Free GW2 art book-survey - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

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Guest

Join Date: Jan 2007

13 Sep 2009 at 04:20 - 41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

I got the e-mail. I applied for the Test Krewe, but that seems to vary between people who also got the e-mail.

Has everyone who got the e-mail also signed up for GW2 newsletters?

never applied for the test garbage, but yea, I did sign up for GW2 newsletters (NA).

nvmu

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2008

13 Sep 2009 at 04:23 - 42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Percipience

It's legit. They don't even ask for personal info and they already have your email so what exactly are you all afraid of? No fraudster would bother creating an elaborate 30 min survey about the intricacies of Guild Wars. And btw how do you figure they coincidentally happened to target the email addresses of Guild Wars players or that they even know you play Guild Wars to begin with? And why exactly target Guild Wars players anyway instead of say bank accounts, credit cards, some type of money transfer/retail service? Must be the world's most inefficient scammer or the paranoia level is a little too high.

All it would take for instance is for this site to get hacked to get a large amount of emails for people that play gw, and it could very well be a front for a gold sellers website...

Percipience

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

13 Sep 2009 at 04:23 - 43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

I got the e-mail. I applied for the Test Krewe, but that seems to vary between people who also got the e-mail.

Has everyone who got the e-mail also signed up for GW2 newsletters?

My guess is they emailed those registered on PlayNC. I have a number of accounts but only 1 is registered and that happens to be the only one that received an email.

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

13 Sep 2009 at 04:25 - 44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

Has everyone who got the e-mail also signed up for GW2 newsletters?

Nope I didn't sign up for it. That's the only thing that's gotten me confused is where this e-mail list came from.
It's not tied to the test krewe (people who are and are not on it have gotten it).
It's not tied to the forum e-mail account.
It's not tied to the game account (some people got them on a separate address).

Has everybody who gotten the e-mail linked their GW account to an NCSoft account maybe?

Hell Raiser

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

[PHNX]

Mo/

13 Sep 2009 at 04:28 - 45

I got it (and I did not apply for the Test Krewe either) and took the survey, like others have said there's no personal questions, and no a keylogger can't just install and run itself in the background (unless you're using windows 95, IE 6, Adobe Flash 7 and/or absolutely no security software, in which case you deserve it.). Even if it could, someone's anti-virus would have picked it up. Oh and how the hell did they get all of our email addresses?

The email was actually sent from, and links to, surveymonkey.com, a trusted survey site. And the return address is from artefactgroup.com, a Seattle, WA based company (sound like any other company we know?).

So as far as safety goes, I would say everyone's fine. Whether or not it's an official ArenaNet survey could still be in doubt, however.

Ariena Najea

Silence and Motion

Join Date: Jul 2006

Buffalo NY

New Horizon [NH]

13 Sep 2009 at 04:31 - 46

I have not gotten this email, and I have a linked NCSoft account, and I additionally applied to the Test Krewe. I am also signed up for the newsletter.

I do not recall filling out any survey in 2008.

nvmu

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2008

13 Sep 2009 at 04:37 - 47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hell Raiser

Oh and how the hell did they get all of our email addresses?

The email was actually sent from, and links to, surveymonkey.com, a trusted survey site. And the return address is from artefactgroup.com, a Seattle, WA based company (sound like any other company we know?).

So as far as safety goes, I would say everyone's fine. Whether or not it's an official ArenaNet survey could still be in doubt, however.

As already mentioned, all they would have to do is for instance hack this site for the emails. I have never heard of surveymonkey before. Where the company is located is really not the issue, for all we know gold sellers websites are bassed out of Seattle, WA.

The gw, gw2 and ncsoft websites do not mention this survey, and no dev has commented on this yet, which makes this seem even more fishy. Additionally searching for artefactgroup on the ncsoft website comes up null.

KiyaKoreena

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

USA

Kirins of Holy Light

N/

13 Sep 2009 at 04:38 - 48

I received it, two guildies so far say they got it. My husband didn't. Only thing I could remotely think of like a survey was the 3rd year Anniversary Sweepstakes, I think it had some generic questions about how much you played on it, playing styles, and if you would answer more.

