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Maelstrom11
Rookie
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 98
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 Posted: 05/19/07 - 15:06 Post subject: Some advice on how to NEVER get scammed
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I've literally had dozens of successful trades, and not once been scammed. So, while browsing here I noticed a lot of threads looking suspicious, and I thought I'd help everyone to know what to do in terms of trading.
Now the first mistake I notice people doing while trading accounts is getting overly excited. Sometimes people get so desperate they're willing to give their information to anyone. A successful trade should take awhile, so be prepared for that. Even I wish it could be finalized within a few minutes of agreeing but it can't.
So I'll start with the basics.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE WAY SOMEONE TALKS
First impressions can never be replaced, and obviously looking at someones post on realpoor can tell you a great deal about the character. But pay attention to the manner in which they speak, basically how well they verse themselves. If I come across a post saying
| Quote: | omg selling runescape account lvl 124 sweet stats send me an email  |
then I personally am staying away. If they're dumb enough to talk like that, then there is a very good chance they're dumb enough to try and steal your account. Even if they are not a scammer, they're more than likely annoying to talk to and difficult to get anywhere with.
USE YOUR HEAD
I feel much more comfortable emailing someone with an offer that doesn't have an email account strictly for their trades. Too many times people have offered me a character and were trying to scam me, I guess they think that "Wowtrader@gmail.com" looks official or something. (Note that email address was made up off the top of my head, not over an interaction I've had with the person)
Ask if the person is the original owner of the account. I actually prefer them not to be, as they have no way of retrieving the account if they are not.
Always make sure to get the secret question and answer. The owner of the account can never change it, and if they try to recover their account and scam you, you'll always have access to the SQ/A to find out the password.
AIMFIGHT.COM - USE IT
This is the most useful weapon in the arsenal of scam preventing. By typing in their AIM screen name, you can view how many relations they've had with different people. A lot of times a scammer will create a new screen name as to not use their own, and this can catch that in the act. I don't feel comfortable trading with someone unless they've had about 4,000 relations. Remember that relations don't mean 4,000 buddies but an array of different things.
PICK UP THE PHONE
Even if you don't say a word, get them to call you and save their number for a bit. This lets them know that if they somehow scam you, that you can flood them with daily calls and even report their theft to the police. In all reality the police won't do much, but they probably don't know that.
MEET IN GAME
So there is probably a mixed opinion of what you should do while meeting in game. I don't even make them leave wherever they are. Most people think that isn't a smart move, but I always check the armory for their gear when the trade is offered. I know the character has the gear listed on the armory, and as long as I get a whisper showing me that they're controlling that character, everything checks out with me.
NOW THE SWITCH
So you've done everything and now you are ready to trade. What you do next is change the accounts email address. After you request the change, Blizzard will send emails to you requesting your approval. I often agree to give out my password first, given they change their account to my email address first. Most people are fine with this; I've never run into any problems. However, to be safe never switch the two... I'll never change my accounts email to theirs first. Like it or not, whoever changes last has the power to scam. There is no way to avoid this.
I recommend sending all your gold to a reliable friend. Often times people will create a level 1 character on your server, send all the gold to it and then back out of the trade.
With all your gold gone, the only real thing a gold scammer can do is sell your gear and make a little profit on that. That being said, it won't be worth enough to make the effort so that might be enough to deter a scammer.
WHAT TO DO AFTER
Actually, there's really nothing. Change the password to your new account and enjoy.
SOME EXTRA INFO
Any time during the conversation with the other person, mention that you are the original owner of the account. I never like to lie but even if I'm not the owner I still say that I am, or that I know the owner of the account. This lets them know that if they pull anything you'll have the full power to recover your account back. Half of a trade is bluffing.
At some time get their secret question and answer. What this basically does is allow you to (at any time) recover the password for your account. It is a little bit of added security. You can check to validate their answer by going to the World of Warcraft account management area and clicking on 'Parental Controls'. It should prompt you for the answer to your secret question, and if it checks out then you'll be redirected to the parental area.
THATS ABOUT IT
Using all of these methods should prevent you from being scammed, but don't forget that you are trading with a complete stranger. Use your own discression.
Also, being scammed can happen to anybody. Remember, there is always someone out there with malicious intents that is smarter than you.
I'll update this if I forget anything... but hope you enjoyed and that it helped!
