Lets speculate about the reason for the increase in gold selling website spammers.
Lets face it, Trial Keys have existed as long as the game. Yet, in the past, we may have issues with seeing lots of bot farmers in certain outposts, and the odd person PMing us to sell stuff, the problem of the gold selling website spammer is a relatively recent one.
Is it a new gold selling organisation(s) that has a different modus operandi from the previous ones? We'll never know, unless someone knows if those same websites existed 3 years ago.
Could it be tied to the opening up of the American server to other servers? The gold sellers to plant a spotter in American district and for PMs from other districts can finally get through. Unless ISPs from these countries were banned from the American server all this while, I don't see this as the main reason.
I do not see /report as having an impact either, because before the introduction of /report, we did not have such a big problem with this.
However, the timing might be more than coincedental.
Is it that with the lower price of GW at retail, there is a big growth of new players and have renewed the interest of gold sellers to GW? (I often feel that the scale and the audacity of the gold sellers are directly proportionate to the popularity of the game.)
Or are the gold sellers desperate now? Their business is seriously threatened by the actions of Anet, or the loss of popularity of GW, that these PMs are the death-throes of these gold selling organisations desperate to recoop some money.
Gold Website Spamming, why now?
arsie
Kook~NBK~
I don't think there's an increase in gold-selling bots. They just changed their tactics due to the new /report feature. Before, when you turned off local chat, you wouldn't see them there. Turn off trade chat, you wouldn't see them there. Now, with PM's, it's much harder to get away from them, and it's harder to ignore because now you get the *ping* to go along with the message.
Cebe
This isn't a suggestion. Sardelac isn't the place for general discussion. I'm moving to Riverside.
Longasc
eBay no longer allows gold-selling, you still see some WoW gold offers, and sometimes no single GW gold offer, but in general they are gone.
So they probably now try to lure people to their websites to sell stuff.
So they probably now try to lure people to their websites to sell stuff.
Cacheelma
It's the trial keys.
Until recently, you could only obtain some trial keys from a retail box of any Guild Wars games, and maybe from some issues of some magazine. All in all the availability of the trial keys were very limited back then.
Right now, www.guildwars.com gives out trial keys freely and as many as you want. No doubt we have more spammers now.
There's a thread about this somewhere.
Until recently, you could only obtain some trial keys from a retail box of any Guild Wars games, and maybe from some issues of some magazine. All in all the availability of the trial keys were very limited back then.
Right now, www.guildwars.com gives out trial keys freely and as many as you want. No doubt we have more spammers now.
There's a thread about this somewhere.
Yol
ANet need to provide free trial keys because it's a good way for them to get new players. It's just unfortunate that the situation is abused by those annoying gold sellers.
Gaile has said that they won't alter the trial keys accounts to block access to chat channels. This is understandable because the genuine new players will want access to that. The problem therefore shouldn't be solved at the trial account end.....if they aren't prepared to prevent trial key accounts from having access to chat channels, maybe they should give us the option to disable the receipt of PM's from trial account key characters...
Personally, I would be happy to play the game knowing that I had opted for not receiving PM's from trial key account characters.
Gaile has said that they won't alter the trial keys accounts to block access to chat channels. This is understandable because the genuine new players will want access to that. The problem therefore shouldn't be solved at the trial account end.....if they aren't prepared to prevent trial key accounts from having access to chat channels, maybe they should give us the option to disable the receipt of PM's from trial account key characters...
Personally, I would be happy to play the game knowing that I had opted for not receiving PM's from trial key account characters.
cebalrai
Some key fact(oid)s:
1) The problem worsening correlates with the linking with the Asian server. Yes, the problem has always been there. But now it's MUCH worse. There was a thing on NPR radio about this, talking about how in-game gold/loot sells for real life cash (mainly referencing WoW but same basic thing). Interesting phenomenon. They referenced Chinese/Vietnamese gold "farms". Now I'm sure there could be a gold farm in Iowa or something where they pay people minimum wage and benefits to play the game, but the 10-cents per day/worker Vietnamese version sounds more profitable. I'm just sayin' linking the servers gave gold farms much better access to advertise in our market. Advertising in International dists wasn't going to be very effective.
2) Ebay no longer allows the selling of GW gold and loot. The gold sellers needed to adapt, so here we are...
3) Anet now gives easier than ever access to the trial accounts that gold sellers are botting/abusing.
Guess I'm just kind of summing up other posts....
