0.4 btc repaid ahead of schedule:

https://blockchain.info/tx/654aee7fabebaaca67fc7ef15ef47551ffdac1539f277f80cf32806207218f78

Would that be available by the end of Q2 2018 for your entire verified users? Or only for a limited segment of users such as EU/EEA?

I'm also (im)patiently waiting.

What’s the use of escrow when PayPal can be reversed? It’s like paying for something with a postdated check which you can cancel after consuming or receiving the goods.

There must be a better and safer alternative.

Would be nice if you could say more about the i-almost-got-scammed part. How were you almost scammed? Which member and thread?

Yes, new members locking or self-moderating threads usually have dishonest motives. That's almost always a given.

Report them to EcuaMobi or here:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2929216.0

Where's the part about using a trusted forum escrow? Can't find it on your post above.

Nobody will go first, regardless of your trust ratings on other sites.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2439910

Be careful with all these mega deals. The numbers make one's head spin. There's one offering half a billion $ worth of coins for sale. Another is selling 100k coins.

These are all designed to lure the naive and gullible. Don't fall for this trap. You show up and before you realize what's going on, either you've been "counterfeited" or you're in a hospital's ICU.

Download the BRD (Bread Wallet) app. There is a "buy btc" option on the app. You can use either a Mastercard or Visa card but be prepared to be KYC'd. Scammers have no chance. Simplex (the payment processor) screens purchases carefully.

I think the plan is to "help" whoever shows interest in such an account by asking for fees payable in advance.

If not that, he might have a way (an accomplice or a girlfriend or whoever working in the bank). When the account is opened, it will be monitored and checked for nice fat inward wires.

Another method is to help open the account using OP's address (knowing EU banks, an EU address is required). When the account's cards arrive, they are then cloned before being forwarded to the unsuspecting victim.

Partially repaid as scheduled and agreed:

https://blockchain.info/address/3KqNpR4xVVPcUxckzSyeY2xA9yPdsTcDdV

3270624c20ef4f4d99c0d6e812de0910edd2445e1daa3fff5133dbcdf5f9277b
654ee6829bdd3000db246c09775a210c4aa59e1ce7d0d15e075bb2ca615ed9bd

0.5 BTC

Thanks.

Username: warningsigns
Loan amount: 1.87 BTC
Address for the loan: 32K2E2AJyUTdMdoKFZrKAXr8PsDJENrJmS
Collateral: Collateral discussed and arranged privately.
Interest: 20%
Repayment terms:
Total amount repayable: 1.87 x 1.2 = 2.244 BTC
0.5 BTC (20 April 2018)
0.4 BTC (05 May 2018)
1.344 BTC (28 May 2018) With option to repay portions of this last installment incrementally before 28 May.

Staked address: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1935179.msg20497425#msg20497425

Loan repaid as per terms:

https://blockchain.info/tx/551b32443dae41c2a26223aeafb17e2ee22dd333fd98e200e2eaca4f47c981fa

Thank you.

Best and only way forward is to use a trusted forum escrow on this list:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2439910.0

As for the device itself, buyers are naturally concerned about the risk of it being fraudulently engineered or tampered to give the seller backdoor access to the wallet. It might be difficult or even impossible to do such a thing but the possibility still exists. For example, the device might be a picture-perfect replica of the original. That’s just one scenario.

You forgot to mention anything about escrow. I read your post thrice but still can’t find that all-important E word.

Here is the link to a list of trusted forum escrows:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2439910.0

Nobody will send money, BTC or LTC to new members without escrow protection.

Hi

Ready to repay the full amount + interest. Please provide repayment address.

Thanks.

Why are you in such a big rush to URGENTLY complete this PayPal trade? Is it because those funds on the PayPal account are compromised or sourced from phished or hacked accounts? Rush-rush reversible transactions are solid red flags because it gives one an impression that the funds might be from compromised accounts or cards linked to that PayPal account. Or maybe even funds paid by victims of an MITM scam (Craigslist scams for example). The reason for the urgency is because the person who might have paid those funds (or whose account or card might have been compromised) might discover the scam and dispute the PayPal transaction. And when that happens PayPal will "limit" and lock the scammer's account.

Be extremely careful when entering into rushed trades. Pressure is usually a sign of something fishy and/or shady.

Why would you need an "old" or aged Localbitcoins account? People who buy accounts usually have ulterior motives. Those with legit motives will simply create their own accounts and verify them with their own credentials. Aged accounts are usually seen as trustworthy accounts. Bypassing or gaming the system by buying such accounts is frowned upon and usually signifies an intention to defraud or mislead people who trade with the person behind the bought account.

Or is it because you want to use PayPal to buy bitcoins on Localbitcoins and traders feel nervous about trading with new accounts? Being on guard is the right thing to do. PayPal is reversible and risky. Buying an account to create an impression of being a seasoned Localbitcoins trader is a deceptive act.

500 BTC... engage lawyers. For this amount of money an exchange and their crooked operators will fight tooth and nail to keep the money. I doubt they will make it easy for you to recover your coins.

The best and only way forward is to retain a lawyer with a proven track record in cross-border dispute resolution and/or transnational litigation cases.

Advise to those considering this offer. PayPal is reversible and accepting it is very risky. Taking PayPal from trustless sources is dicing with fate. Scammers have up to 180 days to dispute and charge back payments.

IDs, passports, escrow, promises etc will not protect against a payment reversal.

The fact that a PayPal account is verified might be a safety factor but there are scammers out there who farm such accounts. Don't forget that one can also use a hacked verified account to pay anyone. Plus you can verify your PayPal account with phished, hacked or stolen credit cards.

The main message here is PayPal payments are reversible. Newbies should pay with a safer payment method. One that is not reversible.

The benefit for the buyer (aka scammer) is that he can use his phished or hacked bank accounts or credit cards to buy bitcoins which he can then safely and easily spend or convert to fiat. The 10 to 20% (or even more) price gap is immaterial and irrelevant for the scammer because the compromised bank accounts and credit cards linked to the PayPal account being used to pay for the coins aren't his in the first place so he doesn't really care about the "loss" by buying bitcoin at, say $10k per coin when the market price is just slightly below 7k.

Large price gaps should be seen as a red flag. They are meant to lure or entice people to sell their coins to these enterprising scammers.

Venmo is just as reversible as PayPal. It is against Venmo's terms to conduct currency exchanges and they see BTC to USD trades as such an exchange. If the sender maliciously informs Venmo that the payment was meant for bitcoins, that payment will be reversed.

Other red flags are this user's account age, lack of feedback and choice of payment method.

Escrow will not protect anyone who accepts Venmo. That's because a reversible payment method defeats the purpose of using escrow which is to protect against fraud. Reversing, disputing and charging back payments are fraudulent acts.

Providing ID is not a guarantee of a safe transaction. They can't reverse or recover your bitcoins if you end up getting scammed.