Scamming Loophole - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Invalid Shadow

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2009

Me/

30 Dec 2009 at 18:43 - 1

Judging by some of the comments, I think some people need to read before replying, I never said I got scammed, I did check the items, just coming across the scam, made me want to warn others, but ty everybody else for sensible replies.

As for the person on the second page who admits to scamming people, hopefully your time will come soon enough and you will be banned..

How is it that such a blatent scam can be played out, today a player offered me 6 stacks of wintersday gifts for 60 ectos, upon them submitting the stacks of gifts, I checked them and they had exactly the same display skin as wintersday gifts, luckily I checked title and turns out they were Special presents (quest item), how is it that players can even put these into the trade window, its a massive fault that needs dealing with fast. I guess not until next year atleast now though.

Scammers take advantage of anything and everything and this must seem to good to be true to them.

Anyway just thought I would forwarn the community, I have since got some of the gifts by accepting the quest and then abandoning it, I attempted to trade them to my second account and sure enough the items were traded...

Anyway just be careful, and fingers crossed this is resolved by next year........

Kenzo Skunk

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2009

30 Dec 2009 at 18:49 - 2

Thanks dude. Good to know this.

Reformed

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2009

30 Dec 2009 at 18:50 - 3

The fact that someone was willing to sell you stacks for the paltry sum of 10e/ea didn't set off red flags immediately? If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.

Tullzinski

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2006

Trying to stay out of Ryuk's Death Note

N/R

30 Dec 2009 at 18:55 - 4

same scam every year.....

Dzjudz

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz

30 Dec 2009 at 19:22 - 5

Umm, this is the same for every item that shares its icon with another item.

ElinoraNeSangre

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Mar 2006

Near Seattle, WA

Talionis De Cineris [EXUR]

N/Me

30 Dec 2009 at 20:37 - 6

Best policy is to always mouse over the item. Always. It's up to the buyer to make sure that they're getting what they're supposed to be getting, because frankly, people are jerks and will try to scam other people. That's not going to change. Diligence is about the only option.

Yasmine

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2007

The Lost Souls Of Jugdement [KJCD]

30 Dec 2009 at 20:46 - 7

There are a lot of items sharing the same icon (for example: lilac eyes with rubies, ice with sapphires, destroyer cores with molten hearts, frigid heart, glowing heart, and roaring ether hearts, kegs of ale with 50 uses with kegs of ale with 1 use remaining, etc). The buyer/seller should always check what is being place it trade with care.

JimmyNeutron

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2007

30 Dec 2009 at 20:47 - 8

No one ever told you?

RTFM!!!!!! aka Read The FINE Manual or more common one...Read The F*king Manual

meaning read instead of ass-u-me

its the right item just because it look like the right item.

Turk The Legendary

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2009

Fissure of Woe

Club of A Thousand Pandas [LOD???]

W/

30 Dec 2009 at 20:54 - 9

well if somebody doesnt check the items that they are spending 60e for in the first place you deserve to be scammed. But thanks for the heads up

Zodiac Meteor

Imma Firin Mah Rojway!

Join Date: Aug 2008

At the Mac Store laughing at people that walk out with anything.

E/Mo

30 Dec 2009 at 20:55 - 10

It's not just an in game scam either. G.I. Joe for the 360 is a common scam and unless you read a review your down $60.

The worst scamming loophole is the Frozen Ecto. When it first came out there was a lot of problems with players being scammed.

snowman relic

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2009

your just a meatsheild to me

N/Mo

30 Dec 2009 at 21:01 - 11

oki just got hit by this and was about to post a warning on guru i only lost
20k i know its not a big deal but ive never actually seen these before were do u get them?

Kumu Honua

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2008

30 Dec 2009 at 21:05 - 12

When something like this happens simply take a screenshot of all applicable information. Agreed upon exchange details. The trade window with the obviously scamming materials.

Submit the details and screenshots to the web support. Don't bother with /report as that doesn't ever do anything.

They will research and verify that they tried to scam you and suspend their account. If it happens enough, they will be banned.

Nothing more satisfying than getting a response from support that says they suspended that persons account...

Dzjudz

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz

30 Dec 2009 at 22:30 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowman relic

ive never actually seen these before were do u get them?