1) The problem worsening correlates with the linking with the Asian server. Yes, the problem has always been there. But now it's MUCH worse. There was a thing on NPR radio about this, talking about how in-game gold/loot sells for real life cash (mainly referencing WoW but same basic thing). Interesting phenomenon. They referenced Chinese/Vietnamese gold "farms". Now I'm sure there could be a gold farm in Iowa or something where they pay people minimum wage and benefits to play the game, but the 10-cents per day/worker Vietnamese version sounds more profitable. I'm just sayin' linking the servers gave gold farms much better access to advertise in our market. Advertising in International dists wasn't going to be very effective.
2) Ebay no longer allows the selling of GW gold and loot. The gold sellers needed to adapt, so here we are...
3) Anet now gives easier than ever access to the trial accounts that gold sellers are botting/abusing.
Guess I'm just kind of summing up other posts....
pkodyssey
The game needs GM's. I know that many of us would volunteer a little time to wave the almighty ban stick.
take_me
Ye, it gets really annoying. It happens in almost EVERY outpost.
cataphract
Quote:
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Originally Posted by pkodyssey
The game needs GM's. I know that many of us would volunteer a little time to wave the almighty ban stick.
|
thelessa
What is really annoying is, when you try and report them, they have changed districts already.
Sort of hit and run spam!
Sort of hit and run spam!
Malice Black
Business is slow due to high prices. Anet is having an effect on the sale of gold.
1 million = $180
1 million = $180
Viruzzz
Quote:
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Originally Posted by cebalrai
Some key fact(oid)s:
1) The problem worsening correlates with the linking with the Asian server. Yes, the problem has always been there. But now it's MUCH worse. There was a thing on NPR radio about this, talking about how in-game gold/loot sells for real life cash (mainly referencing WoW but same basic thing). Interesting phenomenon. They referenced Chinese/Vietnamese gold "farms". Now I'm sure there could be a gold farm in Iowa or something where they pay people minimum wage and benefits to play the game, but the 10-cents per day/worker Vietnamese version sounds more profitable. I'm just sayin' linking the servers gave gold farms much better access to advertise in our market. Advertising in International dists wasn't going to be very effective. 2) Ebay no longer allows the selling of GW gold and loot. The gold sellers needed to adapt, so here we are... 3) Anet now gives easier than ever access to the trial accounts that gold sellers are botting/abusing. Guess I'm just kind of summing up other posts.... |
I don't really know much about it though, But I doubt someone would pay someone to run a few accounts if he/she could do it for free.
quickmonty
Haven't had one PM me ........... yet.
Then again, I don't hang around in towns any longer then needed.
Then again, I don't hang around in towns any longer then needed.
truemyths
ok, I get spammed by a gold bot now and then.
Big Deal.
Are you guys kidding when you say one or two PMs really annoy you and wreck the game? Good grief, I'll bet you don't visit LA or Kamadan for all the spam there.
I'd rather have aNet get the marketplace up and running than chase a few gold ghosts.
Big Deal.
Are you guys kidding when you say one or two PMs really annoy you and wreck the game? Good grief, I'll bet you don't visit LA or Kamadan for all the spam there.
I'd rather have aNet get the marketplace up and running than chase a few gold ghosts.
Operative 14
I think the best way to handle it now is to put the bots name on the ignore list, and then take it off after 10 hours; I.E. the next day.
As far as this topic is concerned, I think the posters above me are correct. The reason why it has become more of an issue now is becuase of an amalgum of reasons.
First, they have easier access to trial keys. So it's easier then ever for them to get a hold of 'accounts' to access the game, farm, and send out PMs.
Second, the reporting system evolved from people actively having to take a screen shot and then e-mail it to Arenanet to simply typing a name and /reporting. It's a lot easier for gold sellers to get noticed and banned now, so they changed their operating procedure. Before, they'd just spam towns; anyone who was interested in their service knew where to go. That options out becuase of the above reasons. So now they have to actively search for buyers in the game. And if that means they have to take down names and PM people, it's pretty cheap to make a bot do that.
Whats funny is that the report feature as it is (limited to your specific district) has actually increased the amount of spam becuase you can't just avoid certain areas or turn of local. It affects you anywhere you go without having any recourse.
The solutions I can think of are to make;
-A toggle option to turn off PM's from trial accounts. You can turn it back on if a friend is trying the game
-Make the report feature go across the game, and just report the name instead of the time index of the specific district.
As far as this topic is concerned, I think the posters above me are correct. The reason why it has become more of an issue now is becuase of an amalgum of reasons.
