Scammed by mediator- Proteus

nobswebdev

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May 11 17:02

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#1238

I had very bad experience with Proteus as mediator for the trade. We had situation where I deposited Monero to escrow and we found out that buyer specified wrong amount. I suggested solution of recreating the trade with correct amount and buyer agreed. Buyer cancelled trade and created new one with direct mode and we finished trade successfully.

The problem is Monero deposited into escrow is now stuck there and XMR Bazaar multisig bsystem don't give mediator option to proceed refund in this situation. The only option is to complete multisig using 2 of 3 seeds what can be done with my and mediator seed in Monero wallet. It can be done only with my and mediator seed, because buyer left Bazaar after purchase (used disposable account) Mediator is unresponsive and don't present will to help me resolve the problem. I feel frustrated and scammed, because my money is frozen and there is no good will to resolve this.

Additionally I asked website admin AilliA for help to push this on XMR Bazaar level (enabling refund option for mediator) and I received very aggressive response https://ibb.co/zTvbsKRb where Alia shows no understanding and doesn't want to take responsibility for the unfinished system, instead blaming my supposed lack of knowledge. If nothing is blocked at the Bazaar level, then why can't we do it from the Bazaar level and instead must use Monero CLI?

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nobswebdev

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May 11 17:13

(3)

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#1239

Here is his profile https://xmrbazaar.com/user/Proteus

Edited: May 18 10:42

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nobswebdev

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May 11 17:18

(2)

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#1240

If I get banned for expressing criticism, I promise I will destroy this service.

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BoggleBoatt

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May 11 17:22

(3)

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#1241

Reply to post #1238

That sucks but I'm not sure what you can do without the keys. Aside from escrow the only other good trading system I could think of is where all parties are at risk of loss when an unfair trade occurs, like the MAD strategy. Both parties should fear losing their collateral as well as their reputation. I would love to see this studied more than just 2/3 escrow.

https://academy.particl.io/en/latest/particl-marketplace/marketplace_escrow.html#understanding-the-game-theory-behind

Edited: May 11 17:34

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AilliA

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May 11 17:38

(5)

#1242

nobswebdev, I understand your frustration with the situation. That said, your aggression should be directed solely at the buyer who ghosted, not toward the mediator, staff, or the platform.
As I already explained in chat: the waiting period exists precisely to confirm the buyer has actually ghosted and is not just temporarily offline, facing technical issues, or dealing with an emergency (force majeure). The mediator’s “Make decision” button only appears in case of a dispute or after a signer is reassigned.
The multisig escrow is functioning exactly as designed in a true P2P Monero system. The Troubleshoot button will become available after the waiting period (see the escrow guide: https://xmrbazaar.com/escrow-guide/).
You will not be banned for criticism, but threats and false scam accusations against a mediator @Proteus who made an honest decision to wait are taken seriously here.

Edited: May 11 17:40

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nobswebdev

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May 11 17:51

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#1243

Reply to post #1242

The buyer didn't ghost. We created a new order in direct mode and he simply left and probably won't return because he used a one-time account. Now there are two options: either the mediator gives me their seed so I can unlock the funds, or I can wait two weeks before the mediator can return the money at the Bazaar level. The mediator is unwilling to cooperate and as long as the Monero isn't in my wallet and is frozen in escrow I'm being cheated and Proteus is a fraud.

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nobswebdev

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May 11 17:59

(2)

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#1244

Reply to post #1241

We only need one thing- good will of mediator to solve this. It won't return my wasted time and frustration, but at least I get my money back. My money are stuck for 24h there.

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Proteus

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May 11 23:19

(7)

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#1246

Going under every one of my listings to spam “Scam alert” because you are frustrated with the escrow system is childish

I’ve already explained multiple times that the funds cannot be unlocked on my side unless the waiting period expires and mediation becomes available. And no, you will not get my seed phrase

I also uploaded the full escrow and DM conversation on Rumble for transparency since you called me a scammer :
https://rumble.com/v79pvrk-nobs.html

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nobswebdev

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May 11 23:35

(2)

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#1247

Reply to post #1246

What the fuck you talking about? Why you are holding my funds if you can simply give me your fucking seed?