Last edited by Maelstrom11 on 05/27/07 - 15:31; edited 1 time in total
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Maelstrom11
Rookie
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 98
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Posted: 05/19/07 - 22:39 Post subject:
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Now I was nice enough to write this, some responding thanks would be most appreciated =D
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PRuane
Total Newbie
Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 29
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Posted: 05/19/07 - 22:55 Post subject:
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I read it an i appreciate it, thank you 
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Kikalicious
Rookie
Joined: 02 May 2007
Posts: 77
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Posted: 05/19/07 - 23:04 Post subject:
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Yeah mate, thanks for this, will help alot of poor souls getting scammed.
So far while advertising I think ive had 3 people try so poorly to scam me, and yes the way they talk and how fast they will try and get your password and account is the real obvious thing you should look for.
One guy was even stupid enough to give me one of the best warriors out of one of one of the Battle groups, pretty much top 5 in 2v2, 3v3 and 5v5.
He wouldn't even show me in game, was pretty funny the way they conceive poorly planned scams, but some people will nevertheless fall to them.
Just gotta watch out for those "professional" scammers
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CompleteGibberish
Administrator
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 6235
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Posted: 05/19/07 - 23:46 Post subject:
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So
You condone lying and call it bluffing. Theres some input. You get what you give. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people, but you can bet if you lie, Karma will bite you in the ass when you least expect it.
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Maelstrom11
Rookie
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 98
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Posted: 05/20/07 - 00:06 Post subject:
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If lying is what it takes to ensure my accounts security, then I'm probably going to.
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CompleteGibberish
Administrator
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 6235
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Posted: 05/20/07 - 19:21 Post subject:
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Well, a lack of integrity means your only 1 step above the scammer, as you have not stolen yet ( one hopes)
I would never encourage or advise someone to lie as a lie is not a lot better than a theft. And everyone knows one lie leads to another and so on. probably how most scammers start out, a few lies here and there and p**s poor parents too boot
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Maelstrom11
Rookie
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 98
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Posted: 05/21/07 - 01:37 Post subject:
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I'm fine having a lack of integrity if it adds security to an account trade. I'm not lying about the actual account, only something that would deter people from attempting to scam me. If anyone sees a problem with that then they can do whatever they want - if it bothers you too much, disregard the one paragraph and still go by the other 9 beneficial ones.
You can also say that karma will bite me, but I'm pretty sure that taking my time to post something to help other people I don't even know will bring nothing but good. Think what you want, I really don't care.
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Maelstrom11
Rookie
Joined: 28 Feb 2007
Posts: 98
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Posted: 05/21/07 - 01:42 Post subject:
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and you moved this to the hall of shame? wow good job man, real mature. i write a long topic about how to help add security to trades, and you put me in the same boat as a scammer
its also going to hurt my reputation; people are going to see me starting a topic in the wall of shame. grow up man
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windshell
Administrator
Joined: 15 Nov 2006
Posts: 1611
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Posted: 05/21/07 - 02:40 Post subject:
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| Maelstrom11 wrote: | and you moved this to the hall of shame? wow good job man, real mature. i write a long topic about how to help add security to trades, and you put me in the same boat as a scammer
its also going to hurt my reputation; people are going to see me starting a topic in the wall of shame. grow up man |
Hall of Shame is the place not only for list of scammers but also for safety instructions.
You'll find my and CompleteGibberish's posts in there as well.
Check also my sig. I suggest that people look at it for their own safety.
I appreciated your post and your suggestions, but there's no need for whining. In Accounts for Trade forum, nobody will notice your topic in a week or two.
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CompleteGibberish
Administrator
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Posts: 6235
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Posted: 05/21/07 - 05:49 Post subject:
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Account scam issues and guides go here
Nothing to do with maturity or immaturity.
I do find it funny that it was moved prior to my 1st reply and days later you notice it. Take notice of your surroundings, add that one in your guide
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priest99
Total Newbie
Joined: 25 Feb 2007
Posts: 42
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Posted: 05/23/07 - 15:32 Post subject: suggestions!
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This is a very good post, and i agree about how the hall of shame can be used for instructional purposes, for that the hall of shame is pretty much that! The hall of shame is a place where people go to look up people and information to prevent scams, as an example your post. To anyone new at trading an account this will become very helpful if they do follow the procedures. I have been scammed once, i got the account back but after dealing with a scammer it is easy to pick them out when you are talking to them. Another thing to notice about a scammer, when your asking for the name and/or the server there on and they take a couple minutes to answer that is usually a sign that they are looking up a character in the armory that isnt there's. Like the maelstrom11 said, there are people out there that are very melicous and do know what they are doing!
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