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jaminn
06-12-2011, 02:53 AM
Some of the most annoying people in game are scammers.there are many ways that people try to scam you, these include begging, "accidental" trade mistakes, and bad trades

Ways to spot begging: well obviously anyone can spot a beg as easy as finding the earth. The "I am new to the game and need money" or the original "can i have money". The reason i have specified begging is sometimes people are legitimatly short of getting a great deal (have to admit I have begged for this reason but never more than 5K). First thing i would say is ask why they need the money and never give more than a certain amount like 20K or something affordable. The second part is the too-new-to-game ploy. I have helped numerous newbies and I know for a fact that no brand new level 1 ever knows how to type right away, not to mention the fact that most new players finish the tutorial which automatically means they are at least level 2 so any "new player" begging for money at level one is never a real new player. Finally new players barely know how to work the map and if you find a player in balefort begging cause he is new he obviously has played before because now new playerrs cant play in higher level dungeons

Ways to stop "accidental" mistrades: this one is simple and everyone should be doing it anyway, review your trade before accepting to make sure you did not trade money for nothing. Also do not pay for anything not listed on the screen so dont pay for 5 items when you can only trade 4 pay for last one separate. These accidental trades can also include "forgetting" a zero but never making up for it that is why you always have to check your trade before you agree. Finally dont ever accept a trade that requires "getting the money from an alternate character" or "trade me something and I'll trade you after it gets through" this violates the terms of service (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?11694-Pocket-Legends-Terms-of-Service) as is verified here (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?17601-Be-Aware-of-Trade-Scams). It can also result in a permanent ban.

Preventing bad trades: I see way too many people trade great items for mediocre items durring their low level days. The simplest most efective way of making a good trade is by checking the consignment shop (now that it is available to almost anyone) and check cost and compare the items you are selling/buying/trading. This can also give you the upper hand if someone is selling a high cost item at 1K less most of the time you can coax the seller down by saying its almost the same cost as in the auction.

Trade you for platinum: there is no way to trade plat in game so either they will try to have you pay first then dissapear. The other way is "selling a gift card," this falls under the don't give away your account section too (see below). They will ask for gold and in turn you need to give them your account info so they can transfer the real money. This is against the rules of the game so don't ever accept an agreement like that.

Thanks to jaytB I have a couple more to add

The user id and pasword swap is simply against the rules of pocket legends. Also if someone asks for that all they will do is steal your stuff and leave you in the dust. Don't EVER give out your personal information this too is against the terms of service (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?11694-Pocket-Legends-Terms-of-Service)

The give-me-gold-or-I-will-report-you ploy is worth reporting itself. Unless you have actually done something wrong you have nothing to worry about the developers don't just permaban everyone who gets reported but they do check what happened at that time. If you did do something...well that's blackmail and the best you could do is report to spacetimestudios right a way (I guess that would be the right thing to do) or you could warn him that he is scamming you and that you too could report him for that.

Doubling gold scams: someone might try to take your gold and give you back twice as much this never goes well...either your money will be taken the first time or they will make you believe that they are trustworthy with a few real gold double just to take the largest ammount. If someone offers you this deal don't take it at all it never ends well.

Hope this helps and hope you never get scammed again :banana:

Remember to report all scammers since it is wrong to the game...even the devs agree they added a report for scamming button after all:D

P.S. if there is a different type of scamming let me know ill review it and get it added ASAP ;)

P.P.S. i know this may be similar to other threads but i feel it takes it to a new level. Be sure to comment any feedback will be taken in a constructive matter.

JaytB
06-12-2011, 03:06 AM
Another scam would be the 'gold-doubling' scam.

The most original one I saw was a guy who would actually give u 5k, which u had to trade back. He would 'magically' double it to 10k. He did that with several people who started yelling around it was real. This paves to way for the scammer to find someone willing to double way more than that, after which he probably just disappears.

I reported him, and would advice anyone who gets confronted with a scam to do the same.

Another one is were some random guy asks you to share your user-Id and pw. Telling that they would do the same.

Or the 'give me gold or I report you' scam.

Another one I've seen several times is when people say they want to buy something for way higher then what it's actually worth, only to 'forget' 1 zero when they enter the amount.

These are some scams that come to mind.

In almost all cases, I reported them and told them that I did right before ignoring them. This way, even if they wouldn't get banned, they hopefully will think twice before trying that again :)

jaminn
06-12-2011, 12:10 PM
Thanks JaytB I added most of them...however I don't really understand the gold doubling...how can magically double it? I just don't understand this one too much if you could elaborate I would be grateful

Phoenixking
06-12-2011, 12:43 PM
Thanks JaytB I added most of them...however I don't really understand the gold doubling...how can magically double it? I just don't understand this one too much if you could elaborate I would be grateful

He means
Scammer:i can double your monay just give me it and i will double it!!
Innocent Beleiver (the victim):ok enter trade
Scammer: how much money?
Victim: 10k
Scammer you will get 20k ok
Victim: ok
Victim action:<puts 10k>
Scammer action:<checks box/so does victim
Scammer has 10k now then logs off leaving victim with no 10k or 20k

Mennddoza
06-12-2011, 12:48 PM
I'm pretty sure he means that he actually gives the 10k back but with anothe 10k makin it seem like he actually doubled it. But not really. this would attract more players believing they would be able to give them Lets Say 500k for him to double. He gives the 500k and loggs off.