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nobswebdev

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May 11 23:36

(2)

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#1248

I will remove scam alert when I get my money back...

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Camylopez

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May 12 02:04

(9)

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#1249

to be fair, the person you were trading with has not clearly signalled his intentions.
you initiated a new trade without cancelling out the old one.

if your in business, you need to know that there can be delays and holds on occasion, if you can't peacefully do that then that's on you.

all you doing here is flagging yourself as problematic and no mediator will want to work with you.

your better off apologising, explaining it was in the heat of the moment and waiting out the week or whatever it is.

for the rest of us, its a good lesson to learn from.

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nobswebdev

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May 12 09:00

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#1250

Reply to post #1249

We clearly signaled will to recreate trade and user CANCELED escrow order. Recreated direct trade is in Bazaar database, we can also verify Paysafecard code sent by user that there are no more funds on it meaning trade is over. It is super clear that trade is finished and it can be proven easily.

So who is making problems? It could be finished long time ago if mediator simply pass me his seed...

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InternationalEmu19

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May 13 10:13

(5)

(6)

#1254

People commenting here either haven't familiarized themselves with the case or are completely biased. After reviewing the attached material, it's clear that Proteus is doing this maliciously. I hope nobswebdev gets their money back quickly.

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UsernameNotAvailable

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May 13 11:24

(1)

(5)

#1255

Why won't Proteus give the key to escrow? The escrow was canceled by the user, what is he waiting for? Haha

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nobswebdev

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May 13 11:28

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(2)

#1256

Reply to post #1254

I agree.. Thank you

Edited: May 13 11:29

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nobswebdev

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May 13 11:32

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#1257

Reply to post #1255

Haha this is a secret that I think only Proteus knows. I believe he is doing it maliciously. His stubbornness prevents him from making a humane decision and he is behaving in a way unbecoming of a mediator.

Edited: May 13 11:33

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ShortZebra67

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May 13 13:41

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#1260

Camylopez To be fair, you should first familiarize yourself with the case and then make your judgments. The order was canceled and the user created a new one in direct mode.

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AilliA

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May 13 15:41

(4)

(2)

#1261

Reply to post #1246

Thank you for uploading the full conversation on Rumble, Proteus. I really appreciate the transparency and the calm, professional way you've handled this!
Your extremely kind offer to personally cover any difference if issues arise shows real good faith and humanity. That said, just a gentle note that mediators only resolve conflicts and aren’t responsible for trade failures or reimbursements. While generous, it could unintentionally set wrong and misleading expectations toward mediators and the mediation process.

This is a peer-to-peer marketplace: it’s ultimately each trader’s responsibility to fully close one deal before starting another. Failure to properly negotiate and close your deals is not the mediator’s or anyone else’s fault: it rests solely with the trading parties. Spamming listings and creating new accounts to harass a mediator isn’t acceptable, nobswebdev. If it continues, I’ll add a profile warning. As Camylopez already pointed out, this kind of approach makes other mediators hesitant to work with you in the future.

I hope everything resolves properly once the waiting period ends and the "Troubleshooting" button appears automatically.

Edited: May 13 15:42

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nobswebdev

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May 13 17:19

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#1262

Reply to post #1261

To clarify- his intention of covering the difference came after trade was finished. I never had intention to harass anyone and I never created any account for this purpose. My intention is to only find justice in this situation. I decided to comment on his profile after I found out that I can't simply leave bad review on canceled trade.

I hope I get my money back after waiting period. What is time for troubleshooting button to appear? In docs I see 7 days, but you mentioned 2 weeks.

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AilliA

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May 13 17:26

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#1263

Reply to post #1262

The Troubleshooting button currently appears after 1 week (7 days) as stated in the Escrow Guide https://xmrbazaar.com/escrow-guide/ .

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XmrBazaar

Scammed by mediator- Proteus