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Discussion => Security => Topic started by: Fallkniven on February 01, 2013, 04:12 am

Title: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Fallkniven on February 01, 2013, 04:12 am
So, made an order for around $300 worth of bitcoins, went to the bank with the cash and deposit info.

The bank teller looked at the account name, read it out aloud to herself (or microphones) then looked at me and asked,

"What are you doing with Bitcoins?"

Having never been asked this before from many transactions and not wanting to raise any more suspicion i looked at her and said,

"It's an investment for the future as Bitcoins are steadily rising in price."

I'm sure this would have been recorded by the banks microphones.

The strange thing you ask? Is that at no point in our conversation, did i ever mention the word: Bitcoins.

She had obviously been told by the manager to look out for this account and try to get any information from the customer as possible

Suffice to say, in Australia, there are really only two major coin suppliers that people use. Spendbitcoins and Bitinnovate.

Be very aware people. The banks hate bitcoins because they can't control it and make money from it.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: scout on February 01, 2013, 04:17 am
What?  They shouldn't care -- bitcoins are legal and can be used for plenty of legal things.  Both of the companies you mentioned refer to bitcoins in their name ... so I don't think it has anything to do with the manager warning the teller to look out for this account.  Especially if it was spendbitcoins.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Fallkniven on February 01, 2013, 04:23 am
it wasnt spendbitcoins

bit innovate pty ltd - doesnt really shout Bitcoins! know what i mean? which is why i was taken aback by this tellers question.

i felt like telling her its none of their damn business why im buying bitcoins! but didnt want to create a scene inside a bank.

im sure thousands of other people also deposit money into this same account to get bitcoins.

that bitch made me paranoid  >:(
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: scout on February 01, 2013, 04:30 am
Either way, there is nothing they can / will do to you.  Buying bitcoins is completely legal and the teller has no way of knowing where they will be spent. 
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Fallkniven on February 01, 2013, 04:40 am
cool thanks for replies scout

just thought i'd let the SR populace know what happened, as i though it rather strange

heh, maybe the tellers child is buying drugs online and she wants more info, lol, who knows?
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: scout on February 01, 2013, 04:44 am
hahaha, well, you never know!  :D
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: zerik on February 01, 2013, 04:52 am
So, made an order for around $300 worth of bitcoins, went to the bank with the cash and deposit info.

The bank teller looked at the account name, read it out aloud to herself (or microphones) then looked at me and asked,

"What are you doing with Bitcoins?"

Having never been asked this before from many transactions and not wanting to raise any more suspicion i looked at her and said,

"It's an investment for the future as Bitcoins are steadily rising in price."

I'm sure this would have been recorded by the banks microphones.

The strange thing you ask? Is that at no point in our conversation, did i ever mention the word: Bitcoins.

She had obviously been told by the manager to look out for this account and try to get any information from the customer as possible

Suffice to say, in Australia, there are really only two major coin suppliers that people use. Spendbitcoins and Bitinnovate.

Be very aware people. The banks hate bitcoins because they can't control it and make money from it.

Over here the cash deposit options of buying bitcoins are the same form used to pay bills with.

A lot of companies no longer have a local place to pay cash as it is too expensive to have a payment center. They use online bill payment now but not everyone has a bank account or cc.

The blue form at moneygram is just for making bill payments online without using a bank account. The cashier has no way of knowing what bill you are paying.

It sucks that you guys don't have an anonymous option over there.

Bit coins are legal to buy here and are used for a lot other legit reasons.

You handled the situation well.

She may have just been curious and making conversation with you. You gave her a good investment tip free of charge. Lol
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: outbacktrippin on February 02, 2013, 02:20 am
I would've told her it was for paying a hit man to take care of nosy shitheads who don't mind their own business.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: comsec on February 02, 2013, 06:38 am
The guy right before you that dropped money into that account was probably a complete stoner heatbag wearing a free the weed shirt, dreadlocks and a rastafarian hat while reeking of weed.

This is actually a true story because I was behind a guy exactly like that while in a place I can't mention due to OPSEC. "Oh hey I'm buying drugs too"

Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: The Advocate on February 02, 2013, 09:31 am
I would've told her it was for paying a hit man to take care of nosy shitheads who don't mind their own business.

