MONTHLY UPDATE! So last month I exposed user @virtualgrowth for being a scammer. On a monthly basis until he pays me back, I will be doing the community service of reminding everyone NOT to trust this individual until he fixes the situation because as it currently stands, he's a thief, a con artist, scammer, and a backstabbing piece of shit. @virtualgrowth has yet to reply to me with one single solitary word despite not only receiving my messages, but opening and reading them as well. He's a snake in the grass. BEWARE!!! Spread the word, resteem this for awareness, etc. If you know him or share a group with him, call him out on his actions. If you resteem or call the guy out in a chat or group you share to apply pressure and warn the community, I'll reward you for helping raise awareness, just post below about what you've done to help.
Here is the original post:
The title says it all, but I'll break the situation down for the sake of transparency since this is a serious accusation to make. User @virtualgrowth is currently scamming me out of $1000 worth of Bitcoin. I feel like not being transparent with this situation with the public and the community would make me guilty of letting someone get away with conning other community members. I'm writing this as a warning since @virtualgrowth gets around a lot both online and in the crypto space at conventions, events, etc. People need to know who they're potentially dealing with and will hopefully avoid falling prey to a con artist/scammer that spins them a hard luck story.
I absolutely hate making this post since I considered @virtualgrowth a good friend of mine, but I have to do this. He has left me no choice and I've given him countless opportunities to remedy this situation but he chooses to figuratively continue to spit in my face. @virtualgrowth is Jimi Jacob Hanafin. He's around 40 year's old, and this is what he looks like in case you run into him in person:
I think that, that is enough information to release about him without totally doxxing the guy, which I could do at this point. I'm only releasing enough information so that people can utilize it to protect themselves and to avoid a shitty situation with Jimi.
Here's how it all began: https://steemit.com/life/@virtualgrowth/need-an-extra-usd1000-for-the-next-month
In the comments, you can see our initial interaction, here's the thread that I'm talking about: https://steemit.com/life/@virtualgrowth/need-an-extra-usd1000-for-the-next-month#@matt-a/re-virtualgrowth-need-an-extra-usd1000-for-the-next-month-20190706t235758328z
I message VG on telegram and then continue the conversation with him via text. Take note of the double checkmarks on the Telegram log, that means that he has not only received the message, but opened and read it as well. Here's our conversation on Telegram:
After this, we took the conversation to Signal Messenger (text messaging). We chatted a bit, agreed on the terms that he would pay me back on or before August 7th 2019, I sent him the Bitcoin, he thanked me and that was it. Below you see that I started contacting him on August 6th 2019 to see what was up and if he was ready to settle up, here's how that played out.
At this point, I discovered that he had been home and not only had he been home, he had been going to the casino . . . So I this makes me think that he just straight up lied to me and gambled my money away, then chose to ghost me. There are many more messages on almost a daily basis, all delivered just fine, but literally NO reply from Jimi, AKA @virtualgrowth.
Unfortunately, after trying to get ahold of @virtualgrowth and talking in his telegram channel, I was kicked (censored!) because apparently they're fans of scamming people, betraying their trust, and censorship. After voicing the situation in there, I had around 5 people contact me privately talking about similar experiences that they've had with Jimi, so sadly this doesn't seem like something new . . .
And that's that! @virtualgrowth currently carries the status of scammer, con artist, and thief in my book and I think that everyone should know about it.
This post can be edited/deleted if and when Jimi pays me back by sending 0.08736588 BTC to this address to square up:
1CAe4gWz5v7TH2DqJxD8wvLAD88uWFmh9X
This address and amount has been known since the start and is where payment is needed, so if you're interested, feel free to monitor the status of the deposit at: https://www.blockchain.com/btc/address/1CAe4gWz5v7TH2DqJxD8wvLAD88uWFmh9X
It sucks that it has come to this, but I've gave him countless chances to avoid this situation, but as I said before, he has chosen to figuratively continue to spit in my face and rob me.
@virtualgrowth, the ball is in your court, buddy. Fix this situation, you're the only one that can do it . . .
