A word of warning to CoF runners.

Lord Sojar

Lord Sojar

The Fallen One

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oblivion

Irrelevant

Mo/Me

I have had enough of a particular scammer. I realized that he has now scammed myself and 6 other of my friends within the past week. He is a german player in american districts. He will join your CoF run, and near the end, will go back to the beginning of the 3rd lvl and pick up all the unbound drops. He will then go AFK and wait for you all to leave before getting the final chest. He will not say a word after the first section of lvl3.

I do not care if we are not allowed to post in game names. The hell with that policy. That rule shouldn't apply to people who get away with this time and time again and the community has no way of knowing about these chronic scammers and how terrible they are. ArenaNet/PlayNC take no action against in game scams, which is a pity.

If you are a CoF 600 monk or smiter, please take note of this name:

We still don't allow names.
Mod Edit: If you have an issue with forum policy, please either post in Site Feedback forum, or PM Inde. Commentary about mod action's or rules is not allowed

He is a known scammer, and he will scam you time and time again, perhaps under different names (however, all 6 of my friends and myself have seen him under the above name). People need to be aware of foul people like this, who lie and steal from innocent people just trying to offer a legit service in the game to make some gold. This is shameful, and it is absolutely pathetic that Arenanet/PlayNC ignore this type of offense. This should be a bannable offense, but these scammers don't receive so much as a slap on the wrist. This laissez-faire approach to scamming has got to go.

ArenaNet needs to add a tab into the report box for scamming and have it work just like the Leeching system (X number of teammates must report the same person for them to be declared a scammer)

KamikazeChicken

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Mo/

Go back to the start, kill him, res him, get him 60% dp, and leave. He'll now be kicked to the outpost.

dunky_g

dunky_g

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

[SNOW]

all scammers fail.

Especially if its for like 2k haha

Lord Sojar

Lord Sojar

The Fallen One

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oblivion

Irrelevant

Mo/Me

No, on a side of good news. I was intelligent. I kept a group of plague zombies and bone fiends nearest the door. My team all left leaving just he and I. I acted as if I was AFK, and when I saw him coming, I aggroed that group. He knew that if he came near enough, they would kill him. So he stood near entrance. He forgot, however, that the flame get was right under him. It went off and he died instantly! lolz!

I then said, "Well GG scammmer, I will be afk 36 hrs, brb"

He raged. But still, people need to know about this vile people, and ANET's laissez-faire approach to this issue. Shame on the people, but shame on ANET/PlayNC also.

Ghostcell

Ghostcell

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2006

=VX9=

N/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by dunky_g
all scammers fail.

Especially if its for like 2k haha
/agree 12CHARSOMGCAPSLOCKBBQ!

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by KamikazeChicken
Go back to the start, kill him, res him, get him 60% dp, and leave. He'll now be kicked to the outpost.
he can't actually kill him if there are no enemies there to do it. you should have cleared the area already so it sounds like he's pretty much free to find a safe spot and just stand there.

you could let everyone know at the beginning of the run that, unless you receive payment from everyone, you will not be killing murakai but will return all gold should that happen, and explain why.

that's the only option i see.

joshuarodger

joshuarodger

Unbanned

Join Date: Jan 2008

Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] -- IGN: Swirly

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rahja the Thief
No, on a side of good news. I was intelligent. I kept a group of plague zombies and bone fiends nearest the door. My team all left leaving just he and I. I acted as if I was AFK, and when I saw him coming, I aggroed that group. He knew that if he came near enough, they would kill him. So he stood near entrance. He forgot, however, that the flame get was right under him. It went off and he died instantly! lolz!

I then said, "Well GG scammmer, I will be afk 36 hrs, brb"

He raged. But still, people need to know about this vile people, and ANET's laissez-faire approach to this issue. Shame on the people, but shame on ANET/PlayNC also.
haha. nice.

you posted while i was typing.

KamikazeChicken

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by joshuarodger
he can't actually kill him if there are no enemies there to do it.
If he goes all the way back to the start, there are enemies that can kill him, at least I don't know of anybody that clears everything at the start.

Witchblade

Witchblade

Polar Bear Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

just H/H it, i dont need a punk to run CoF Hm

R.Shayne

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

At one time I tolerated scammers on CoF runs, but not anymore. After giving everyones 2k back several times I realized that I can make more gold by just using my two computer / accounts to farm CoF and other dungeons by myself. That means another runner is gone and if you haven't notice good runners are in short supply so the scammers have ruined it for all players.