If you don't know something ingame, try typing /wiki <term you are looking for>. Try typing:

/wiki special present

Div

I like yumy food!

Join Date: Jan 2006

Where I can eat yumy food

Dead Alley [dR]

Mo/R

30 Dec 2009 at 23:12 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Invalid Shadow

how is it that players can even put these into the trade window, its a massive fault that needs dealing with fast.

It's not exactly a massive fault. People used to trade quest items a lot (and I guess some people still do). That's why it was programmed so that people can trade quest items.

Patrisha MacFarlane

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2009

Island Nation of Callisea

House Caribdus

Me/N

30 Dec 2009 at 23:30 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Div

It's not exactly a massive fault. People used to trade quest items a lot (and I guess some people still do). That's why it was programmed so that people can trade quest items.

WTS Althea's Ashes!!

Oh memories....

Remember when Frozen Ectos first came out? A bunch of knuckleheads convinced an entire legion of additional knuckleheads that frozen ectos would turn into real ectos at the end of Wintersday that they were all gonna be rich rich rich! Frozen ecto sales skyrocketted!

I agree with those above, check yourself before you wreck yourself and if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

snowman relic

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2009

your just a meatsheild to me

N/Mo

30 Dec 2009 at 23:41 - 16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrisha MacFarlane

WTS Althea's Ashes!!

Oh memories....

Remember when Frozen Ectos first came out? A bunch of knuckleheads convinced an entire legion of additional knuckleheads that frozen ectos would turn into real ectos at the end of Wintersday that they were all gonna be rich rich rich! Frozen ecto sales skyrocketted!

I agree with those above, check yourself before you wreck yourself and if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

lol the memories but what i heard was that if dawayna won wed get ectos if grenth won wed have to wait till after he left for them to change

Patrisha MacFarlane

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2009

Island Nation of Callisea

House Caribdus

Me/N

30 Dec 2009 at 23:55 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowman relic

lol the memories but what i heard was that if dawayna won wed get ectos if grenth won wed have to wait till after he left for them to change

LAWL!! It's a conspiracy I tells you! A CONSPIRACY!

New rumor::: This year, all the gifts I give out during my Giveaway turn into mini-jingle bears at 23:59:59 on the 2nd of Jan.

snowman relic

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2009

your just a meatsheild to me

N/Mo

31 Dec 2009 at 00:07 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrisha MacFarlane

LAWL!! It's a conspiracy I tells you! A CONSPIRACY!

New rumor::: This year, all the gifts I give out during my Giveaway turn into mini-jingle bears at 23:59:59 on the 2nd of Jan.

lol patrisha i want all ur gifts then i want another bear or you kno a couple hundred more wouldent be a problem =P

bsoltan

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2005

UK

[SoF]

31 Dec 2009 at 00:12 - 19

Have a good read of this wiki article:

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Scam

It covers most of the well known scams like the one you mentioned and the best way to avoid them.

Trub

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2006

Sitting in the guildhall, watching the wallows frolic.

Trinity of the ascended [SMS]+[Koss]+[TAM]=[ToA]

31 Dec 2009 at 00:14 - 20

hmmmm...
Always read the item description before you trade with someone guys.
A little responsibility for ourselves....... goes a long way.

Braxton619

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2008

A/W

31 Dec 2009 at 01:36 - 21

Before you trade something that big, always check the item. This is what I do: WTB, Someone pings how much they want for it, I get the gold (exact amount) out of the storage, and then trade them. I x2 check on small purchases and x4 check on big purchases. Using this method, I almost never get scammed (I think 2 years ago I got scammed).

Also if someone says they will sell something for 200k and you pay 2 times, never fall for it. Always give them ectoplasm instead in 1 trade.

People who are selling guild halls will scam you most of the time. The most popular is he will invite you to the GH. He will say pay before your leader. You pay and then you get kicked. When you PM him, he will be on ignore. That is a smart way to scam for the scammer... then you can't type /report on him. Also it is against the rules to sell guild halls. ANET will not help you there. Trust me, this happened to me before (in my noob days).

