SCAMMER ALERT: DO NOT TRUST @VIRTUALGROWTH, HE IS CURRENTLY SCAMMING!!!
The title says it all, but I'll break the situation down for the sake of transparency since this is a serious accusation to make. User @virtualgrowth is currently scamming me out of $1000 worth of Bitcoin. I feel like not being transparent with this situation with the public and the community would make me guilty of letting someone get away with conning other community members. I'm writing this as a warning since @virtualgrowth gets around a lot both online and in the crypto space at conventions, events, etc. People need to know who they're potentially dealing with and will hopefully avoid falling prey to a con artist/scammer that spins them a hard luck story.
I absolutely hate making this post since I considered @virtualgrowth a good friend of mine, but I have to do this. He has left me no choice and I've given him countless opportunities to remedy this situation but he chooses to figuratively continue to spit in my face. @virtualgrowth is Jimi Jacob Hanafin. He's around 40 year's old, and this is what he looks like in case you run into him in person:
I think that, that is enough information to release about him without totally doxxing the guy, which I could do at this point. I'm only releasing enough information so that people can utilize it to protect themselves and to avoid a shitty situation with Jimi.
Here's how it all began: https://steemit.com/life/@virtualgrowth/need-an-extra-usd1000-for-the-next-month
In the comments, you can see our initial interaction, here's the thread that I'm talking about: https://steemit.com/life/@virtualgrowth/need-an-extra-usd1000-for-the-next-month#@matt-a/re-virtualgrowth-need-an-extra-usd1000-for-the-next-month-20190706t235758328z
I message VG on telegram and then continue the conversation with him via text. Take note of the double checkmarks on the Telegram log, that means that he has not only received the message, but opened and read it as well. Here's our conversation on Telegram:
After this, we took the conversation to Signal Messenger (text messaging). We chatted a bit, agreed on the terms that he would pay me back on or before August 7th 2019, I sent him the Bitcoin, he thanked me and that was it. Below you see that I started contacting him on August 6th 2019 to see what was up and if he was ready to settle up, here's how that played out.
At this point, I discovered that he had been home and not only had he been home, he had been going to the casino . . . So I this makes me think that he just straight up lied to me and gambled my money away, then chose to ghost me. There are many more messages on almost a daily basis, all delivered just fine, but literally NO reply from Jimi, AKA @virtualgrowth.
Unfortunately, after trying to get ahold of @virtualgrowth and talking in his telegram channel, I was kicked (censored!) because apparently they're fans of scamming people, betraying their trust, and censorship. After voicing the situation in there, I had around 5 people contact me privately talking about similar experiences that they've had with Jimi, so sadly this doesn't seem like something new . . .
And that's that! @virtualgrowth currently carries the status of scammer, con artist, and thief in my book and I think that everyone should know about it.
This post can be edited/deleted if and when Jimi pays me back by sending 0.08736588 BTC to this address to square up:
1CAe4gWz5v7TH2DqJxD8wvLAD88uWFmh9X
This address and amount has been known since the start and is where payment is needed, so if you're interested, feel free to monitor the status of the deposit at: https://www.blockchain.com/btc/address/1CAe4gWz5v7TH2DqJxD8wvLAD88uWFmh9X
It sucks that it has come to this, but I've gave him countless chances to avoid this situation, but as I said before, he has chosen to figuratively continue to spit in my face and rob me.
@virtualgrowth, the ball is in your court, buddy. Fix this situation, you're the only one that can do it . . .
@matt-a you have all my solidarity.
A similar situation has happened to me in the past.
When you feel cheated, you not only lose money but also trust others.
You have been generous and have shown nobility of spirit.
@virtualgrowth lost a lot more than $ 1.000. He lost his dignity and above all a great friend.
I hope he understands his mistake...
I hope this bad story can have a happy ending...
I can't count how many times that this has happened to me to be honest. I try to trust people that I feel as though are worthy of being trusted, then get taken advantage of. I'm not some balling out of control person, I came from extreme poverty and still live like it. I know how it is to be stuck in a hard spot, so I like to help people as long as they keep their word. It's a respect thing. When that's broken, it really fucks with you, bad.
I truly hated making this post, but @virtualgrowth gave me no choice but to make it. I literally begged him many, many times to reply to me and to help me not make this post, but he didn't reply ONE single time to me, despite reading all of my messages. This leads me to believe that he's simply a bum, a con artist, and a shitty, lazy person with ill intentions that wants to suck whatever he can for free from people by betraying them. And for that, he'll get exposure.
Wow!! Thats some dirty ass shit right there. I know you well, and I know you were probably just trying to extend your hand and help someone in need. People who go out of their way to shit on a kind gesture are the worse kind.
This post was completely deserving and valid. I will resteem this post. You did the community a solid by giving them an indepth warning.
Thanks, I'm just hoping that 1). This inspires him to settle up so it's removed and 2). Makes him realize that doing stuff like this is extremely dirty and he doesn't do it anymore.
Dam sorry to hear that man. @virtualgrowth pay the man what you owe him. He gave you the money in good faith, to help you out in your time of need trusting you to pay him back. Do you want to be known as a thief that can't be trusted or the man that made this situation right. Man up and pay your debt. Upvoted and resteemed.
It looks like it was gambled away as you suggest since a person with good intentions wouldn't ghost you even if you don't have the money, you face them and do whatever you can to pay up :-(
gambling dept transforms honest good people into scammy dept zombies owing money to most of their friends
Unfortunately, that's what it's looking like :-/.
That sucks to hear mate.
Yeah, I really hate that it has come to this. I've been warning him about this post for about a month and a half now, nearly everyday, begging him to make me not make it. But he hasn't replied to me one single time. Not once. And he opens/reads the messages . . . It's pretty fucked up.
Sorry to hear that! Proceed with legal action against him if he necessary.
I wish that I could, but you can't get blood out of a turnip as they say, or a fucking bum.
I think he needs to come to his senses. Money earned in this way will not bring joy and pleasure to anyone. May you all be well.
The main thing is not to lose dignity in any situation.
And money necessarily to return.
A smart man will always find a way to make money...
That sucks some dirty asshole, man. Sorry you've gotta deal with such a shitty situation.
I'm sorry you got ripped-off. I truly hope you can get it sorted out because the it's genuine hurt when you get betrayed in that fashion.
Big respect to you in trusting a stranger because its those sorts of leaps of faith that make the world a better place but when this happens....:-(
Its no consolation but you come out of this with dignity and a man of integrity with a very measured response.
Best wishes.
Thanks. I'm hoping that I get to delete this post and everything works out. But until he fixes the situation, this is the reality of it . . .
He isn't a stranger to me, though. I've met him quite a few times, known him for years.