The year was 2017. August, in the United States, meant high temperatures from morning until night. Luckily, this college kid found a desk job at a law office. He answered the phone, sorted the mail, and completed Bethany's every order. When he wasn't emptying shredders and filling paper trays, he used his iPhone at the desk. He didn't expect to find anything interesting on Instagram. Scrolling is a normal habit for many, even still.
Social media distractions are not unusual. A room dedicated to ventilation for the ten Bitcoin mining rigs is unusual, especially for many.
As Leo would learn about Brett, however, ten mining rigs was business as usual for Tuesday.
According to Leo, not much was known about Brett. He traveled the Pacific Northwest, living out of a van with a husky. Leo didn't so much as scoff at the idea as he balked at the thought of not having everything he normally knew. Yet, for all the surprise at Brett's lifestyle, he did connect over one thing: photography. That's what linked the two. Soon, more than that would connect their fates forever, despite taking different roads.
You can imagine Leo's surprise now, after reminiscing about his knowing Brett, that Brett found himself somewhere now with a room dedicated to 'mining' Bitcoin. Leo was fairly sure Bitcoin wasn't something like coal, so his curiosity led him to ask that million dollar question. "What is Bitcoin?"
Brett taught him everything he could digest and then gave him leads. He brought him to an exchange, taught him the significance of 2-factor authentication. He even mentioned this project where you get paid for posting. That blew Leo's mind. He didn't have the courage to travel the country in his car alone, but he'd been in love with photos since a kid. Many vacation photos he didn't appear in because the camera was in his hands. He liked the big picture, and I believed he could see it.
Taking his photos and sharing them for money sounded a lot better than trying to hustle for followers on Instagram. He could feel it already- the genuine comments, interested viewers, and maybe, just maybe, the rare, interested buyer. If he made, what did Brett call it, cryptocurrency? and changed it for Bitcoin, he could be rich! He might be able to take photos for a living!
Leo, fresh and face full of hope, tried everything Brett suggested and a little more. He had no idea not every project was safe. Who could he ask? His first introduction to everything came from a connection he made online. Leo believed in the good will of Brett, who helped him a lot for only sharing an interest- photography. Leo did not imagine he would have to be wary of everything online, not only for his own safety, but the safety of his hard-earned money.
He may scroll on his phone from time-to-time or doze off at the phones, but Leo worked hard to learn the names of his office co-workers. He showed up early because he didn't want to be late. He even gave the woman who hired him a framed photo of a beach. Leo's hard work and effort could not protect him from Bitconnect.
Disguised as well-meaning project, Leo foolishly purchased their tokens, and convinced one of his friends, another ambitious hopeful by the name of Renate, to join in. Leo and Renate thought they were joining something like an investment vehicle with returns, a certificate of deposit, U.S. banks offer sometimes.
Their inexperience exposed them to losses. As it turns out, the entire thing, promoted and heavily marketed online, was entirely a Ponzi scheme.
The events above are based on a true story.
When people in the Telegram ask if the team is doing anything, I think about Leo. If only there was a team for Leo, to warn him not to join projects without learning more. Now, I am the team at $TURBO. And in this project, I want to do some things. I want to tell people like Leo that, while I believe in this project, my believe alone will not change things. For things to change, people like Leo, you and I must act.