Silk Road forums

Discussion => Security => Topic started by: DrChong on February 05, 2013, 12:49 am

Title: Did I just get phished on instawallet?
Post by: DrChong on February 05, 2013, 12:49 am
So I do the usual routine of transferring btc to instawallet before going through the SR tumbler, and the first wallet goes through fine, but somehow I lost my coins for the second wallet? You see, the url address for wallet #2 is correct, but the receiving address differs on the wallet from what I copy pasted in notepad. What I don't understand is why there is a different address. Clearly I didn't just pull an address out of thin air, so how come now the receiving address posted in the wallet is not the same as the address that I posted underneath the *correct* URL of the wallet? My only explanation is that I got phished, because the wallet has no coin in it (and on blockchain explorer it shows the transfer of the exact amount of bitcoin), although I had only transferred the contents of the first wallet so far.

Any alternative ideas?

Luckily I only lost a little under $40 here, but considering I'm on a tight budget that's not much of a relief. Think I'm gonna stop using instawallet from now on..not worth the hassle.
Title: Re: Did I just get phished on instawallet?
Post by: Wadozo on February 05, 2013, 03:09 am
Hence the reason I would never use a Web based Client such as Instawallet. Try using a Desktop Client instead such as Bitcoin-Qt with Armory installed on top for added security.
Title: Re: Did I just get phished on instawallet?
Post by: Jediknight on February 05, 2013, 03:21 pm
Damn instawallet.

Ya, always use the desktop client wallet instead.  These online wallets are to risky to loose something in transit or, dropped connection, webpage errors and such.  there is so much to go wrong. . . yikes.

As Wadozo says, use a wallet client app (they are free) you can much more control over your transactions too.  You can set the transaction fee to a higher amount and get faster transactions for example. 

Also, it keeps track of your transactions which could be good and bad.  Like Wadozo says, use armoury to protect your papertrail, if you choose to keep one.  I always delete everything in my client wallet after each transaction, so if someone gets into it there is nothing to show or any log files.

There is little you can do to get your money back unless you know the bitcoin address URL for the instawallets used.  As the site says, if you loose or screw up this address , you loose its contents.   

If you do use an online wallet,  - pick one that offers a login and password / account.  This way, you can see what went wrong and get some support.

My bitcoin exchange (http://www.cavirtex.com)  offers a login/account and wallet all in one.  You can buy coins, transfer money from your bank account to buy/sell coins instantly.  Its one site/login for everything.  I know its not anonymous, but there isn't anything illegal about buying bitcoins from your bank account.  Pass them through a few wallets and off to SR.   Its not an issue unless you are trading over $1000. /day .  Then you need anonymous services and laundering.

I hope this helps.

Title: Re: Did I just get phished on instawallet?
Post by: Hungry ghost on February 05, 2013, 04:19 pm
The thing with all this jiggery pokey of transferring through multiple wallets and mixers is this:

Either you bought your bitcoins anonymously, in which case you can transfer them straight to SR without a backwards glance

OR
 
You bought them via bank transfer or other traceable method, in which case no matter how much trail hiding you attempt; when LE find 3000 MDMA pills in your letterbox, the fact you bought bitcoins is going to be additional circumstantial evidence.

But if you are only talking $40 worth of business then I'd just transfer em straight to SR. I personally used instawallets for small amounts many times with no problems. Just don't use the same one more than once as that kind of defeats the object.
          Anyway sorry for your loss, it's still annoying even if it's a small amount. If you are sure you didn't fuck up in some way i guess you must have been phished.
Title: Re: Did I just get phished on instawallet?
Post by: SouthSquareBiz on February 09, 2013, 10:44 pm
The thing with all this jiggery pokey of transferring through multiple wallets and mixers is this:

Either you bought your bitcoins anonymously, in which case you can transfer them straight to SR without a backwards glance

OR
 
You bought them via bank transfer or other traceable method, in which case no matter how much trail hiding you attempt; when LE find 3000 MDMA pills in your letterbox, the fact you bought bitcoins is going to be additional circumstantial evidence.

But if you are only talking $40 worth of business then I'd just transfer em straight to SR. I personally used instawallets for small amounts many times with no problems. Just don't use the same one more than once as that kind of defeats the object.
          Anyway sorry for your loss, it's still annoying even if it's a small amount. If you are sure you didn't fuck up in some way i guess you must have been phished.

Question. How traceable is a USPS money order bought cash?

I understand there is a camera and I understand that there is a tracking number matching the money order

As far as LE linking me to "why" I bought it, I want to know how traceable/safe that is, in your opinion.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Did I just get phished on instawallet?
Post by: Hungry ghost on February 10, 2013, 08:00 am
Well if you can buy it for cash anonymously and it has a tracking number then I suppose it can be proved that a particular person caught on camera at specific time bought it.
        I'd like to add I'm not an expert on Internet security; while browsing this forum I'm often painfully reminded of how little I know. All I'm offering here is my personal opinion.
       But in our hypothetical case of drugs found addressed to you; I guess it very much depends on the amount. I mean LE would have to check the cameras at all money order vendors near you for several weeks to get a photo. And does a money order have plenty of legitimate uses? If you can use said money order to buy bitcoins anonymously I don't see how they could be linked to you .
        The other point I was making is just that, having had a package intercepted, if it can be shown you bought bitcoins it is additional circumstantial evidence, however much you mix the coins thereafter.
Title: Re: Did I just get phished on instawallet?
Post by: AnonymousAddict on February 10, 2013, 12:33 pm
JUST make things simple PPL
1,BITINSTANT,COM
2.SEND TO SR ADDRESS
3. GO TO WHEREVER WITH MONEY GRAM BUY COINS
4 BITCOINS GO THROUGH SOME TYPE TUMBLER BEFORE HITTING UR ACCOUNT..
5.DONT JUST KEEP HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS ON SR KNOW BEFORE U BUY UR COINS WHAT YOUR GONNA UUSE THE $ FOR..

BUY DRUGS

WHEN DONE GENERATE NER BTC ACCOUNT...  IMO all that bitcoin FOG AND XTRA TUMBLING IS A WASTE OF MONEY AND A GOOD WAY TO MAKE MONEY OF TIN FOIL HATTERS..LOL NO OFFENSE GUYS..

iv been sending money this way 7mnths or so.. Not everything on SR IS ILLEGAL ANYWAY..

Just trying to make it crystal clear how easy it is...DO OTHER DISAGREE ??
Title: Re: Did I just get phished on instawallet?
Post by: ChemCat on February 10, 2013, 01:38 pm
i buy bitcoins for my online gambling addiction  (slaps forehead)
LOL


:p

Peace,

ChemCat



8)