Paying with cryptocurrency

Sg28

NightOwl67 said:

I've been asked to pay for something with cryptocurrency but problem is I know nothing about it.  This needs to be done in next ten days. Where do I start? Help!

Don't pay it! You're being scammed. 

NightOwl67

Thanks for all the replies, I've just found them as I haven't had any email notifications.  I can't say what it is except an experimental device for a crippling health condition.  They did say you could pay by PayPal as well but only in exceptional circumstances. I've never used that either so would have no idea how to go about that either.

wmb194

NightOwl67 said:

Thanks for all the replies, I've just found them as I haven't had any email notifications.  I can't say what it is except an experimental device for a crippling health condition.  They did say you could pay by PayPal as well but only in exceptional circumstances. I've never used that either so would have no idea how to go about that either.

You're certain it's not a scam? It sounds like one. There are people who prey on the desperate. They want crypto because it won't be possible for you to reverse the transaction.

Section62

NightOwl67 said:

Thanks for all the replies, I've just found them as I haven't had any email notifications.  I can't say what it is except an experimental device for a crippling health condition.  They did say you could pay by PayPal as well but only in exceptional circumstances. I've never used that either so would have no idea how to go about that either.

Two more red flags - "I can't say what it is" and "health condition".

NightOwl67 - anyone genuine who is working in health/medicine is not going to force you to pay within 10 days and all but insist you do so using crypto.  No doubt if you say you really want to use PayPal instead they will come up with some excuse why you can't.

Speak to your GP or someone else in your NHS healthcare team and ask them to look into the details of the device and whether the provider is legitimate.

Don't add loss of money by being scammed to the things you are having to cope with right now.

Frequentlyhere

Just to add, I still would not be persuaded even if they do accept paypal. 

Whilst everyone is being very diplomatic, there is just no way on earth that any genuine medical provider would be heavily encouraging a crypto payment.

Sadly in this case they're clearly preying on someone's hope for a miracle device to resolve a health issue. If they had such a device, they'd be far too busy raking in money via their patent rather than pressuring people to pay with crypto.

masonic

Agree with what has been said above. There are some truly horrible people in this world that will prey on the vulnerable with promises they can relieve their problems, but all they really want to do is relieve them of their money.

Sg28

NightOwl67 said:

Thanks for all the replies, I've just found them as I haven't had any email notifications.  I can't say what it is except an experimental device for a crippling health condition.  They did say you could pay by PayPal as well but only in exceptional circumstances. I've never used that either so would have no idea how to go about that either.

That is 100% an absolute total scam and you will lose any money you send to them.

If you share the details im sure someone will do some digging and find conclusive proof if you are still of the mind its not a scam. (This is exactly why you "aren't allowed to tell anyone") 

Aretnap

NightOwl67 said:

They did say you could pay by PayPal as well but only in exceptional circumstances.

What do you mean by exceptional circumstances? Either they accept PayPal or they don't. That is like going into a shop, asking if they take Visa and being told "well, it depends". It just isn't a thing that happens, not in any legitimate setting anyway. 

I agree with all the above. No legitimate, or even semi-legitimate, business insists on payment in cryptocurrency. Especially not a provider of medical treatments, even experimental ones.

I'm very sorry that you are obviously suffering from serious health problems, but giving money to scammers who prey on the desperate isn't going to help you at all.

Aretnap

wmb194 said:
They want crypto because it won't be possible for you to reverse the transaction.

And also because it makes it more difficult for the fraud squad to trace them when they come looking. Don't forget that one.

The reason people insist on payment in cryptocurrency is because they are operating outside the law. That's the reason for insisting on it, and it's the only reason for insisting on it.

A handful of genuine businesses will accept cryptocurrency as a gimmick, but they will always accept normal methods of payment as well. Accepting only cryptocurrency immediately cuts your potential customer base by at least 90%, so why would you do it if you didn't need the anonymity and lack of accountability that crypto offers?

NightOwl67

Sg28 said:

NightOwl67 said:

Thanks for all the replies, I've just found them as I haven't had any email notifications.  I can't say what it is except an experimental device for a crippling health condition.  They did say you could pay by PayPal as well but only in exceptional circumstances. I've never used that either so would have no idea how to go about that either.

That is 100% an absolute total scam and you will lose any money you send to them.

If you share the details im sure someone will do some digging and find conclusive proof if you are still of the mind its not a scam. (This is exactly why you "aren't allowed to tell anyone") 

I can see now it is probably a scam, they have sucked in a lot of people with their promises.  Its based on the Susan Shore device for tinnitus. Those who don't suffer severely with this have no idea how debilitating it is.  I've been house and bed bound for over three years now.