With all the hammering of "don't use your GW log in email for other things" and "don't go to anything not sent from Anet/NCSoft offering GW related stuff", it seems decidedly silly to contract out a company to do this and not notify the community in some way. But the Live Team is all out with the flu, arent they? Maybe it was on the to-do list.

refer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2009

US

13 Sep 2009 at 04:42 - 49

this thread reminds me- I totally forgot to sign up for test krewe! ouch!

Black Metal

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2009

N/

13 Sep 2009 at 04:50 - 50

so this is a big mystery, how this unsolicited outfit got so many players' emails. Would like to get a word in from Regina if Anet had anything to do with it.

Clone

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

13 Sep 2009 at 04:55 - 51

I got one of these emails. I didn't sign up for test krewe. It does seem a bit unusual...

Aba

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2006

Vancouver,Canada

13 Sep 2009 at 04:57 - 52

Is guru letting its e-mail info out to Anet???

nvmu

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2008

13 Sep 2009 at 05:05 - 53

NCsoft privacy policy

-----We use your Personal Information to provide you with NCsoft content and services that are tailored specifically to the profile you provide. In connection with the delivery of our services, we may share the Personal Information with third-party partners or vendors who help deliver or administer the services, but they are only permitted to use the information in connection with the delivery or administration of our services. For example, we share your credit card information with a third-party credit card processing company, but that company is not permitted to use the credit card or Personal Information for any purpose other than to fulfil the specific purchase transaction.

-----You may have the opportunity to 'opt-in' to having your information used for purposes not directly related to our site at the point where we ask for the information. For example, our registration form may include an 'opt-in' mechanism so only those users who wish to share Personal Information with companies other than NCsoft can authorize distribution of that information to third parties.

I do not recall "opt-in" ing to anything, only reason I have a ncsoft account is for the anniversary storage tab, perhaps there was something we had to accept to get the storage tab that resulted in this.

Saph

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2009

R/

13 Sep 2009 at 05:07 - 54

I havent gotten it, but wow. Still no yay or nay from an Anet employee? Its been a few hours, I'd have thought one would pop in and say something about whether this email is to be trusted or not.

Malla13

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2009

Angeldustrial Bonsai Muffins [FFS]

N/Me

13 Sep 2009 at 05:13 - 55

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvmu

NCsoft privacy policy
I do not recall "opt-in" ing to anything, only reason I have a ncsoft account is for the anniversary storage tab, perhaps there was something we had to accept to get the storage tab that resulted in this.

That's probably it. I haven't signed up for the test krewe and I've never filled out any kind of survey and I still got an email. So far the NCsoft account is the only thing I can think of that would link to me. I'm still deleting the thing whether it turns out to be legit or not. I don't need an art book all that badly.

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

13 Sep 2009 at 05:13 - 56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saph

I havent gotten it, but wow. Still no yay or nay from an Anet employee? Its been a few hours, I'd have thought one would pop in and say something about whether this email is to be trusted or not.

Well it is a Saturday.

Anyway, I haven't gotten it yet either. I sometimes get random email from NCsoft about Guild Wars. Don't recall answering a survey last year either.

Bargamer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

Rt/N

13 Sep 2009 at 05:21 - 57

Got this today, am not touching until we get Anet confirmation.

Narcissia

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2007

BC Canada

Guild With No [NAM???]

13 Sep 2009 at 05:28 - 58

i agree with many people, no touchy until someone from anet says they sent it

mrmango

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2006

Southern California

Charter Vanguard [CV]

Me/Rt

13 Sep 2009 at 06:09 - 59

Same. Got it, did Test Krewe, and will wait for Anet before doing it.

