Is stealing bitcoins illegal?

[MF Doom]

For example, if I mislead someone into sending me a large amount of bitcoins (in the United States) would that be illegal?

If I did not force them to do anything, but they sent them anticipating me to send a product in return, but I never send it.

Would this be considered illegal considering no one would know whether the bitcoin address that received the bitcoins was my address?

You are a thief and a criminal.  Yes it is stealing and a felony if it is a large enough amount, depends on the state.  If they can catch you, thats another story.  If they cant catch 800k coins stolen from mt gox, I doubt you will get in trouble.

[tzortz]

Is a crime illegal?

[RappelzReborn]

Of course it's illegal & it's a crime . even if they won't catch you
now depends on your ethics & conscience .

[raare123]

Its illegal, Because BTC is worth irl money.

[tzortz]

I am sick of such discussions.

[AtheistAKASaneBrain]

Let's say you are in a country where Bitcoin is ilegal, and you steal Bitcoin... is stealing ilegal Bitcoins ilegal?

[Guido]

For example, if I mislead someone into sending me a large amount of bitcoins (in the United States) would that be illegal?

If I did not force them to do anything, but they sent them anticipating me to send a product in return, but I never send it.

Would this be considered illegal considering no one would know whether the bitcoin address that received the bitcoins was my address?

yes it's called fraud
now crawl back under the stone you came from

[Minecache]

Jesus Christ and all Mother of The Holys is this REALLY a 6 page thread? Yes stealing bitcoins is illegal through fraud. Which is the "wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain."

Seriously, do kids not have access to a dictionary or Google these days FFS?!?!

[FattyMcButterpants]

Alright, since the general consensus is that stealing bitcoins is illegal.
If I discontinue the use of communication with said person (from a way that can be linked back to my IP address) and continue the conversation on an anonymized, encrypted email, with TOR, a VPN, and tails, and then execute said plan, law enforcement would have no way to prove that it was me who committed the crime and I would not be held accountable due to lack of evidence that it was me, correct?

I'm absolutely fascinated that people like you exist.  Tell me about your parents.   Were they cussing, drinking, smoking parents who were physically abusive to you?   Do you think maybe you were born with some portions of your brain turned off (aka psycopath / no ability for empathy, etc) ?  

What is it that results in a human being like you?  

Are you aware that most of the world struggles with severe pain, both emotionally, physically, and otherwise because people like you exist?  Wars, tortures, bloodshed, death, sadness, starvation, and misery originates with people who think ... like you.   There are people around the world have to dedicate their entire lives to helping those that people like you hurt.  

What is it that goes on inside the mind of someone like yourself, when you realize that you are the personification of everything most people are disgusted by, in human nature?

Just curious.

-B-

There are a lot of people that are like this, it is just that many are not as open about it. It happens enough so that the market for anti theft devices and security for inventory slippage is very large.

To answer IsaacDestruction's question, not necessarily. It is very well possible that your execution of this would somehow leak your identity. It would be possible that you somehow have some setting mid-configured and your IP address and identity would leak or your VPN is not as anon as they advertise themselves to be. If this were to happen then law enforcement would probably be additionally harsh in bringing charges against you as you had taken steps to hide your identity to avoid prosecution.   

[qkimb123]

its called fraud ie theft

[bitnanigans]

Stealing anything at all, irrespective of value, is illegal.

[ikydesu]

illegal! and also harm other people! remember your sins!

[sl@ppy]

Eat more paint chips and think harder to come up with something easier

[pooya87]

For example, if I mislead someone into sending me a large amount of bitcoins (in the United States) would that be illegal?

If I did not force them to do anything, but they sent them anticipating me to send a product in return, but I never send it.

Would this be considered illegal considering no one would know whether the bitcoin address that received the bitcoins was my address?

well it looks like a crime but it needs to be proven and stuck to the person, and it is hard since bitcoin address is hard to be related to the person

[Possum577]

Since you've made this post there's not pre-meditation, sounds like you're planning to do this, which would also likely make it illegal and increase the penalty.

What country do you live and what are you trying to sell?

[traxx]

If stealing in your country is illegal, then yes. Stealing is stealing no matter what you steal.

[LiteCoinGuy]

you cant steal magic internet money. so its ok i guess.

[Sheldor333]

If you did that with fiat money would it be illegal? If the answer is yes, then it is illegal. Simple as that.

[ArnoldChippy]

Isn't this just plain and simple fraud?

Both parties agreed to swap goods/services for bitcoin, except you didn't send the goods and accepted the bitcoin.

[gadman2]

Quite a large sum of existing bitcoins are stolen, so wouldn't it be a crime to accept bitcoins in the first place?