JaytB
06-12-2011, 12:56 PM
I'm pretty sure he means that he actually gives the 10k back but with anothe 10k makin it seem like he actually doubled it. But not really. this would attract more players believing they would be able to give them Lets Say 500k for him to double. He gives the 500k and loggs off.

Exactly what I meant yes. Create some believability, before getting his big job and disappear forever. Note that these are usually very low lvl toons (an alt created for the sole purpose of scamming).

Phoenixking
06-12-2011, 01:02 PM
Exactly what I meant yes. Create some believability, before getting his big job and disappear forever. Note that these are usually very low lvl toons (an alt created for the sole purpose of scamming).

For that poeple dont know its them they will later delete that alt huh

JaytB
06-12-2011, 01:13 PM
For that poeple dont know its them they will later delete that alt huh

Yup. Though, if they get reported fast enough, devs het a lead they can easily track back later. I'm pretty sure it could cause a device ban, if you'd create alts to scam people for gold for your main.

jaminn
06-12-2011, 04:06 PM
Ok cool I will add any more I should archive?

Fyrce
06-12-2011, 05:20 PM
Um, I'm pretty sure where you log in from is always recorded, so it doesn't matter how fast you report.

For a report, all you need is the name of the scammer. You don't need him online. You don't need a screenshot. You don't need anything else. Just the scammer's name. If the scammer has talked at all, he's in your chat log. Note down the name. If it looks like it starts w/ an "l", that's a capital "i". If you're not sure you'll type the name correctly, then yes, a screenshot would be helpful.

You can then use either email to support(at) spacetimesstudios.com or /report in game. In an email, you can always be more specific about what time you experienced the scam so they can check YOUR logs. Just remember they can check your logs if things aren't panning out.

Buster
06-25-2011, 09:27 AM
Also, there is the "pay me to learn good info" scam. I tried it and gave him 1k and he said "complete all the quests" Be careful of those guys also

KaotiicxDream
06-26-2011, 10:36 AM
I met this guy:

Him: I wanna lvl u
Me: Im max lvl
Him: I can go past that
Me: Okay... I dont think so
Him: I can mod
Me: yea, right
Him: Give me money n I'll do it

I was look "WHAT" .. I didn't give him anything .. Little scam too.

ChrisFI
06-26-2011, 12:25 PM
Yeah IKR. Anyways yeah it can get annoying but just ignore it and play the game is what i do :). And if they ask you for money i say i dont have alot and give them maybe 5k-10k. Just to be nice ;).

ChrisFI
06-26-2011, 12:26 PM
I met this guy:

Him: I wanna lvl u
Me: Im max lvl
Him: I can go past that
Me: Okay... I dont think so
Him: I can mod
Me: yea, right
Him: Give me money n I'll do it

I was look "WHAT" .. I didn't give him anything .. Little scam too.

LOL xD

ChrisFI
06-26-2011, 12:27 PM
Also, there is the "pay me to learn good info" scam. I tried it and gave him 1k and he said "complete all the quests" Be careful of those guys also

I believe on learning on the go ;). Anyways why pay when you can get info on the computer or from one of your friends :D

ChrisFI
06-26-2011, 12:28 PM
I think the scammers will eventually notice that they made themselves look like fooles ;D

FloooH
06-26-2011, 12:40 PM
I know another scam...

2 of my friends did it:
They help me and tell me many things, a long while (1week-1month)
Then they want money to buy something and i Trust them,
because we are 'good friends'. And then, they delete me from the friendslist
and go off...i never saw them after the scam!!!
I lost 130k and 80k ...(210k)

Now i am Not sure if i can lend people or my friends money..
I only give money to my 6 really really really best friends

Tempest
06-27-2011, 05:00 AM
He means
Scammer:i can double your monay just give me it and i will double it!!
Innocent Beleiver (the victim):ok enter trade
Scammer: how much money?
Victim: 10k
Scammer you will get 20k ok
Victim: ok
Victim action:<puts 10k>
Scammer action:<checks box/so does victim
Scammer has 10k now then logs off leaving victim with no 10k or 20k

One of my friends got scammed this way...

