*update: cryptothrift is also trying to raise capital
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=579787.0*
*update: after ignoring my emails for almost 2 weeks but within a few hours of this reddit thread posted, cryptothrift has refunded my btc*
I have been scammed for bitcoins by the operators of
http://www.cryptothrift.com via the website’s escrow process. When a buyer bids and wins an auction on the site they have the option to pay the seller directly or via escrow where the site will take a 1% fee. The site directs you to send btc to the site’s wallet where they hold the btc until you confirm receipt of goods purchased.
On April 9, 2014 (approximate date depending on time zone), I won an auction for a gift card. I sent 0.05750356 btc ($25usd at the time) from coinbase to the cryptothrift’s receiving wallet address. I used the site’s escrow option.
Cryptothrift’s wallet address for escrow: 1G5g6bCRAPSctQpZ7SkTF1Zqe2iv3nHiUz
https://blockchain.info/tx/615f95d424585c2a6ce87ed981bd7f46bf81da5caa5dd34e14741be16257526cscreenshot of proof of purchase:
http://imgur.com/a/dvwVA#0After approximately 48 hours with no receipt of goods I pmed the seller and received no response. I initiated the process for a refund. In the “personal information” section of cryptothrift I had filled out my refund wallet address when I first registered to the site.
My blockchain refund wallet address: 19enjgKCNHhtAYjRcGHUBjYgMTzj3Yggp3
Screenshot of “personal information” section:
http://imgur.com/j3Zbr9qSoon I received an email that the site had refunded my escrowed bitcoins. However, they “refunded” my bitcoins to the wrong wallet address.
Screenshot of refund email response:
http://imgur.com/SoNvQj0I emailed cryptothrift the next day inquiring about the refund address problem. The site responded that the refund was made out to the address I specified. This is a lie. The site refunded the btc back to their own wallet deposit address.
Cryptothrift’s wallet address for escrow: 1G5g6bCRAPSctQpZ7SkTF1Zqe2iv3nHiUz
https://blockchain.info/address/1G5g6bCRAPSctQpZ7SkTF1Zqe2iv3nHiUzScreenshot of 2nd email response:
http://imgur.com/kDQwNggAll my further emails to cryptothrift support have been ignored with no response.
http://imgur.com/CEIfuCeThe site has no way to look up historical refund support tickets. This is deliberate imo. I discussed my experience with other users and they also believe
http://www.cryptothrift.com is a scam operation that defrauds its users.
TLDR:
http://www.cryptothrift.com uses its “escrow” feature to scam users by “refunding btc” to its own deposit address, effectively keeping the escrowed bitcoins. I suggest people to stay way from this scam site.
*update: /u/neuoronstorm alerted me to the fact that cryptothrift is in the process of raising capital today
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=579787.0*
*update: after ignoring my emails for almost 2 weeks but within a few hours of this reddit thread posted, cryptothrift has refunded my btc*
https://i.imgur.com/4DBb4iH.png*There is still no way for users to review their escrow refund transaction history on the site. The site can indiscriminately claim that you filled out the "wrong btc refund address".*