First, they have easier access to trial keys. So it's easier then ever for them to get a hold of 'accounts' to access the game, farm, and send out PMs.
Second, the reporting system evolved from people actively having to take a screen shot and then e-mail it to Arenanet to simply typing a name and /reporting. It's a lot easier for gold sellers to get noticed and banned now, so they changed their operating procedure. Before, they'd just spam towns; anyone who was interested in their service knew where to go. That options out becuase of the above reasons. So now they have to actively search for buyers in the game. And if that means they have to take down names and PM people, it's pretty cheap to make a bot do that.
Whats funny is that the report feature as it is (limited to your specific district) has actually increased the amount of spam becuase you can't just avoid certain areas or turn of local. It affects you anywhere you go without having any recourse.
The solutions I can think of are to make;
-A toggle option to turn off PM's from trial accounts. You can turn it back on if a friend is trying the game
-Make the report feature go across the game, and just report the name instead of the time index of the specific district.
Artorius.Maximus
Quote:
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Originally Posted by thelessa
What is really annoying is, when you try and report them, they have changed districts already.
Sort of hit and run spam! |
Dobermann
Quote:
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Originally Posted by quickmonty
Haven't had one PM me ........... yet.
Then again, I don't hang around in towns any longer then needed. |
i have had about 16 yet (came back from cooking dinner and i was in GToB, my box was filled
)bvut yes it has incresed (for me anyway) and it is annoying
Zodiak
The ugamegold guys have been annoying the heck out of me and my friends. It seems that whatever district we change to, we get a pm my them and they dont seem to stay in a district long enough for you to report them.
I've been able to report 3 of them so far. They must be stopped.
I've been able to report 3 of them so far. They must be stopped.
October Jade
The spambots are more complex than I had imagined; there is some sort of repetitive agent that persists in whispering until you put them on the ignore list. I zoned into Kamadan and got one message, then went to my guild hall and continued to receive them from the same person for another ten minutes before I blocked him.
Diddy bow
Quote:
| As a continuation of last year’s “Territory and District UI Changes” that saw language district restrictions removed for America and Europe, we are now removing restrictions on travel to Asian language districts. |
Snow Bunny
Globalization in GW is bad.
Soon, we'll have lead paints in our creme brulees and chemicals in our Spiked Eggnogs.
Soon, we'll have lead paints in our creme brulees and chemicals in our Spiked Eggnogs.
MikeV
They're hitting it hard now because it's tax return time! 
What better to spend your new money on than more money. LOL!
What better to spend your new money on than more money. LOL!
HuntMaster Avatar
I wish anet would just remove the free trials. My ignore list is filled with gold spammers.
bigtime102
who cares? how does it negatively affect you? I get a pm when i enter a town, big deal, no one ruined my game. But to answer the question why now? Because Anet has to make money some how.
Rexion
solution... they spam you, you spam them :]
*the name and site is made up
Example:
From Geaf Hiofea: SELLING GOLD AT >>>WWW.AWESOMEPAWESOME.COM<<< BUY NOW! 10K FOR $1. BUY BUY BUY BUY!!
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
sometimes you get a reply from an alive gold spammer :O
it is all worth it when that happens lol.
*the name and site is made up
Example:
From Geaf Hiofea: SELLING GOLD AT >>>WWW.AWESOMEPAWESOME.COM<<< BUY NOW! 10K FOR $1. BUY BUY BUY BUY!!
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
To Geaf Hiofea: you no speek english?
sometimes you get a reply from an alive gold spammer :O
it is all worth it when that happens lol.
Gaile Gray
We have taken steps to elminate this problem. It will be a couple of weeks until the final dregs of this issue are resolved, but you will most likely see an appreciable improvement even within days.
With a combination of improved and greatly increased bot removal, and with a restriction on formerly-unrestricted trial or demo accounts, we believe this issue will soon be improved in a major way.
Our apologies for any inconvenience or irritation that you have experienced as a result of the advertising.
With a combination of improved and greatly increased bot removal, and with a restriction on formerly-unrestricted trial or demo accounts, we believe this issue will soon be improved in a major way.
Our apologies for any inconvenience or irritation that you have experienced as a result of the advertising.
Arduin
Ahhh...and the Guru People played on happily ever after 
Kyrein
and went off to whine about ursan....
Mordakai
If there has been an increase in Gold-selling spam, it's probably b/c profits are down for gold-sellers.
I can't imagine buying Gold for a game that is "ending" soon. (yes, I know GW is not technically ending, but as soon as GW2 comes out, I'll have no reason to play the original).