Devastating Flames

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2008

The Canthan Defenders

E/Mo

13 Sep 2009 at 06:33 - 60

i got it as well, seems to be ligit because the company in Seattle, and only certain ppl have gotten and it seems to be the ones who did a survey for a net a while back. and they used a first name as hello witch u gave to a net when u created account so a net would of had to of given out our e mails and first names. i have sent a e mail to a net to get someone to confirm it i will post when i get a response

i'd also like to know how this outside company got my name and email? if so y is anet releasing my info didn't we agree to a privacy agreement?

Devastating Flames

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2008

The Canthan Defenders

E/Mo

13 Sep 2009 at 06:50 - 61

gotten one reply back so far there escalating the question if it's real or not to senior staff i should know by morning post back asap

Aussie Boy

Alcoholic

Join Date: Mar 2007

Australia

W/

13 Sep 2009 at 06:53 - 62

I haven't got any emails for any of my 5 accounts separate ones too through plaync or from gwguru or Krewe or from the survey before
I feel so left out now.

Maybe cause i'm in Aussie land they don't want me to win and have to pay postage
all the way here

Axel Zinfandel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

Northeastern Ohio

LaZy

P/W

13 Sep 2009 at 06:53 - 63

I never got one :x I'm kind of curious what Anet has to say about this though :/

Gennadios

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2009

N/A

13 Sep 2009 at 07:04 - 64

Filled the survey out halfway before deciding to check this topic on Guru. At the very least the SurveyMonkey site is legit, so if it's a scam, it's likely a multi-step rocess.

I also vaguely remember some sort of survey in 2k8, but I don't think I'll be responding to any more e-mails until we get word from ANet.

Hyperventilate

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2007

Somewhere in California

I Gots A Crayon [Blue]

Me/Mo

13 Sep 2009 at 08:00 - 65

I got the same e-mail. I did sign up for the GW2 news letter, but as far as I can remember I did not do the 2008 survey. I may have, but it's not ringing any bells. I didn't fill it out, although I wasn't too suspicious of the website. I'd love to see how A-net handles this.

silavor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2007

Canada

Keepers Of Twilight

13 Sep 2009 at 08:32 - 66

I have a linked PlayNC account, which I used to get the free storage tab, yet I haven't gotten the email. Either I "lucked out" on this one, or the PlayNC link has nothing to do with it.
As for the survey in 08, I'm fairly certain I never took it, but I have a bad memory for something like that.

Miss Puddles

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

California

Shiverpeaks Search And Rescue [Lost]

Me/

13 Sep 2009 at 16:33 - 67

Even if it is a scam, the only info they're going to get is your email address (which they already have obviously) and your opinions of MMOs.
LOOK OUT Y'ALL.

Ebony Shadowheart

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

USA

SSW

E/

13 Sep 2009 at 16:55 - 68

I got one of these emails as well at the email for my main account. I didn't get one for my 2ndary account. I'm still waiting to hear back from Anet on this, as to whether its legit or not. I vaguely recall a survey a long while back, but I don't recall opting into anything afterward. It has been a while though.

nvmu

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2008

13 Sep 2009 at 17:00 - 69

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Puddles

Even if it is a scam, the only info they're going to get is your email address (which they already have obviously) and your opinions of MMOs.
LOOK OUT Y'ALL.

We are not worried about getting scammed, but being hacked or the like.

The only survey i recall filling out was for a chance to win eotn when it first came out, however that was directly on the gw website

Kalendraf

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2007

Cedar Rapids, IA

Charter Vanguard

W/E

13 Sep 2009 at 18:43 - 70

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Puddles

Even if it is a scam, the only info they're going to get is your email address (which they already have obviously) and your opinions of MMOs.
LOOK OUT Y'ALL.

Actually they don't necessarily "have" your e-mail. If you respond to the site using the supplied link, and each sent e-mail has a different code, then even accessing the webpage in the e-mail can confirm that e-mail is valid. In addition, it likely shows interest in Guild Wars, thus possibly confirming that your e-mail is a valid GW Account e-mail.

I read a recent article that shows that some of the modern brute force attacks on accounts are being done by knowing the e-mail address, and then simply randomly guessing passwords over a long period of time. Without knowing the e-mail address of the account, this is virtually impossible, but with with that information, it becomes much more feasible.

