<p>Bitcoin addresses carry a checksum to make reasonably sure that an address isn't mistyped when money is sent to it.</p>

<p>There are 4 Byte of checksum data in an address. 4 Byte = 32 bit. The checksum can be assumed to have equal distribution. This means that there is a 1 in 2^32 chance that a mistyped address is valid, so 1 in 4'294'967'296.</p>

<p>It is very unlikely that the mistyped address is correct and no wallet will send money to it because it's invalid. If you are not the 1 case in 4'294'967'296 where a mistyped address is actually valid, you're being defrauded.</p>

<p>You can find out whether the address they allegedly sent the money to is valid by entering into blockchain.info's search box. Enter the address with the type into the search box on <a href="https://blockchain.info" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://blockchain.info</a> (not the one in the top but the one in the center/bottom (depending on your screen's size) right).</p>

<p><code>1PKjFveyaLz5vzKHjfYBjjLiTEQLXfqL6p</code> is a correct address and <a href="https://blockchain.info/address/1PKjFveyaLz5vzKHjfYBjjLiTEQLXfqL6p" rel="nofollow noreferrer">blockchain.info shows us that it never received a transaction</a>. If we swap out the <code>p</code> in the end for a <code>q</code>, <a href="https://blockchain.info/search/1PKjFveyaLz5vzKHjfYBjjLiTEQLXfqL6q" rel="nofollow noreferrer">we're only shown an error message</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Unrecognized search pattern</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is because the address with the typo is invalid.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-07T15:50:06.440Z
2017-02-07T15:50:06.440Z
UTF-8
<p>You have been scammed.</p>

<p>The address with one symbol changed is invalid and all bitcoin cliends reject sending bitcoins to it. So, your partner lies. Tell him to give you a link for his transaction on block-explorer site like blockchain.info</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Now my question, is it possible to create an address similar to mine, but change 1 letter/number?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>No. It is not possible.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-07T14:05:00.840Z
2017-02-07T14:05:00.840Z
amaclin
<p>amaclin's answer (you are being lied to) is overwhelmingly likely to be correct.</p>

<p>Speaking purely theoretically, I don't think the 32-bit Bitcoin address checksum <em>guarantees</em> catching all one-character errors.  So there is a tiny chance (about 1 in 4 billion) that the "q" address is actually valid.  You can easily check this by looking up the "q" address on a a block explorer site like <a href="http://blockchain.info" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://blockchain.info</a> or <a href="http://blockr.io" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://blockr.io</a>.  If the guy was telling the truth, it will show the address as valid and containing the appropriate transaction.  Almost certainly it will instead show the address as being invalid, and then you will know for sure that he is lying.</p>

<p>But even if by some chance the "q" address was valid and the guy really did send the coins there, that doesn't really change anything.  The fact that he screwed up and lost some of his own money doesn't change the fact that he still owes you, and you have every right to insist that he get some more money and pay you.  Of course, you may or may not have any way to actually make him do it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-07T15:21:14.220Z
2017-02-07T15:21:14.220Z
Nate Eldredge
<p>So today I lost money on a transaction. This guy I was dealing with asked for my bitcoin address. I of course copy and pasted my bitcoin address and sent it to him. He sent me a screenshot of me preparing to send me my funds, i confirmed the amount but wasn't able to confirm the address because I expected him to copy and paste what I copy and pasted. I wondered why the funds didnt arrive yet, I double checked the address only to see that the address he sent the btc to was identical to mine, except for 1 letter (instead of a p there was a q)</p>

<p>Now my question, is it possible to create an address similar to mine, but change 1 letter/number?</p>

<address><blockchain.info>
Is it possible to create a disposable address identical to mine?
Gabriel
# Is it possible to create a disposable address identical to mine?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-07)

So today I lost money on a transaction. This guy I was dealing with asked for my bitcoin address. I of course copy and pasted my bitcoin address and sent it to him. He sent me a screenshot of me preparing to send me my funds, i confirmed the amount but wasn't able to confirm the address because I expected him to copy and paste what I copy and pasted. I wondered why the funds didnt arrive yet, I double checked the address only to see that the address he sent the btc to was identical to mine, except for 1 letter (instead of a p there was a q)

Now my question, is it possible to create an address similar to mine, but change 1 letter/number?

**Tags:** address, blockchain.info


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-02-07. Score: 1

Bitcoin addresses carry a checksum to make reasonably sure that an address isn't mistyped when money is sent to it.

There are 4 Byte of checksum data in an address. 4 Byte = 32 bit. The checksum can be assumed to have equal distribution. This means that there is a 1 in 2^32 chance that a mistyped address is valid, so 1 in 4'294'967'296.

It is very unlikely that the mistyped address is correct and no wallet will send money to it because it's invalid. If you are not the 1 case in 4'294'967'296 where a mistyped address is actually valid, you're being defrauded.

You can find out whether the address they allegedly sent the money to is valid by entering into blockchain.info's search box. Enter the address with the type into the search box on <https://blockchain.info> (not the one in the top but the one in the center/bottom (depending on your screen's size) right).

`1PKjFveyaLz5vzKHjfYBjjLiTEQLXfqL6p` is a correct address and [blockchain.info shows us that it never received a transaction](https://blockchain.info/address/1PKjFveyaLz5vzKHjfYBjjLiTEQLXfqL6p). If we swap out the `p` in the end for a `q`, [we're only shown an error message](https://blockchain.info/search/1PKjFveyaLz5vzKHjfYBjjLiTEQLXfqL6q):

> Unrecognized search pattern

This is because the address with the typo is invalid.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-02-07. Score: 1

You have been scammed.

The address with one symbol changed is invalid and all bitcoin cliends reject sending bitcoins to it. So, your partner lies. Tell him to give you a link for his transaction on block-explorer site like blockchain.info

> Now my question, is it possible to create an address similar to mine, but change 1 letter/number?

No. It is not possible.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-02-07. Score: 0

username_2's answer (you are being lied to) is overwhelmingly likely to be correct.

Speaking purely theoretically, I don't think the 32-bit Bitcoin address checksum *guarantees* catching all one-character errors. So there is a tiny chance (about 1 in 4 billion) that the "q" address is actually valid. You can easily check this by looking up the "q" address on a a block explorer site like <http://blockchain.info> or <http://blockr.io>. If the guy was telling the truth, it will show the address as valid and containing the appropriate transaction. Almost certainly it will instead show the address as being invalid, and then you will know for sure that he is lying.

But even if by some chance the "q" address was valid and the guy really did send the coins there, that doesn't really change anything. The fact that he screwed up and lost some of his own money doesn't change the fact that he still owes you, and you have every right to insist that he get some more money and pay you. Of course, you may or may not have any way to actually make him do it.


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