Yea don't do that lol
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: raynardine on February 02, 2013, 06:52 pm
heh, maybe the tellers child is buying drugs online and she wants more info, lol, who knows?

That's probably what it is, too.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: shunyata on February 03, 2013, 12:16 am
I know buying BTC is legal but I would probably change banks if someone flat out asks me that question. Your answer was good, though. The truth is you can make a lot of money in the BTC exchange business at this time.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Sinner on February 03, 2013, 08:10 am
Interesting.

I constantly make $5,000 deposits over the counter for the purpose of purchasing Bit Coins, and not once have I been asked a question like that. I've conducted around 30 - $35,000 worth of deposits in the space of 1.5 months and not once have I changed my wallet address either.

The most I've ever been "interrogated" by a teller is when I handed her the 5k and the deposit form, she filled out the deposit details on the computer then as she picked up the 5 grand with a smile on her face it seemed she was just making small talk and asked me what I was buying. Nothing to stress about.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: goblin on February 03, 2013, 04:35 pm
"It's a private transaction and I I don't discuss it with anyone."
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: gingerballs on February 03, 2013, 07:03 pm
should have told her to mind her own business. she knwos about BTC, but i doubt she knows about it very well. most bitcoiners are paranoid, and you ask them about it while working for a fucking bank?
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: fredflintstone on February 03, 2013, 07:08 pm
Interesting.

I constantly make $5,000 deposits over the counter for the purpose of purchasing Bit Coins, and not once have I been asked a question like that. I've conducted around 30 - $35,000 worth of deposits in the space of 1.5 months and not once have I changed my wallet address either.

The most I've ever been "interrogated" by a teller is when I handed her the 5k and the deposit form, she filled out the deposit details on the computer then as she picked up the 5 grand with a smile on her face it seemed she was just making small talk and asked me what I was buying. Nothing to stress about.

Yeah alot of it has to do with what branch you're going to and what size city your in. Same goes with Western Union.
Small town banks/bankers look differently at cash than downtown banks in large cities do.
I knew it was such a pain in the ass to deposit large cash amounts into a buddies account from back home for 2 LB's of weed I would get every month when I was younger.
Come out to DT Vancouver though, and I have put 5-9k into accounts without a question.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: android465764E on February 04, 2013, 02:12 am
So, made an order for around $300 worth of bitcoins, went to the bank with the cash and deposit info.

The bank teller looked at the account name, read it out aloud to herself (or microphones) then looked at me and asked,

The banks hate bitcoins because they can't control it and make money from it.


This is probably very true.

As above said though, it's not illegal, and certainly not the bank's place to ask you what you spend your dosh on.

Next time she asks you, say: "nice tits, where do you buy your bras?"
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: gingerballs on February 04, 2013, 02:25 am
this is not good news.. if bankers decide they do not like bitcoins, be sure that you will hear more and more politicians speak out against it.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Fallkniven on February 04, 2013, 02:29 am
... say "nice tits, where do you buy your bras?"

lol, she was like in her late 60's dude, like fried egg on a nail titties man. nasty shit. :P

anyway, im over the paranoia she gave me, ive spent the money already. (sorta spent, see my other thread for that shit) and as has been said a few times here, there is nothing the banks can do but try to gather information from idiots with loose lips.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: android465764E on February 04, 2013, 02:39 am
tbh she was probably just curious, and trying to engage in that mindless banter that strangers feel compelled to instigate in order to not feel so wretched.

She didn't know what ฿itcoins were, and just though; "fuckit. I'm gomma just ask him what they are". lol

Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: jagfug on February 04, 2013, 02:40 am
Forgive me if I missed it, but what system of bitcoin purchase were you using that allows one to go to a bank???

Sounds like you mention Canada in there.

In the US, there has been no bitcoin transactions done at bank tellers since BitInstant stopped the Bank of America payments. I guess once Jimmy Buffet realized he wasn't making his normal millions on the deal he had it quashed. After all, him and Soros run the world economy.

So how is it that you go to the bank and get bitcoins?? We here in Obamaland are clueless!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: sweetbro on February 04, 2013, 03:04 am
was it the ANZ bank that this person worked for?

i think the ANZ bank they even ask you for your name and phone number when you do deposits with bitcoins. they've asked me before. i use another bank that they dont ask questions.

you might ask "which bank?"

well the answer is in your question. use that bank. hint hint.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Fallkniven on February 04, 2013, 03:17 am
Two bitcoin providers were mentioned in OP, they are australian traders (IIRC).

