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hantuzun/scam_of_sourcex_.md

Last active January 9, 2019 15:28
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How we've determined Sourcex has been scammed and how we've connected the identities of the scammer
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scam_of_sourcex_.md

Summary

In this gist, we explain how we've determined an Amoveo community member Sourcex is right on his claims of his VEO stolen on a OTC trade. The scammer tried to use A1 Exchange to sell the stolen VEO, and we have frozen this VEO to return it back to Sourcex.

A1 Exchange is involved in this incident to keep the ones like this scammer out of using our exchange, or scamming more people on Amoveo community. We believe helping Sourcex in this case is the right thing to do.

The Incident

Sourcex's public explanation of the incident:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3440182.msg48363257#msg48363257

Sourcex claims that he was scammed out of his 59 VEO during an OTC deal. The scammer (Rampant) later transferred these coins to A1 Exchange. Rampant claims he sold these coins to Theodore Zosimadis on Discord. Theodore Zosimadis (registered email on A1 Exchange: studiofotosy@gmail.com) claims that he bought the coins from Rampant with fiat currency without an escrow, therefore did not provide any verification of the addresses in his OTC deal.

After being notified of the incident and the first 9 VEO of the 59 was transferred to A1 Exchange, we decided to wait if the rest of the amount would be transferred again. When the rest of the coins have been transferred, we have frozen the scammer's account, and informed him of what we know via email.

The scammer then proceeded to threaten us with defaming A1 Exchange.

In response to his allegations, we are obliged to share what we know of this incident with public via this gist.

The scammer has been informed of this gist before public release. He was not able to provide any information in his favor.

The identities

Parties involved in the OTC deal that resulted in Sourcex losing his VEO to the scammer Rampant:

  1. Sourcex (VEO seller)
  2. Rampant (VEO buyer), also known as QueenFlorence or TormadOr
  3. sONk (escrow), (found to be the same person as Rampant)

When we have frozen Rampant's account, another identity has emerged claiming to be purchased VEO from Rampant:

  1. Theodore (alleged buyer of VEO from Rampant) (also found to be the same person as Rampant)

Rampant and Theodore claims to have traded in fiat with no escrow.

However, in the "Facts" title below, we have found that Rampant, sONk and Theodore are the same person, which we may refer as the scammer.

A1 Exchange has asked for the addresses that were involved in the OTC deals between Sourcex and Rampant, and between Theodore and Rampant. Nobody except Sourcex were able to verify their addresses or transactions.

Facts

Sourcex has sent VEO but not received back BTC

  1. Sourcex's address: https://veoscan.io/account/BFvtRZzoY6e7Nr5ZvfPJjJu%252FBE66LoX29kAvYvBUYVziU1UExVdkLziNL7O0CWXnFiu5hEzZx3YhBSsg3r9hUH4%253D Verified by us via this transaction: https://veoscan.io/account/BO1JEfvq%252FbWxGsmwd9y%252FRmeMQ1%252B0W5FGXF019wAZt9tMFZZmjmxPReN0r5sdD%252BY%252BPytErYzB%252BW44otgiH5G9aF4%253D

  2. Rampant's address: https://veoscan.io/account/BMoSc%252B5TgNEOLD4TNadjxwoJQBEz1K549Ge44pLQOOelb5xwCJX5ols%252BG47Febn75lAXJf3tEAqeDxYgn6IUaqo%253D

  3. Stolen funds were later sent to A1 Exchange. The deposit address of Theodore: https://veoscan.io/account/BPMbddRRyr5c26j0VSPwK4PHE%252BJnsf8WcziDZyLjI0EIu4ONkohCVoSak6LankoLmcncV%252Bg9BMoH2X%252BniIJ0zTA%253D

  4. The scammer were unable to disclose any BTC sent to Sourcex for the VEO he has sent first.

Theodore, Daniele, sONk (and Rampant) are different identities of the same scammer

  1. sONk (the escrow in sourcex OTC deal) Bitcointalk profile: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1738028

  2. A1 Exchange registered email of the alleged buyer who bought the coins from the scammer is studiofotosy@gmail.com.

  3. Buyers email address (Theodore Zosimadis, who sent the funds to A1 Exchange) (studiofotosy@gmail.com) linking to name called "Daniele Bazzicalupo" ("Daniele B"). https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Z73eMhlBjm8J:https://dollforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php%3Ff%3D131%26t%3D46623%26view%3Dprevious%26sid%3Df309256425960fc98748d181f08a2f26+

  4. sONk linking to Daniele B https://twitter.com/sonk_bazzika?lang=en

  5. Daniele B linking to REDEN (layed out in his about page): https://www.facebook.com/daniele.bazzicalupo.3

  6. sONk linking to REDEN (has many posts in the REDEN thread) https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1738028;sa=showPosts

Additional Resources

  • The links have their screenshots taken as of 9 January 2019.

  • We have other emails connected with the scammer through VEO transactions.

  • We know that the first 9 stolen VEO sent to A1 Exchange, were sold for ETH, and then this ETH was transferred to Binance.

  • Sourcex has documented how Rampant and sONk tricked an alleged VEO seller. This VEO seller was being controlled by Sourcex. In the screenshots provided by Sourcex, the scammer asks to send the other party to make the payment first.

@zack-bitcoin
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Good detective work. Thank you for protecting the amoveo community.

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