(10% of all rewards are shared with busy.org)
I resteemed it! This is such a grimy situation man. I feel like this guy has probably done this many times in the past. Hopefully he has an epiphany and wakes the fuck up.
Thanks, man. It is, I never expected it . . . It's a bummer. I'd say that he has too, considering how little he seems to care. I had several people contact me privately with similar scammy, take as much as he can while giving nothing in return, stories. It sucks. I hope he wakes up, too.
wow I don’t know the dude but I remember these coins, back in 2017 Lisbon right.
I still have one of those. Yeah, he used to be a good dude, but he has apparently turned into a scammer and a thief that enjoys betraying and backstabbing his "friends." I'm extremely disappointed in the guy . . . Everyone should avoid him in all capacities until he redeems himself.
Understood, sorry about that. I really hope he come back return your funds.
Thanks, me too :-/.
I found myself in a situation similar to yours several years ago and for this reason I understand you and you have all my solidarity and understanding.
Unfortunately scams and scammers are always lurking ...
Resteem
Still no response from him ? That sucks you trusted him and he took advantage of that. Even if he doesn't pay you back hes shown his true colors now and exposed himself as a rip off. I resteemed your first post and resteemed this post also. A mans word used to mean something now a days it don't mean shit sad.
Yep, he's still hiding out, hasn't even sent me a single solitary word. All I can really do is make sure people know what he's about. Until he redeems himself, I'll keep him exposed. He's doing it to himself. I hate that it has come to this, but I'm not the one scamming people.
Just found out about this. Real shitty situation, doubt you'll ever see that money again.
Yeah, me too. I'll eventually catch up to him, though. It sucks he's being like this, I wish he'd man up . . .
What's with the brianpeppers account btw?
It's Brian Peppers! Made that account a long time ago, no one ever used it and just recently dropped the credentials into a chat. What about it?
Whomever has it commented a longass list of swear words on what seems to be a random post with a message to report to the steem police and everyone's now wondering why. No big deal.
Oh, yeah I saw that. Thought it was pretty funny. I delegated 30 SP to the account. You can have the posting key too if you want haha. I commend whoever did it, because the guy they commented on sucks and is a short-sighted retaliatory garbage-child.
Nah I'm good, got enough of my own accounts. That clears it up, thanks.
I remember that post of yours...I was at work, yet I read it in one chunk...
Sorry for your funds man. Tbh I don't think you'll ever get it back...I really do hope that you will but after so many shout outs and public humiliation and still no word from him...means that he just don't give a shit...
Yeah, at this point I'm truly seeing the guy as a scammer/thief. But I can still periodically warn the community about who he is, how he operates, and what he's about so that they can avoid him. And get a little Steem while I do it haha. I think it's important for people like this to not have pressure relieved from them. If you let up on them, they will just continue to do this to other people since they think that they can get away with it with no repercussions. Like I said in the post, the ball is in his court, it's solely up to him to redeem himself.
Ofc you should warn the community and thumbs up for that. Is he still active on Steem -I don’t know the guy-
You know what? These are the kind of posts that should be bid botted...so that everyone can see how they’re gonna get protected
Haha! What a win/win. Telling everybody not to deal with him and earning a few Steem :D Sorry to hear you lost some btc. Hope he will pay you back any time soon.
I trusted and believe to him since the day I read his post and follow him until today. However, I got disappointed to @virtualgrowth with what I just learn today.
Congratulations @matt-a! You have completed the following achievement on the Steem blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
You can view your badges on your Steem Board and compare to others on the Steem Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Do not miss the last post from @steemitboard:
Vote for @Steemitboard as a witness to get one more award and increased upvotes!
Congratulations @matt-a! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
You can view your badges on your board and compare to others on the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPDo not miss the last post from @hivebuzz:
Vote for us as a witness to get one more badge and upvotes from us with more power!
Dang Matt, I'm sorry. That sucks. I've been away for a year or so.. I would have trusted virtual growth in the same way you did. I always thought he was a stand up character. Hope you've recouped your loss somehow by now at least, and I hope all is well with you and yours!