A few days ago, I was contacted through SideProjectors by someone interested in purchasing my website. He suggested we move the conversation to Telegram, and I agreed. Initially, everything seemed normal as we discussed the website, its features, and potential pricing.
I mentioned that I wasn’t sure about the price but suggested $15,000 as a starting point. To my surprise, he accepted immediately without negotiation, even after I explained that in my country, cryptocurrency is heavily taxed, and he would need to cover the additional tax amount. He insisted on paying in Bitcoin (BTC), which I was fine with since I know about crypto.
However, several red flags quickly appeared:
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Lack of Negotiation: He didn’t attempt to negotiate the price, even after I added extra for taxes. This felt unusual, as serious buyers typically seek a better deal.
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Refusal for a Video Call: When I suggested a Zoom call to discuss further, he declined, preferring asynchronous communication and refusing to do video calls.
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No Social Media Presence: When I asked for his LinkedIn or Twitter accounts to learn more about him, he claimed not to use social media, which heightened my suspicions.
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Questionable Exchange After a few days, he sent a screenshot indicating his BTC transaction had failed and asked me to create an account on a relatively unknown exchange called ndabit.com. I registered but didn’t receive a confirmation email, and the request for KYC documents, including my passport, felt suspicious.
At that point, I decided to halt the transaction. I told him I wouldn’t proceed unless he used a legitimate exchange or sent the BTC directly to my wallet. If he was genuinely interested, this shouldn’t be an issue.
This situation felt like an elaborate scam, especially with the push toward an obscure exchange and requests for personal identification. Be wary if someone approaches you with a similar proposition!
Update
emphasized textAfter some back and forth, the person sent the full amount of 15k BTC to my preliminary account (without KYC) on the dubious platform, even though I had only requested 1k to verify the transaction. This raised further concerns since it’s unusual for someone to send the entire amount upfront unless they are incredibly reckless.
The situation escalated into a full-blown scam when I attempted to withdraw the funds to my Binance wallet. The platform required me to send 2k USD to “verify my address” before allowing the withdrawal, a classic scam tactic. I quickly recognized what was happening and refused to comply.
I have since transferred the full amount back through the platform (to his email address) and completely severed ties with him. The lesson learned is to always trust your instincts and stick to legitimate platforms!
I’m relieved that I avoided this scam, but I understand how people might feel pressured to send 2k to recover the full amount, which in this case was 15k.
Stay alert, everybody
You overlooked the initial warning signs, like:
Speaking on WhatsApp or Telegram, the con artists’ preferred platform
demanding payment in a currency that cannot be tracked.
I wouldn’t even consider going beyond those two. I don’t mind cryptocurrency either, but not when it comes to big payments from strangers.
It’s excellent that you followed your instincts and decided not to proceed. Scammers frequently take advantage of people’s sense of urgency or trust to trick them into making snap decisions. It’s clear that you made the right decision to end the arrangement.
That is only a traditional internet fraud with a crypto twist. The fact that people are still falling for this fraud, which has been around since the late 1990s, is really intriguing!
Step 1: You create a fictitious website that appears legitimate and functions as an escrow service (in this case, bitcoin).
Step 2: You locate an item (such as OP’s website) that you like to purchase.
Step 3: Configure your fictitious escrow website to display the fraud target. Hello, this is your $15k in this very secure escrow account. The escrow corporation will deliver the $15k to you upon domain transfer."
You claim to be knowledgeable with cryptocurrency, but you don’t even grasp the idea of how a block chain operates.
He can register with any website he chooses to send cryptocurrency to; you don’t have to use the same one to get the money! It’s not centralized!
This will undoubtedly be a phony sight that tricks you into believing you have money or are in charge of the wallet while, in reality, this person is the one dragging you!
Additionally, you have to register and visit a website that might include malware that would infect your computer and search for any indications of wallet usage elsewhere in order to steal any cryptocurrency you already possess!
It turns out that OP and I have been conversing with the same individual and following the same steps. When he began discussing the ndabit.com portion, I began to grow suspicious as well. Fortunately, I discovered this thread and had my doubts dispelled.
Indeed, this is accurate. I attest to the fact that it is. It’s not just the two of us. One additional individual raised their hand to confirm. The messages may have reached u/Hairy-Schedule-3441 as well.
If it turns out that I experienced the same thing. Even so, I decided to stop posting sales on SideProhectors. The only interested parties I could find were Indians who desired a 99% price reduction in addition to this. All set to die as a freelancer, hehe
Undoubtedly, the number 4 is quite dubious and almost certainly a scam attempt. The others, however, may be alright. For instance, I hardly use social media and I truly like asynch communication. Additionally, even on more expensive goods, I usually don’t haggle because I’d rather conclude deals quickly than waste time debating over details.
However, it’s excellent that you ended that one because, if he’s legitimate, he can pay with Bitcoin at any address.
I understand your worries completely because I went through something similar once. It’s a huge red flag when someone refuses to negotiate. In my instance, the buyer insisted on eschewing conventional channels of contact in favor of a dubious exchange. When they began requesting personal information, such as ID verification on unidentified sites, I left. Well done for following your gut; these con artists are becoming increasingly convincing. If you had gone ahead, things might have gotten messy. For any cryptocurrency transaction, it is always preferable to stay with well-known platforms and procedures, particularly if the buyer is anonymous. Be careful when you’re out there!