LocalBitcoins User held at GunPoint by Robbers — Keep Your Bitcoins Safe
Earlier this week, a LocalBitcoin user (https://localbitcoins.com/forums/#!/general-discussion:armed-break-inhome-invasio) was held at gunpoint by two men demanding that the user give them cash and bitcoin. It began when the user was awoken by the sound of his burglar alarm. Startled by the noise, the user went downstairs to investigate upon seeing the two men run up the stairs towards him.
One of the robbers pointed a gun at the user’s head and stated, “I want yah cash and yah bitcoins.” In compliance, the user went down to his basement to open the safe which contained only a few hundred dollars at the time. Although the suspect had failed to escape earlier, he was able to successfully escape and yell out for people nearby to “Call 911”.
The user was smart in that as the burglars were fleeing the scene, he was able to memorize the license plate of the robber’s vehicles and use this to help police catch the thieves. Eventually the thieves were apprehended and taken into questioned by officers.
According to the user, police noted that the guy who stuck a gun to his face was coming down from meth. Some other interesting notes to mention is that before the robbery occurred, the two men had scouted the robbery location by doing yardwork. They also cut the internet and TV cables to the outside of the house and inside the basement.
Image released by the State Police:
While the robbers were eventually caught and the victim was never hurt, there are many concerns for people who hold Bitcoins and cryptocurrencies and we wanted to share some helpful tips you can use to protect yourself.
#1 When using Bitcoin services or any other relevant Bitcoin websites, never link your picture and your real name to the trade.
Thieves can find use social media to learn about your identity and easily track your location down.
#2 When doing a trade, decide to meet at a safety zone setup by your local police or a local bank.
When you make a trade at either of these locations, there are cameras that can help in identifying anyone involved.
#3 Read the responses by others carefully when trading for Bitcoins.
Often times, it can be easy to identify thieves and scammers. If a deal is too good to be true or if the trader is unusually willing to go forth with the trade, take mental notes.
#4 Have a spare hardware wallet to use for the transaction.
Never trade with your entire cryptocurrency your portfolio. Only load the exact amount of the trade before attempting to do any business.
#5 Have a relative, friend, or family member to help in the deal.
This one is very important when it comes to much larger deals. One way to protect yourself could be to have someone else send the cryptocurrencies only when you send them a text or a message stating to do so. This could avoid a lot of potential problems as you won’t have the cryptocurrencies on the spot and your friend can call for the police immediately if anything occurs.
#6 Never discuss the number of cryptocurrencies you own.
Usually people who suddenly come into fortune will tell their friends or people they meet. This can be a very bad thing for many reasons, but one is that it allows people to know you could potentially be a target for a robbery. While it can be difficult to keep your new-found riches secretive, we suggest keeping a lid on the amount owned and continuing to live life as though nothing has happened. ##
#7 Be aware of phishing emails and avoid any suspicious websites.
Often times people don’t realize that many of the sites they visit could potentially hold key logging software or other malicious software that can be used to hack into your accounts. Be aware of any attempts that want to get your information and never open emails that look suspicious. ##
If there are any additional recommendations that you have, please leave them in the comments. Be safe and secure my crypto friends.