A good way to avoid dealing with scammer is don't run on the weekends. If the weekend is the only good time for you to run then do it in the morning hours.

I can understand ANET stand on scammers because it could to easily be abused by people wishing to grief others and would probably tripple the work load of ANET.

I haven't tried this but can you report someone for leeching on a CoF run?

Chushingura

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

ANet doesn't care about any person who gets scammed 1k 2k or other pitiful amounts. Why would they bother with such low amounts when they have bigger priorities? They MIGHT take action against those who scam for say 50k, 100k, 100k + xx, but most of those scams are trade ones. And it's always the seller's or buyer's fault for NOT looking carefully at trade windows or knowing the market prices for such items.

Getting scammed running people can't and will not be helped. There's no guarantee for either side. Even screenshots don't give any real proof, hence, Anet won't give a crap.

You can say it's the principle blah blah, but no one, including Anet, cares about that when it comes to such chump change of money.

Just remember the duping plots. If I had say, duped 1000 ectos, I would still have evaded the banstick, because Anet only banned those who duped 109384284392075 armbraces and minipets. These people were idiots. If you really want to exploit something, exploit the things that authorities are least to suspect, not the obvious treasures. It's like why counterfeit the 100 dollar bill? Counterfeit the 1 dollar bill. Who the heck would suspect the dollar bill? lol

maraxusofk

maraxusofk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

San Francisco, UC Berkeley

International District [id多], In Soviet Russia Altar Caps You [CCCP], LOL at [eF]

W/

attention please: because anet never intended any single person to be able to do a dungoen solo (hence running) u are in danger of having actions taken against u for abusing a bug just like double ram! /endsarcasm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ctb
Huh. Look at that. More contextual clues that a thinking human being with the capacity for rational thought can evaluate to think "gee... I'll bet THIS is intended behavior, and THIS probably isn't".

I think it's silly that anyone is up in arms and calling for bans, but it was still abuse. They abused a bug, and it was obviously a bug to anybody with any capacity for rational thinking.

Lord Sojar

Lord Sojar

The Fallen One

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oblivion

Irrelevant

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chushingura
ANet doesn't care about any person who gets scammed 1k 2k or other pitiful amounts. Why would they bother with such low amounts when they have bigger priorities? They MIGHT take action against those who scam for say 50k, 100k, 100k + xx, but most of those scams are trade ones. And it's always the seller's or buyer's fault for NOT looking carefully at trade windows or knowing the market prices for such items.

Getting scammed running people can't and will not be helped. There's no guarantee for either side. Even screenshots don't give any real proof, hence, Anet won't give a crap.

You can say it's the principle blah blah, but no one, including Anet, cares about that when it comes to such chump change of money.

Just remember the duping plots. If I had say, duped 1000 ectos, I would still have evaded the banstick, because Anet only banned those who duped 109384284392075 armbraces and minipets. These people were idiots. If you really want to exploit something, exploit the things that authorities are least to suspect, not the obvious treasures. It's like why counterfeit the 100 dollar bill? Counterfeit the 1 dollar bill. Who the heck would suspect the dollar bill? lol
Once again, in the wake of ignorance, I will point out the fact that the amount doesn't matter. There needs to be a tab added so if the team reports them for scamming the issues is investigated. Typically the rest of the team is angered by the scammer. If they added a Scamming tab, this issue would be resolved. Don't be ignorant and only look at the "big" issues. The amount doesn't matter, it, AGAIN, is the fact that people like this do this all day long in order to build up huge sums of money because they leech off others time and energy. The amount is irrelevant... do not make me repeat myself again.

Quote:
Originally Posted by maraxusofk
attention please: because anet never intended any single person to be able to do a dungoen solo (hence running) u are in danger of having actions taken against u for abusing a bug.
You cannot be serious... LOLOLOL. Soloing is a mainstay of the game. There is no bug you twit, it is simple skill synergy. Thank Protective spirit and Spriit bond for being two of the most game breaking skills in the game. And it isn't solo, it is a two man party (or you + a hero) Nice attempt to troll though, /applause.

October Jade

October Jade

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

drifting between Indiana and NorCal

Rahja has been here a while, and I've always thought he seemed like a pretty classy guy. This thread, on the other hand, is full of lame.

