Silk Road forums
Discussion => Security => Topic started by: anax on December 25, 2011, 02:04 am
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Just found this yesterday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_vCsFyJtCw
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Just found this yesterday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_vCsFyJtCw
The guy in the video has a peculiar understanding of what constitutes "anonymously".
He gave BitInstant his e-mail address¹ and MtGox username. He gave TrustCash his e-mail address¹, IP address² and phone number³. He gave Chase his image and, potentially, license plate number.
Other than that, yeah, pretty anonymous. I only hope he's not selling anything illicit on SR.
¹ Unless he used Tor Mail.
² Unless he used Tor.
³ Unless he used a prepaid (by cash) cell.
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I guess the point is:
You can use Tor Mail or some other anonymous email.
You don't need to give them your real MtGox account name (since they email you a MtGox voucher code anyway, which can be used on any MtGox account).
You don't need to give them any phone number at all. The SMS thing is optional. Just use the email method.
He likely walked to the bank since he is in Manhattan.
So the only identity anyone would get is your face on camera walking into a bank.
But that's true no matter whether you go to a store to buy a MoneyPak, or an ATM to get cash. Cameras are everywhere.
But there's nothing illegal about buying Bitcoin anyway. Plenty of people are buying Bitcoin as an investment.
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But that's true no matter whether you go to a store to buy a MoneyPak, or an ATM to get cash. Cameras are everywhere.
There is actually a warning on the back of the MoneyPaks, "USE OF THIS PRODUCT IS TRACKED. Verification of your identity may be required. Transacation information and store surveillance images are used to help law enforcement solve crimes and make arrests."
I think it's more a "cover your ass" kind of statement but made me think ;)
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True. So for buying only bitcoins, in amounts less than $1000 at a time, and with the funds sent to an anonymous MtGox account, I think there's an extremely low probability that anyone on Earth would care. Much less use bank surveillance cameras to track the buyer of $250 worth of bitcoins. Even then, the bank only knows you are paying "TrustCash". TrustCash only knows you are paying BitInstant. BitInstant only knows you are putting US dollars into MtGox. You don't actually buy the bitcoins until you do that on MtGox itself. As I said, keep in mind that bitcoins are legal, and people use them for millions of things every day. It's just like cash. No one cares if you buy 250 US dollars from someone for 195 Euros. Dollars are legal, Euros are legal, and bitcoins are legal.
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True. So for buying only bitcoins, in amounts less than $1000 at a time, and with the funds sent to an anonymous MtGox account, I think there's an extremely low probability that anyone on Earth would care. Much less use bank surveillance cameras to track the buyer of $250 worth of bitcoins. Even then, the bank only knows you are paying "TrustCash". TrustCash only knows you are paying BitInstant. BitInstant only knows you are putting US dollars into MtGox. You don't actually buy the bitcoins until you do that on MtGox itself. As I said, keep in mind that bitcoins are legal, and people use them for millions of things every day. It's just like cash. No one cares if you buy 250 US dollars from someone for 195 Euros. Dollars are legal, Euros are legal, and bitcoins are legal.
yes they are legal (for now) but they have a negative attachment to them that they are used for illegal activities and the governement hates it cuz they cant track it and the gov NEEDS to know every cent you make and spend so it can steal as much of it as possible for themselves, which is why I think it will get regulated a lot more in the future or made illegal all together one day.
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You can use Tor Mail or some other anonymous email....You don't need to give them your real MtGox account name....You don't need to give them any phone number....He likely walked to the bank...
I'd have less of a problem with the video had those points been mentioned or the word "anonymously" been omitted from the title.
To me, the point is that the information was presented in a way that's a potential danger to those in the community who may know no better. Plenty of newbies -- many of whom travel through here each week -- would have no idea that the method described was anything *but* anonymous.
...there's nothing illegal about buying Bitcoin...
True. But why a video on buying them "anonymously" then? Why not create a "Buying Bitcoin Is Legal" or a "Tumble Your Coins Before Spending" video? All of which got me to wondering about the host, Bruce Wagner, himself.
It seems he's quite a controversial topic of discussion over on Bitcointalk. I found the "What ever became of Bruce Wagner?" thread [ bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=53342.0 ] most interesting. In it we learn that friendly, helpful Bruce has been -- how to put this kindly? -- a scammer; a con artist.IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
COUNTY DEPARTMENT, CHANCERY DIVISION
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FINAL DEFAULT JUDGMENT AGAINST DEFENDNT BOLD FUNDING,INC. AND DEFENDANT BRUCE WAGNER
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III. FINDINGS OF FACT AND LAW
A. At all relevant times, Defendant Bold Funding and Defendant Bruce Wagner did not possess a license to engage in the business of a mortgage broker, a mortgage servicing company, or a mortgage company in Illinois. Nevertheless, the Defendants, while present in Illinois, represented to members of the public that they could locate and secure funding for homeowners in foreclosure. Thereafter, Defendant Bold Funding and Defendant Bruce Wagner received thousands of dollars from homeowners for the purpose of providing funding for them, but the Defendants did not provide such services and then retained those monies for their own use.
B. The People's Amended Complaint states a cause of action under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act [815 ILCS 505/1 et seq.] ("Consumer Fraud Act") against Defendant Bold Funding and Defendant Bruce Wagner.
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IV. PERMANENT INJUNCTION AND JUDGEMENT
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D. A JUDGMENT of $365,858.00 is entered against Defendant Bold Funding and Defendant Bruce Wagner, jointly and severally.
E. This JUDGMENT consists of RESTITIUTION of $115,858.00 for the following persons in the following amounts and a CIVIL PENALTY of $250,000.00.
[76 names omitted here]
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Finding people who are losing their homes and screwing them out of their money, too. Heh. What a hoot that Bruce is, huh? (And what a *bitch* those public records can be!) Fast-forward about five years and Mr. Bold Funding of Chicago has reinvented himself as Mr. Bitcoin Show of Manhattan.
Maybe it's just me, but I think I'll steer well clear of anything ol' Brucey-boy is promoting. ;)