They have Australian bank accounts and are perfectly legitimate bitcoin businesses. You make an order on their webpage for bitcoins, they give you their bank account details and say, deposit $xxx into this account with this reference number using physical cash-over-counter (online & electronic transactions leave more paper trails).

They then match up the reference number from the bank deposit to the order you made with them, they then deposit the bitcoins into your nominated Bitcoin address. All very anonymous, random cash going into their account, not funds being deposited electronically (bank knows exactly whos account it came from), banks do not know (unless their policies dictate otherwise) where physically deposited cash comes from and who deposited it.

(Technically, banks could review time-stamped High Definition camera footage from inside the bank, and match the time on the camera to the time of the transaction you made. They now have HD video of you depositing cash into a bitcoin sellers bank account, as long as you dont give them any personal details, you should be OK). Then there's the studio quality HD microphones...

Some banks ask for personal details when depositing cash into an account, some do not.


Edit - I'll be keeping the name of the bank to myself for security reasons, it's nothing personal. Suffice to say that it was one of the Big Four Banks in Australia.

"Which Bank?" is right ;) 'nuff said.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: jagfug on February 04, 2013, 03:34 am
Sorry, I did not see the "OP" as you say.

I was directed to a link via a PM asking my opinion.

I didn't look before I leaped!  :P

Sorry about that. This is clearly an Aussie thread.

Yours is the one country I'd love to visit, if I had to decide on one.

Cheers.

jagfug
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Fallkniven on February 04, 2013, 03:55 am
Yours is the one country I'd love to visit, if I had to decide on one.

And vice-versa. My favourite part of the USA is The Second Amendment.

Government lets it's population own any guns they want and basically says "If we, as a Government, fuck up, then feel free to take us out"

A prime definition of a fair Government (long dead unfortunately).

Jagfug - I read everyones comments regardless of their country of origin. As far as i'm concerned, everyone is entitled to reply to any thread they want to, just cause im an Aussie, doesn't mean your not allowed to reply!
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: 77Tjm on February 04, 2013, 05:10 am
I've never been asked, but here are a few things I'd consider:

1. It's up from 2$ USD in Nov 2011 to 20$ in Jan 2013, I'm hoping the trend continues

2. Video game item trading. tf2wx.com lets people use bitcoins to buy credits for in-game items (weapons, hats, geeky stuff.) for A Free to play game 'Team Fortress 2." You can buy a rare basebat bat with christmas lights for about 45$. Or a pirate hat with ghosts flying around it for 250$, etc.

I like the second one because once you start talking to folks about computer stuff their eyes just glaze over and they can't wait for you to stop talking again.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: jagfug on February 04, 2013, 07:16 am
Yours is the one country I'd love to visit, if I had to decide on one.

And vice-versa. My favourite part of the USA is The Second Amendment.

Government lets it's population own any guns they want and basically says "If we, as a Government, fuck up, then feel free to take us out"

A prime definition of a fair Government (long dead unfortunately).

Jagfug - I read everyones comments regardless of their country of origin. As far as i'm concerned, everyone is entitled to reply to any thread they want to, just cause im an Aussie, doesn't mean your not allowed to reply!
Damn! Thanks for helping me feel at home!  :)

Wow, the 2nd amendment. Yeah I feel the same as you. I am not a "gun guy" per se, I do not want that right to own and possess firearms, taken away, because of one tragedy, which is the fault of the liberal controlled mental health system. It's all a ploy to disarm the citizens here.

Think I'm wrong? Research to see what the last great fascist dictators did, just before they assumed power.

1. Promise gov't gonna take care of you (cradle to grave dependance)

2. Eliminate gun ownership, (after all- we're all safe as long as big brother and sister keep a look-out for us). Yeah right.

3.Make sure the press, media, schools, are on board with your same deceptive message.

4. ??? Why anything is possible!

You could put a stealth muslim in power, and make anyone against him a racist, based on the fact of his skin color.

It's a "Catch-22" though you should know that meaning to get my drift.

Either way, thanks for making me feel at home down under.

I think I'd fit right in!