If buying expensive things, always check the price before you buy it (PC on Guru is best, trusting random people in kamadan is not a good idea). For example, if something normally cost 30e and they sell it to you for 50e... they ripped you off.

Thats all I can think of right now involving buying things. Have a great day!

animal fighter

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2009

buying shields w/ armor vs animals

Animal Fightas Inc [?????????]

31 Dec 2009 at 03:12 - 22

ok so i was trying to buy a mini polar bear bc i dont have a bear animal yet and da panda is too rich for me

anyways

some guy put up a winter present and i say this isnt a bear

but he say that i have a chance of getting a bear out of it

so i check wiki but it say nothing about a bear

but i thought he knew what he was doing since he had the glow hands and a polar animal

so i buy the winter present for 15k and some guy tell me later that u cant get them from the present

byteme!

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

On Earth

W/P

31 Dec 2009 at 05:01 - 23

There's a sucker born every minute.

AngelWJedi

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2008

orlando,florida

Society of Souls [Argh]

Rt/E

31 Dec 2009 at 07:11 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braxton619

Before you trade something that big, always check the item. This is what I do: WTB, Someone pings how much they want for it, I get the gold (exact amount) out of the storage, and then trade them. I x2 check on small purchases and x4 check on big purchases. Using this method, I almost never get scammed (I think 2 years ago I got scammed).

Also if someone says they will sell something for 200k and you pay 2 times, never fall for it. Always give them ectoplasm instead in 1 trade.

People who are selling guild halls will scam you most of the time. The most popular is he will invite you to the GH. He will say pay before your leader. You pay and then you get kicked. When you PM him, he will be on ignore. That is a smart way to scam for the scammer... then you can't type /report on him. Also it is against the rules to sell guild halls. ANET will not help you there. Trust me, this happened to me before (in my noob days).

If buying expensive things, always check the price before you buy it (PC on Guru is best, trusting random people in kamadan is not a good idea). For example, if something normally cost 30e and they sell it to you for 50e... they ripped you off.

Thats all I can think of right now involving buying things. Have a great day!

umm the pc on guru isnt always up to date. xD and i didnt know selling gh's were illegal? since i see like 3-6 a day in towns lols.

BoxOfCox

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2009

CA

Wars

31 Dec 2009 at 07:15 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by animal fighter

so i buy the winter present for 15k

You are a genius amongst men.

Paladin of Shields

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2009

FTW

W/

31 Dec 2009 at 07:19 - 26

Yeah i made a killing off this scam this year. It works one every 5 person.

Hyperventilate

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2007

Somewhere in California

I Gots A Crayon [Blue]

Me/Mo

31 Dec 2009 at 07:40 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by byteme!

There's a sucker born every minute.

Amen to this.

AngelWJedi

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2008

orlando,florida

Society of Souls [Argh]

Rt/E

31 Dec 2009 at 16:28 - 28

when i was buying ectos last night i had a idiot try and get my money for nothing lols. but i just stood their and waited.

after 2 minutes he finally put in ectos. any time you buy stuff that is over say 5k do what i do. cry lag and take the time to check items then click accepted. and if they close it early and wine at you then say sorry was checking item in local since i asked for this and you put in that. that usually shuts them up.

Quaker

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Aug 2005

Canada

Brothers Disgruntled

31 Dec 2009 at 16:36 - 29

Look on the bright side - you got scammed in a fantasy world for play money. Now maybe you'll be a little more cautious in the real world where it could really hurt.

byteme!

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

On Earth

W/P

31 Dec 2009 at 16:42 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaker

Look on the bright side - you got scammed in a fantasy world for play money. Now maybe you'll be a little more cautious in the real world where it could really hurt.

You give people way too much credit.

Kumu Honua

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2008

31 Dec 2009 at 18:38 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladin of Shields

Yeah i made a killing off this scam this year. It works one every 5 person.

All it takes is for that 1 to take screenshots and submit via the website and boom. Schadenfreude is so much fun! Website reports are the best kind. Instant gratification (Well, as soon as they see it.)

