I believe the topic speaks volume for itself as it is already self explanatory.
This question was born out of a real life experience where a petty trader was publicly harassed by some uniformed security personnels claiming to be some police officers and after some investigations the security personnels claimed that the woman aided some criminal activities as well as some internet fraud simply because she made her private exchanges public and the government as some point also frowns at the use of bitcoin in my country.
Now my worries is that, this singular act has driven alot of fear to some low key bitcoin holders in my neighborhood even myself and there are shops I hope in town that operate physical exchanges.
~Do you think those dealers are safe?
~And what's the fate of physical cryptocurrency exchanges(r) in your country?
Let's discuss
The woman's crime according to the law enforcement agents was not that she engaged in bitcoin transactions but she aided fraudsters to carry out their activities. Such accusations are also common in my country when these corrupt police officers wants to intimidate and exploit citizens. Considering the situation of your country, bitcoiners should be careful and engage in bitcoin exchange secretly with trusted parties. The best option will also be the use of trusted P2p platforms available in your country
Well, I always make sure I go to a place where they have CCTV for the exchange... so that the people that I trade with will know that they are on CCTV if they want to do something funny. I also do not go alone and I make sure that I am not followed after the exchange took place.
The best thing to do is to go to Bitcoin meetups, where you build trust with small exchanges with other people that you meet there. We do this in a local pub or restaurant... so we make a lot of new friends.
This could be an effective means of securing yourself against crime when carryout your exchange. Immediately the parties know that their identity have been recorded by the CCTV machines the plans to engage in criminal activities will reduce. I know there are many restaurants and public spaces in my location that have 24hrs security cameras. The parties can even decide to carry out the transaction inside a commercial bank where there are enough security officials, nobody will when know that they are doing a Bitcoin transaction.
Well said sir and I also do agree with all the points you've made except for the woman knowing or aiding fraud.
The truth be told that not everyone is interested in knowing the source of ones cryptocurrency since it is expected to be decentralized and hence promoting privacy and to some points i think there was no single with anyone who reason to harass the woman and secondly, I know my country, most persons wouldn't take it lightly with any marchant wanting to know the source of their money because it really do sounds disrespectful and for that and for the sake of their business, you don't expect the woman to be scared.