The question is: Will people buy gold right around the release of GW2, after we see what exactly we get from our Hall of Monuments?
I can't imagine buying Gold for a game that is "ending" soon. (yes, I know GW is not technically ending, but as soon as GW2 comes out, I'll have no reason to play the original).
The question is: Will people buy gold right around the release of GW2, after we see what exactly we get from our Hall of Monuments?
FalconDance
I just had my first experience with these morons. No sooner had I logged into an outpost (Shing Jea, in this instance) then I had a pm to buy gold at RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO. So I reported 'him' for both botting and for spamming. A couple minutes later, he winked out - and a few minutes after that, I got the same pm from 'him' again!
credit
Just give in to their demands and buy their 24/7 guaranteed safe deliveries.
Throck Mortin
I've always had this weird feeling that perhaps its the company purposely making fake sites and things to catch cheaters. Does that make sense to anyone else?
The only other example i could give is : A cop hosting a fake drug bust. Where they get you to agree to purchase said substance, tell you to go around the corner and police jump out from the bushes to arrest you.
Hooray and good job for who ever had the idea to make Cops a show.
The only other example i could give is : A cop hosting a fake drug bust. Where they get you to agree to purchase said substance, tell you to go around the corner and police jump out from the bushes to arrest you.
Hooray and good job for who ever had the idea to make Cops a show.
Biostem
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Throck Mortin
I've always had this weird feeling that perhaps its the company purposely making fake sites and things to catch cheaters. Does that make sense to anyone else?
The only other example i could give is : A cop hosting a fake drug bust. Where they get you to agree to purchase said substance, tell you to go around the corner and police jump out from the bushes to arrest you. Hooray and good job for who ever had the idea to make Cops a show. |
The problem w/ spammers is system-wide; you want to attract people to your game w/ free trials, but you open yourself up to abuse. There's the re-active way of dealing w/ spammers, through a report feature, then there's a pro-active way, by allowing players to block incoming messages from unfamiliar parties. Why ANet doesn't do the latter is beyond me...
Throck Mortin
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Biostem
I doubt ANet would even bother. They go after the gold sellers because they are making money via ANet's product, yet ANet doesn't see a dime of it. You can be sure that if there was an ANet-endorsed gold selling site, that they'd get a piece of the action, and probably encourage you to use it.
The problem w/ spammers is system-wide; you want to attract people to your game w/ free trials, but you open yourself up to abuse. There's the re-active way of dealing w/ spammers, through a report feature, then there's a pro-active way, by allowing players to block incoming messages from unfamiliar parties. Why ANet doesn't do the latter is beyond me... |
R.Shayne
If no one would buy from these guys they would go away. The sad part is that someone is buying it, otherwise they would have moved onto another game.
TheLichMonky
Quote:
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Originally Posted by pkodyssey
The game needs GM's. I know that many of us would volunteer a little time to wave the almighty ban stick.
|
1:"Give me your soul"
2:"No"
1:"Ill ban you if you dont"
2:"No"
1: /ban
Jaher Dal
I was chasing one around today in Shing Jea.
It was funny, and pointless, but they were running away from me! It had a few people chasing it around.
It stopped, waved, and started dancing, and I asked it if it sold tacos, and it said no, sadly.
It actually answered a few questions people in the dist asked, all while whispering to buy their stuff, before it popped off.
It's not annoying, but it gets to be when I am not in an outpost, and get those whispers.
I thought I was lucky, because my whole alliance had been complaining about getting those whispers for over a month, and I hadn't had gotten one, well till today!
It was funny, and pointless, but they were running away from me! It had a few people chasing it around.
It stopped, waved, and started dancing, and I asked it if it sold tacos, and it said no, sadly.
It actually answered a few questions people in the dist asked, all while whispering to buy their stuff, before it popped off.
It's not annoying, but it gets to be when I am not in an outpost, and get those whispers.
I thought I was lucky, because my whole alliance had been complaining about getting those whispers for over a month, and I hadn't had gotten one, well till today!
AuraofMana
Quote:
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Originally Posted by R.Shayne
If no one would buy from these guys they would go away. The sad part is that someone is buying it, otherwise they would have moved onto another game.
|
Siirius Black
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jaher Dal
I
I thought I was lucky, because my whole alliance had been complaining about getting those whispers for over a month, and I hadn't had gotten one, well till today! |
I guess you and me are lucky.
with 3 Million or so active accounts, it's impossible for them to hit everyone.