Serge V.


Lets imagine a scenario here...

Lets say you have a product that I want to buy.  You are willing to sell it for 1 BTC.

I send 2 BTC to the 2-of-2 bitcoin address, and you send 1 BTC to the 2-of-2 bitcoin address.

Then you send me the product.

When the product arrives, I claim that the box is empty (I'm lying, but nobody other than you knows that) and I demand that you release my 2 BTC back to me.  I accuse you as a scammer in the forum.

Do you:

• Release the full 2 BTC back to me, so that your reputation isn't damaged and you can continue to sell other things in the forum?
• Negotiate with me and attempt to release less than 2 BTC (but more than 1 BTC) back to me
• Refuse to release anything to me and lose both your product AND your 1 BTC?

No matter which you choose, I get to keep the product and you lose both your product and your money.

Now, lets look at a similar situation from the other side...

Lets say I have a product that you want to buy.  You are willing to pay 1 BTC for it.

I send 1 BTC to the 2-of-2 bitcoin address, and you send 2 BTC to the 2-of-2 bitcoin address.

Then I send an empty box to you.

When the box arrives, you claim that the box is empty.  I state that I carefully sealed the product in the box before shipping it and that you must be lying (I'm lying, but nobody other than you knows that).  I accuse you of attempting to scam me and I demand that you release 2 BTC to me (my 1 BTC collateral and 1 BTC for the product that I claim I shipped).

Do you:

• Release the full 2 BTC to me, so that your reputation isn't damaged and you can continue to buy other things in the forum?
• Negotiate with me and attempt to release less than 2 BTC (but more than 1 BTC) back to me
• Refuse to release anything to me and lose 2 BTC?

No matter which you choose, you lose some of your money.  I *might* lose 1 BTC, but if I can get more than 50% of my victims to just release to me then I come out ahead.