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This scammer allegedly stole $7 million from businesses that just wanted to buy Bitcoin

Jul26
by on July 26, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has indicted a Pennsylvanian man for allegedly defrauding $7 million from prospective Bitcoin investors through an effectively fake “escrow” service. Authorities say Barry Thompson (48), head of two cryptocurrency “businesses” collectively known as Volantis, fraudulently promised to minimize risk when purchasing large amounts of cryptocurrency. This was based on the notion that Volantis would act as a custodian for both sides of the transaction, but Thompson allegedly never intended to offer any escrow services at all. “Thompson allegedly thought no one would ask where their actual money went when they trusted him to invest in Bitcoin,” said FBI Assistant…

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WhatsApp is reportedly building a desktop version that works without your phone

Jul26
by on July 26, 2019 at 11:38 am
Posted In: Apps, Around the Web


In 2015, WhatsApp released a web version that mirrored the conversation from the mobile app. To use it, though, you still needed to have your phone connected to the internet. But that might soon change. Reliable WhatsApp leaker account WABetaInfo tweeted the company might be developing a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app along with a new multi-platform system that will work even when your phone’s off. And yes, in according to my rumor, UWP + the new multi platform system = you can use WhatsApp UWP on your PC if your phone (Android, iOS or Windows Phone) is off. https://t.co/PgNZTnOxlj…

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Venezuela is buying Bitcoin with airport taxes to smuggle in US dollars, report

Jul26
by on July 26, 2019 at 11:02 am
Posted In: Around the Web, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


Venezuela appears to be leveraging cryptocurrencies as part of a larger effort to bypass US sanctions. According to an investigation by Spanish newspaper ABC, President Nicolas Maduro and his administration are using a digital wallet app called Jetman Pay to convert tax revenue from one of the country’s main airports into Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The newspaper claims to have unearthed a scheme whereby cryptocurrencies are sent to foreign exchanges in Russia, China, Hong Kong, and Hungary. Once received, the funds are converted into US dollars and sent back to Venezuela. For the moment, Jetman Pay is only being used by…

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FBI suspects tea company that ‘pivoted’ to blockchain of insider trading

Jul26
by on July 26, 2019 at 9:48 am
Posted In: Around the Web, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Hard Fork


Long Island Tea Corp was one of those companies that randomly added the word “blockchain” to the name of their business to seem cool (and maybe bump up its stock) – but it appears its name change may be more sinister than first thought. The Federal Bureau of Investigation suspects Long Blockchain Corp., as it is now known, may be guilty of insider trading, Quartz reports. According to a request for a search warrant, the FBI is also searching for evidence of securities fraud. According to the warrant, FBI agents linked Long Blockchain Corp. to a separate fraud case involving securities fraud at separate…

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