I don't know if this site is legit or not. But if I was a hacker that wanted to obtain a large number of GW e-mail addresses, this is exactly the kind of attack I might resort to trying.

Boogey Mancer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2008

Raven Alliance

N/

13 Sep 2009 at 20:29 - 71

wow you guys are freaking out over nothing there was nothing in that email or the link it takes you to that is downloaded to your computer i can say that for sure cause i use Google chrome it does not download anything with out asking you and the email did not say everyone would get the guild wars 2 art book

Quote:

Respondents who agree to a follow up interview after the survey will receive the book. If you are selected, we will inform you via e-mail within 24-48 hours of completing the survey with an invitation including time and dates.

Ackernackt

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2007

Midnight Saints

A/Me

13 Sep 2009 at 21:44 - 72

As someone else posted, the company appears (at least online) to exist. My email said it was from "kevin". There's a bio for a Kevin Wong on their site who works in their Research department (the email has a signiture from the Research dpt.). On Kevin's bio page there's a link to his twitter page which has this as a post from the 12th:

grateful 4 feedback that i'm getting helps make the process better. getting ready 2 launch a 40k+ person survey whilst prepping for a shoot!
2:28 AM Sep 12th from TweetDeck

While this doesn't say it's the GW survey, it does at least, in my mind, show more evidence that the survey is probably legit. If someone were faking all this, they sure went through a lot of trouble to make a fake site, bios, tweets, and a survey. But if you're still in doubt...don't fill it out. It'll just give me a better chance to get the book! lol

Silverhand

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2007

Virtual Benchwarmers [VB]

13 Sep 2009 at 22:14 - 73

i just now got this email today
still curious as to how they got my email as i didnt apply for test krewe or take any other surveys
however i do have a linked plaync account

Kasmira

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2005

TGD

Mo/W

13 Sep 2009 at 22:42 - 74

I got it today, too. I didn't fill out though. Not because I was concerned it was going to steal info, but because I saw no point, really. You only get the art book if they call you and talk to them for an hour.
No thanks.

Floreum

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2007

Rt/R

13 Sep 2009 at 22:43 - 75

Got this, not part of test krewe, but did sometime ago sign up for the Official Guild Wars newsletter which if I recall also said they'd email surveys out. And to be sure, I also signed up for the newsletter on Guild Wars 2's site.
I was a little suspicious at first, but I tried it. It does not ask for your account info, it's clean.

netniwk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2005

Bellgium

W/E

13 Sep 2009 at 23:10 - 76

confirmed as real deal @ GWG2

http://www.guildwars2guru.com/forum/...2-t1169p3.html

ArlanKels

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2009

13 Sep 2009 at 23:51 - 77

I did not get this, and I'm on all of their newsletters/etc thingies, have had the game for years.

Very random..?

Chicken of the Seas

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

California, USA

Vulpes Velox [Fox]

Me/

13 Sep 2009 at 23:53 - 78

For the lazy:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Kerstein

I can assure you that this is not a scam but a legit survey conducted in our name. Survey monkey is s widely used tool.

I apologize for the confusion that might have been caused by the fact that this was not coming from an ArenaNet mail address.

On the other hand, it is a good thing that you guys stay vigilant

Now I can QQ that I haven't gotten an email yet!

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

13 Sep 2009 at 23:58 - 79

Yep, Martin now confirms it is real.
Now, no reason to insult people for being cautious or gloat. Like I said, its not like there was an imminent deadline, so we might as well wait all of 24 hours to find out if it was safe. Now that we have, off to fill out the survey.

El Presidente

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Lookout Post #1, Andes Mountains

Custer Was Ganked [7th]

R/

14 Sep 2009 at 01:47 - 80

Quote:

Originally Posted by netniwk

confirmed as real deal @ GWG2

http://www.guildwars2guru.com/forum/...2-t1169p3.html

Thanks for the info. Just completed it and hope for the follow up.