I understand that leechers and other scum of the GW universe incite great ire. The greater problem is that vigilante blacklisting is baed. Relatively few people read these forums in the first place, and it would be too easy to ruin other players' credibility over insignificant slights. This is the internet after all; petty grudges can last a long time.

Yes, a /report feature for scamming would be helpful. I don't foresee it existing in this generation of GW though. There are probably too many other issues of higher precedence, and even if there aren't, ANet will tell us that there are.

R.Shayne

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by maraxusofk
attention please: because anet never intended any single person to be able to do a dungoen solo (hence running) u are in danger of having actions taken against u for abusing a bug.
You can't do that dungeon solo, you have to have a smiter.

I could be wrong but I think I read somewhere that one of the developers had something to do with creating the 600 / Smite build. No matter who created ANET was well aware of the 600 / Smite build and how to counter it. I really believe ANET set up the CoF dungeon just so people could have more money for all the crap they are expected to buy with the release of Eye of the North’s Hall of Monuments and the large amount of titles.

As far as exploiting a bug I want to know what bug would that be that we are exploiting. Spirit Bond has been fixed and made the run easier. ANET fixed backfire and caused a drastic reduction in the number of runners or runners that can get pass the first level. If they wanted to kill the runs the could easily do this by updating a few healer builds used by the undead or give Murakai a remove enchantment (of course that means the runners would have to learn to echo spell breaker not really a big deal).

If you are saying clearing an area with only two people is a bug what about all those people that challenge themselves by using less than full party just to see if they can do it?

Shayne Hawke

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

Suppose my name were the one you were targeting. I could grab a new character, set my status to Offline, and continue doing it again.

I totally agree with you that ANet doesn't do much against these low key scammers that are probably more common than people think. What people are able to do themselves to report the issue is not even close to how much a person can do to save themselves from being touched.

Skizzaar

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jun 2007

Carlisle, PA United States Of America

The Celestial Order of Light[CooL]

D/

I stopped running that for pugs for the most part as well. Too many Scammers so stick to guildies and allies. =)

fusa

fusa

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rahja the Thief
IArenaNet needs to add a tab into the report box for scamming and have it work just like the Leeching system (X number of teammates must report the same person for them to be declared a scammer)
You can send a report through the PlayNC site. I know that scammers are banned for trading scams, but think I remember that scams involving services aren't punished. Think this was since its hard to tell exactly what was to be done and how and when payment was to be made. But I agree with Rahja that A-net really doesn't seem to care about the quality of its playerbase or seem to want to do anything to improve it.
A couple of other things that could be done is a vote system to kick party members (with their drops being locked or disappear after kick) Another could be an online reputation system, more you're banned the worse of a flag you get. (Banned once your character name is yellow instead of green, twice color is orange, etc)

Malice Black

Site Legend

Join Date: Oct 2005

A report tab for scammers would be abused.

Powerful White Man

Powerful White Man

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malice Black
A report tab for scammers would be abused.
I say if a player is stupid enough to get scammed, then good.

Lord Sojar

Lord Sojar

The Fallen One

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oblivion

Irrelevant

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by fusa
You can send a report through the PlayNC site. I know that scammers are banned for trading scams, but think I remember that scams involving services aren't punished. Think this was since its hard to tell exactly what was to be done and how and when payment was to be made. But I agree with Rahja that A-net really doesn't seem to care about the quality of its playerbase or seem to want to do anything to improve it.
A couple of other things that could be done is a vote system to kick party members (with their drops being locked or disappear after kick) Another could be an online reputation system, more you're banned the worse of a flag you get. (Banned once your character name is yellow instead of green, twice color is orange, etc)
reporting through the PlayNC site has several issues:

1). They ignore you.
2). The "GM"s that provide the "support" are a bunch of worthless invertebrates who spam their automated responses in hopes you will just give up.
3). The process is painstaking, tedious, and disorganzied.
4). You might not even get a reply.
5). Even if you do get a reply, they don't care about such "petty" issues.
6). They close your report without doing follow up.

PlayNC is the biggest pile of feces I have ever seen when it comes to player "support." For them to even call the service they provide support is almost a blatant lie.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Powerful White Man
I say if a player is stupid enough to get scammed, then good.
Right, everyone knows exactly who scammers are and can pinpoint them just be smelling them. I have been playing this game longer than you. That doesn't say much for your argument does it? Especially coming from a lowly Academy Page, someone who just joined this month. You might want to be careful whose toes you step on around here bub.

