Here are some tips:
- Find out how Bitcoin trading through LocalBitcoins is treated by your country. Find out the maximum amount you are allowed to trade. If it's illegal. Don't do it!
- Don't trade high volumes. LE looks exactly for that and they will also buy from you big amounts. LE is allowed to do that, don't forget about it.
- If your customer says, he will use the bitcoins for anything illegal, then don't sell it to him. No matter how much you could earn. Don't do it! Even if your business is legal and you pay tax - Simply don't.
Anything more to add?
Wait wait a second here. So the title of this thead is "LE is using LocalBitcons as a honeypot to trap criminals - What to do?", and you give tips to actually help the criminals who may be doing crimes like sex trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, and more?
OP, I hope you go to jail for a very long ass time.
Trading money with someone so that they can do something illegal, isn't illegal. If someone sells me his watch, and then goes and buys drugs with that money, I am not to blame for the drugs trade, otherwise employers would be in a lot of trouble all the time!
He also explicitly says that if they want to do anything illegal, you should not sell to them. These are fair and reasonable tips to someone trading on local bitcoins legitimately.
It sounds like localbitcoins will be gone soon enough, or replaced by something less easy to track. It's a shame really.
Selling to someone for the purpose of conducting illegal activities is illegal. The specific charge would likely be money laundering, or straight up trafficking. If someone says they intend to do something illegal with the bitcoin they are buying, refuse the sale and walk away. A real criminal will not do that.
If it is a sting, they will probably follow you and talk to you anyway to see if they can dig anything up on you. Just remember, never talk to the cops, it cannot help you. A police officer cannot testify in your defense based on what you say, it's hearsay, they can only testify against you.