Peace

jagfug
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: raynardine on February 05, 2013, 02:55 am
So how is it that you go to the bank and get bitcoins?? We here in Obamaland are clueless!!!!!!!!!

The Obama Nation.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: outbacktrippin on February 06, 2013, 07:47 am
lol, she was like in her late 60's dude, like fried egg on a nail titties man.
You are quite the poet.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Fallkniven on February 06, 2013, 08:16 pm
thanks outbacktrippin

ever see a movie called "Wake in Fright"? now thats real outback trippin... recommended viewing
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: XXXotica on February 09, 2013, 03:37 pm
Classic case of people not minding their business. You handled it well though, I most likely would of said something that would of caused me to have to find a new bank to deposit! But seriously though, nosey people do tend to grind my gears.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: JezuzWazaMushroom on February 09, 2013, 05:24 pm
Stop telling the FEDS about Bitinnovative you fucking grease spot!   :(

It's stupid fucks like this that ruin it for others!  >:(

Seriously cunt delete this thread you fucking muppet and grow a brain!

LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS FUCKHEAD!!!
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Fallkniven on February 10, 2013, 02:24 am
you think the pigs dont know who the largest two bitcoin sellers in australia are? you dumb shit! lol

and its spelled B I T I N N O V A T E - get it fucking right.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: citizen erased on February 10, 2013, 06:24 am
solid answer.

either that or just say its a private transaction.

the rising bitcoin prices are good for everyone imo. even though they are legal and what not passing the buying of a bitcoins off as an investment is very much plausible now
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: zerik on February 10, 2013, 06:38 am
Absolutely. People are buying them just for that.

The OP handled the situation great. Stayed calm and gave a good answer. 
Bitcoins are legal to buy and owning them is not proof of anything.

People worry about this part too much and do things that put themselves at risk by buying  bitcoins from scamers in exchange for money packs and such. At best you end up paying a lot more for coins than you need to. At worst you get riped off.


 

Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Slicksuit on February 10, 2013, 09:45 pm
You should have told her it was none of her business.

She literally has no right to ask you that, and could be given in to serious trouble by her superiors had you snitched on her.

There is nothing worse than a person who does not know how to mind their own fucking business.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: newton on February 11, 2013, 03:50 pm
Whatever you do, don't respond with "none of your business" like some have said. You ARE conspiring to do something illegal, even if what you're doing in the moment is legal. Defensiveness is a tell for guilt, always avoid answering out of emotion. Smile, then deliver your prepared response. A genuine looking smile, and a plausible response is all that is required to keep your real intentions private. Anything else is going to give you away to some extent.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: TheJolllyRoger on February 11, 2013, 04:07 pm
Next time she asks you why are you buying bitcoins ask her when was last time she took a shit as loud as she asked you because its none of her fucking business!
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Ron Swanson on February 12, 2013, 12:29 am
just say online poker/gambling or some nerdy video game credit things. they'll probably just pity your lameness then. if you kick off about invasion of privacy it'll seem really suspicious. i've gone to the bureau de change to buy/sell euros before when they've asked me where i'm going on holiday. bit of a dull job working in a bank.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: DMTisinME on February 12, 2013, 02:59 am
Something I've gotten asked a couple times is "do you own the account." To which I say "no, it's that business's and point to the name on the deposit slip. " And I was asked twice at two different branches what the business was, to which I said "a digital currency exchange" and he said "like for cell phone plans?" I said, "no...." And gave him a "what the fuck are you talking about?" look. The other time I just I started to explain and I only got to "you ever heard of bitcoins?" and he had my receipt and the transaction was over. He didn't give a shit.

I really just need to get a job at a bank and deposit the cash myself.
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: iAmMe on February 12, 2013, 03:04 am
I would've told her it was for paying a hit man to take care of nosy shitheads who don't mind their own business.

I would've loved to see her reaction if this was said!
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: Ron Swanson on February 12, 2013, 02:50 pm
just out of interest are all these inquisitive creatures in the USA?
Title: Re: Bank teller asked me why I was buying bitcoins??
Post by: XXXotica on February 12, 2013, 04:16 pm
Next time she asks you why are you buying bitcoins ask her when was last time she took a shit as loud as she asked you because its none of her fucking business!

+1

I second that notion