VitisVinifera

VitisVinifera

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2005

Northern California

HoTR

N/Me

Anyways, I stopped charging, and just do it by myself. Wish there was a way to report these people.

And Powerful White Man: how do you propose not getting scammed by non-paying afkers? Do you have a special mental ability to identify these people you'd like to share?

Malice Black

Site Legend

Join Date: Oct 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Powerful White Man
I say if a player is stupid enough to get scammed, then good.
I agree when it comes to people who get caught out by the "drop it on the ground, and I'll dupe it", but scamming for a measly few k is just...sad.

kade

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

Currently residing in ToA dis 1

Mo/

forgive my ignorance, whats cof stand for?

Lord Sojar

Lord Sojar

The Fallen One

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oblivion

Irrelevant

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malice Black
I agree when it comes to people who get caught out by the "drop it on the ground, and I'll dupe it", but scamming for a measly few k is just...sad.
It really is sad and pathetic, that I will agree with. I really didn't care one bit about the 2k. I mean, walk outside, kill 20 creatures. Done, 2k.

But, it the idea that after 3 years, these players still get away with the same old bullcrap, and ArenaNet/PlayNC have done nothing to damper their thievery.

If you feel someone is in breach of the rules, please use the "Report a Bad Post" link, or PM a forum mod or admin. Public commentary about this will not be accepted

Dr Strangelove

Dr Strangelove

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Dec 2005

Wasting away again in Margaritaville

[HOTR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malice Black
A report tab for scammers would be abused.
It's a good thing no one abuses the report function for other tabs.

kratimas

kratimas

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Order of the Setting Sun

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by maraxusofk
attention please: because anet never intended any single person to be able to do a dungoen solo (hence running) u are in danger of having actions taken against u for abusing a bug.
Please show my anywhere or anything that says "ANet never intended any single person to be able to do a dungoen solo."

Thanks

R.Shayne

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Oct 2007

Here is a pick I took of my last run.



I am pretty sure scammers know they are safe and nothing can be done about them, the funny part is that there was two scammers in this group with one going AFK at the beginning of the level. Finished the run and told everyone this would be my last run ever and to thank the scammer on the way out.

Yuhe Ji

Yuhe Ji

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2008

Los Angeles

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by kade
forgive my ignorance, whats cof stand for?
Cathedral of Flames. The quest is called Temple of the Damned and can be taken at Doomlore Shrine.

wraithe

Academy Page

Join Date: Feb 2008

N/Me

a run i was on last week..the runner had a scammer..so he kept a group alive in murakais room..asked everyone to back up near entrance and pulled that group to End Chest then left..if i recall the group didnt go back to their original position..

so scammer comes to get chest..to his surprise he is dead before he can open..lol

2k for run
1.5k reward
sale of drops
hidden treasures

scammers are stupid..

guolisong

guolisong

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

N/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by R.Shayne
Here is a pick I took of my last run.



I am pretty sure scammers know they are safe and nothing can be done about them, the funny part is that there was two scammers in this group with one going AFK at the beginning of the level. Finished the run and told everyone this would be my last run ever and to thank the scammer on the way out.
One of the reasons I preferred ATFH run over CoF run, same payment but less loss for the runner if he/she gets scammed. When I do runs I request payment either ahead of the time or half now, never gotten a scammer ever since. However, I did get a bunch of people telling me they won't pay anything ahead of the time, which imo is pathetic if you don't even want to pay half why should I on the other hand trust you.

Why would people scam anyways?
Satisfaction from oh I took advantage of that moment?

Master Sword Keeper

Master Sword Keeper

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Dead Isle

Farmers Of Woe [FoW]

W/

hmmm sounds like we're all suckers to our own selves herre...

Whilst i stand at my workstation eating my gravy and tato I look onwards to the simple lives of our CoF Runners....

In noting this, I too dual run CoF with my smiter and beautiful woman that i know and we've never had a scammer join our team, Or maybe it's the fact if they try to scam we brg the house down on them, or i can make them leave on DEMAND. No i don't press a button and they dissappear...it'd be nice... Nah

seriously..You want a scammer to leave or force them to pay you, make sure the rest of the team knows what you and your partner are doing. If you do it right, The scammers or would-be scammers will leave and you'll be free to continue on with LOYAL party members.

