns about this. Some countries aren't really safe and people looking at it from a developed-country perspective might not fully grasp the reality.
In our country, the government directly banned payments with Bitcoin. If there's no such restriction in your country but you're still worried about environmental risks, it makes sense to remove the BTC accepted sign. You can still help your regular customers if they want to pay with BTC, but you won't advertise it to people you don't know. That looks like the most reasonable option to me.

It's a good way to keep safe while still going about your regular activities, if you already have a client base that knows you accept bitcoin then you can keep working with them while making sure that no strangers get to know about it again, it's always better to be safe than sorry in cases like this especially with what's been happening in relation to bitcoin related crimes, no one can tell who is targeting who so taking precautions like this isn't wrong.

[SPIDERMAN008]

I personally don't thinknyou are anymore at risk that if you had a sign that said "Cash accepted here"
I'm sorry to lose a bitcoiner under such circumstances. But you do what must be done to feel safe for your family.

Personally, I would use a wallet that has two seed phrases and two passwords.
In the first one, you keep a few sats as bait. And in the other you keep your stash. That way if/when you get attacked, you can always surrender the one with a little bit of change initm.
 

OP started a business, that's why he accepted Bitcoin and wrote it down there. Now if someone holds Bitcoin personally and doesn't feel the need to tell anyone, then no kind of kidnapping will happen. Because you haven't revealed to anyone that you have Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency means that much importance is given to its privacy, freedom and security. Now if someone doesn't tell people about the Bitcoin he has, then other people won't get a chance to do something unusual with him.

And the two wallets you mentioned can also be useful in an emergency. But many times after kidnapping, they demand such an amount that is beyond your ability . Then there is no other way. Because those involved in kidnapping, fraud and various types of crimes are very clever. They have no mercy. If they don't get money, they can do any things.

[purple_sparkles]

I think the issue is clearly not about a sign saying that cryptocurrency payments are accepted, but about the overall nature of the business. If scammers see that the business is doing well and the owner is openly showcasing a luxurious lifestyle, then it doesn’t really matter what the sign says, just having that sign doesn’t mean the person is receiving large amounts of cryptocurrency. I believe that if you can offer crypto as a payment option, you should present it simply as an additional service for customer convenience, not as an indicator of wealth or high income.