Scammer: Give me money and ill double it.
Friend: (Hehe fail scam) Sure. *hands over 500g*
Scammer: *Gives 1k*
Friend: OMG U AWSM DUDE I GIVE U MORE *gives 10k*
Scammer: *runs off*

How unfortunate... :(

Buster
06-27-2011, 07:00 AM
U shoulda kept giving him 500g then he'll only get poor or only take 500g so win-win

jjhiza
07-05-2011, 01:59 AM
Got a new one the other day... Some guy's standing in Balefort, asking for money because (he claims) mods went into his account, and removed 100k from his character's gold. I gave him a LOL, puked on him, and promptly reported him. Gotta give him kudos for creativity though. ;-)

Pharcyde
07-05-2011, 02:10 AM
It's not that bad yet :). I see a scammer once in a great while. Go onto runescape, and you will see scammers lined up like kids in a candy shop. Some scammers even try to scam other scammers. It's the funniest thing to watch little eight year olds try making tough "make our break" decisions on a moments notice. Really makes me loose faith in the youth today

xero
07-05-2011, 02:32 AM
Lol... thankfully, I don't buy into scams... its one of those "too good to be true" moments... its unbelievable that people would even TRY and scam... its just a game rofl :)

Pharcyde
07-05-2011, 02:39 AM
Lol... thankfully, I don't buy into scams... its one of those "too good to be true" moments... its unbelievable that people would even TRY and scam... its just a game rofl :)

Thats why people scam in the first place, it's just a game. They can get away with stuff that, in real life, would be illegal.

Also, you would be surprised about how profitable scamming can actually be. Not that I've ever done it, but there is a reason why there are sooo many scammers in MMO's.

JaytB
07-05-2011, 03:03 AM
you would be surprised about how profitable scamming can actually be. Not that I've ever done it, but there is a reason why there are sooo many scammers in MMO's.

I always thought there were only 2 reasons for so many scammers: 1. Pure laziness (to lazy to make their own gold) 2. Impatient people (I want everything NOW kind of peeps).

But yeah, it might be because it's successful for some too I guess :)

stevieoopsie
08-03-2011, 01:57 AM
Begging is not a form of scamming; scamming mainly refers to fraudulent activities or unlawful breaches of contract. The person that begs and the person that gives both know what they are doing - one receiving money to create utility, one helping (actually corrupting) others to also create utility. That said, I despise people that beg but putting a scammer label on them is not appropriate.

stevieoopsie
08-03-2011, 02:05 AM
Also, the idea of bad trade is not a form of scam at all. In Finance when one party sells to another party for much lower than the intrinsic value of the asset due to lack of knowledge, it's said that the winning party has a "information advantage". If you buy a stock on the stock market and lose your money because you did not conduct proper research into the company (I work in finance and I know that 99% of retail investors don't), the party thats on the other side of the trade wins having done his homework, it only proves that you are careless with your money and should have done more research on your investment. This in game can be easily done by checking the store, and should careless players be punished by the market for not doing their proper homework? Absolutely.

Novalblast
09-03-2011, 01:22 AM
i got scammed by my first friend on this PL account, and now i am lvl 38. they were a lvl 50 mage with void items, name was like "uzi" and then a bunch of other stuff, so i cud not report them. i sent an email to the devs, but they will not respond. we were tryin to make a deal for, something i hav done so many times before, power leveling. at first i was suppose to get an item for them, but i cud not get the item, so she said she wud lvl me for 50k to 46, at first i said 5k each lvl and then the rest, but since she, i believe, knew i hav got reported before for scamming for power leveling others even tho it was an incorrect report, didnt trust me that much, so she suggested 25k first, then the rest after, and i tried to talk her away from that but.... didnt work, so i did her payment plan and then i saw her a couple time that day and she was helpin some other friends, very low levels, and we then decided to do it later, i then saw she got off but was still on my list, so i got off, next day i discovered she was off my list and i realized i had got scammed then i told my, like best, friend and she told me about the email of the devs, i imediatly sent an email, but didnt get a response till 3 days later.... just saying thank you for emailing.... i imediatly started stake-outs at her favorite places to hang out but never saw her.... if anyone sees her plz tell me, i still hav not got a response from the devs either. i think that is all the info i hav on her.... thx all

Tsarra
09-03-2011, 11:51 AM
Also, the idea of bad trade is not a form of scam at all. In Finance when one party sells to another party for much lower than the intrinsic value of the asset due to lack of knowledge, it's said that the winning party has a "information advantage".

This doesn't make it okay.

I haven't seen much scamming since I've been back...just a whole lot of people begging for gold. I tried to reason with one of them (ie.: If I give you free money, then you don't learn how to earn it yourself...and then one day, when you're high leveled like me, you will be responsible for getting us wiped in an instance and I will be very, very mad at you.) but it didn't go over well. He sort of cussed me out and then left the instance. :P

I tell them to go and run PP if they're big enough. It's not like it's hard to make gold in Pocket Legends or anything.

Cytokinesis
09-03-2011, 02:39 PM
This doesn't make it okay.

it is okay because the buyer (the one who got "scammed") didnt bother to check the CS. So its his fault for buy it.

Wilddar
09-03-2011, 07:58 PM
It all boils down to honesty. If you want to do this then let them but it's on there hands, they are the ones that suffer in the long run.

I love this quote:

"Carma's a pain, but you asked for it"

largecommand
10-22-2011, 05:54 PM
Ways to spot begging: well obviously anyone can spot a beg as easy as finding the earth.

HELP I CANT FIND THE EARTH! lol