Make your words count and dont use swearwords... Sheesh. GL

kobey

kobey

GW Retiree

Join Date: Nov 2005

Sg Unknown [KATE]

W/

I do sympathize with the OP in this sort of scamming case. Nothing much you can do to prevent yourself from getting hit by the scammer. Solutions to this problem either pose other more severe problems or aren't workable.

Think the best you can do is either to run only regular/known customers, guildies/friends or just remembed the scammers and NEVER get scammed twice by the same scammer. Thats the best solution I can think of.

maraxusofk

maraxusofk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

San Francisco, UC Berkeley

International District [id多], In Soviet Russia Altar Caps You [CCCP], LOL at [eF]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rahja the Thief
You cannot be serious... LOLOLOL. Soloing is a mainstay of the game. There is no bug you twit, it is simple skill synergy. Thank Protective spirit and Spriit bond for being two of the most game breaking skills in the game. And it isn't solo, it is a two man party (or you + a hero) Nice attempt to troll though, /applause.
my bad guess i shoulda been more specific in my sarcasm. i was trying to speak in the same vein as the people calling double ram game breaking abuse, hence quotes. oops. edited previous post to be more clear.

korcan

korcan

noobalicious

Join Date: Jun 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rahja the Thief
Once again, in the wake of ignorance, I will point out the fact that the amount doesn't matter. There needs to be a tab added so if the team reports them for scamming the issues is investigated. Typically the rest of the team is angered by the scammer. If they added a Scamming tab, this issue would be resolved. Don't be ignorant and only look at the "big" issues. The amount doesn't matter, it, AGAIN, is the fact that people like this do this all day long in order to build up huge sums of money because they leech off others time and energy. The amount is irrelevant... do not make me repeat myself again.
"in the wake of ignorance", i'll tell you why your scamming tab idea is chalk-full of fail. typically, "scammers" usually only end up pissing off 1 person in a group - the individual performing the service. having said that, how many people in your CoF run do you think would actually use your scamming tab to report a scammer? 1? maybe 2 people?

players that provide services should know that there is an inherent risk involved. if you can't handle the heat, get the f out the kitchen.

HawkofStorms

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by korcan
"in the wake of ignorance", i'll tell you why your scamming tab idea is chalk-full of fail. typically, "scammers" usually only end up pissing off 1 person in a group - the individual performing the service. having said that, how many people in your CoF run do you think would actually use your scamming tab to report a scammer? 1? maybe 2 people?

players that provide services should know that there is an inherent risk involved. if you can't handle the heat, get the f out the kitchen.
Umm... you do realize that other then the leacher command in PvP (which is automated) all other /reports do not require a majority opinion, or even multiple, repeated reportings.
/a.net supposedly hand checks all reports (although I'm sure there is some sort of screening process where more reports from more random people = higher priority). The "it doesn't affect many people" arguement is a bad one. It is the same stuff used to defend "victimless" crime like shoplifting and drug abuse.

Although I agree that a /scammer function on report would be a bad idea. Too many idiots think that trying to buy low and sell high/play the market for a couple a plat per trade is "scamming." You freakin' agreed to the set price.

Shadowfox1125

Shadowfox1125

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2005

PST

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Witchblade
just H/H it, i dont need a punk to run CoF Hm
You run this because it's profitable, more so for the runners, but it's still profitable for the run-ees. You pay 2k for the run while the quest rewards you with 1.5k. Of course then you have drops, hidden treasures, locked chest, etc.

Mod Edit: Publically trying to bypass the rules is not allowed.

pamelf

pamelf

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

Australia

Lost Templars [LoTe]

Me/Mo

Running isn't part of the game...it's not a dupe, it's not even technically a scam. All runners take a risk when they run, (and frankly i think it's ludicrous the amounts they charge sometimes. Which is only one of the many reasons i never get run.) If you can start reporting people for leeching during runs, you should also be able to report exploitative runners.

There's nothing i think that Anet should do about this issue at all since it's a player created issue, and nothing that is actually part of the game dynamic.

RedNova88

RedNova88

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2007

Behind you!

W/

Scammers stop at nothing to do what they do. It doesn't matter if it's 500g or 10k. The scammer is just out to make someone's day harder. Either that or they're morons and actually think that measly 2k is worth it. Spread his name around and before you know it he's on every persons ignore list and is basically blacklisted.

xshadowwolfx

xshadowwolfx

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

California | Ascalon

Mo/

why is this a scam again? What is he scamming you of? Sorry Im not to familiar of CoF runs.