Darth The Xx

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2008

Sen'jin Village

The Infamous Cake Bandits [cake]

Mo/W

31 Dec 2009 at 23:39 - 32

I've never understood how people get scammed, I've never been scammed in GW ever, I have overpaid for stuff cus I couldn't be assed waiting but never scammed, it really isn't that hard,

don't rush,
check all items,
don't go outside and drop your money and expect them to drop the item (lol? isn't this why you have a trade window)
if someone puts up the wrong item and it obviously isn't a mistake just cancel trade on them,
if someone is overly insistent for you to hurry up, look closely at what you are buying as people most often make mistakes in haste.

Zebideedee

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

55?? 57' 0" N / 3?? 12' 0" W

N/Me

01 Jan 2010 at 00:14 - 33

Maybe in 100 years time, Guild Wars 45 players can hold a seance and ask the scammers from GW1 if they are burning in Hell?

lishi

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2005

01 Jan 2010 at 00:39 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumu Honua

When something like this happens simply take a screenshot of all applicable information. Agreed upon exchange details. The trade window with the obviously scamming materials.

Submit the details and screenshots to the web support. Don't bother with /report as that doesn't ever do anything.

They will research and verify that they tried to scam you and suspend their account. If it happens enough, they will be banned.

Nothing more satisfying than getting a response from support that says they suspended that persons account...

that don't happen

Shadowspawn X

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

Fellowship of Champions

R/E

01 Jan 2010 at 01:35 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by lishi

that don't happen

If your complaint is legit it does.

Kumu Honua

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2008

01 Jan 2010 at 02:40 - 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by lishi

that don't happen

Response (GM XXXXX) 11/02/2009 09:09 AM
Hello XXXXX,

I reviewed the game logs of this incident and confirmed a violation. The player’s account has been suspended pending further investigation.

Thank you for submitting your report and helping keep Guild Wars a fun and safe place to play.

Regards,
GM XXXXX
The Guild Wars Support Team

------------------------------------------

Orly?

------------------------------------------

Response (GM XXXXX) 11/09/2009 02:49 PM
Hello XXXXX,

I was able to find a violation by reviewing the game logs of the incident and the player's account has been suspended.

Thank you for submitting your report and helping keep Guild Wars a fun and safe place to play.

Regards,
GM XXXXX
The Guild Wars Support Team
---------------------------------------------

Hmm...

And finally after the first suspension, this guy was back at it again, second banning for this guy...
---------------------------------------------

Response (GM XXXXX) 12/17/2009 12:26 PM
Hello XXXXX,

I will review why the account was released. It is now blocked again. Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Regards,
GM XXXXX
The Guild Wars Support Team

----------------------------------------------

Names X'd due to forum rules.

The Drunkard

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2007

Still looking

Rt/

01 Jan 2010 at 02:49 - 37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Invalid Shadow

How is it that such a blatent scam can be played out, today a player offered me 6 stacks of wintersday gifts for 60 ectos, upon them submitting the stacks of gifts, I checked them and they had exactly the same display skin as wintersday gifts, luckily I checked title and turns out they were Special presents (quest item), how is it that players can even put these into the trade window, its a massive fault that needs dealing with fast. I guess not until next year atleast now though.

People who have a shred of common sense will look at what they're buying, or by reading the little white text that says "Special present." I fail to see why Anet should have to change the skin because of imcompetent players.

I love GW because it gives you real-life experience without losing anything valuable. The lesson here is that you should expect everyone around you to try and benefit off of your ignorance.

lishi

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2005

01 Jan 2010 at 03:01 - 38

Well, i guess they changed the policy, last time i reported they clearly said that no news of the sanction will be given

Mustache Mayhem

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

BEN

R/N

01 Jan 2010 at 03:25 - 39

was trying to sell another 1000 cc shards yesterday and had a pm to trade for 500 wintersday gifts.. I remembered this thread

didn't even bother to see if it was a bunch of quest items.. that's a pretty good scam

Patrisha MacFarlane

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2009

Island Nation of Callisea

House Caribdus

Me/N

02 Jan 2010 at 09:06 - 40

Quote:

Originally Posted by lishi

Well, i guess they changed the policy, last time i reported they clearly said that no news of the sanction will be given

For most violations you are correct, but for some things, like scamming, it is important to them that you know that they are taking you seriously (which they do regardless) and are taking action.

ANet sees scamming as a top violation. They won't/can't help you recoup losses, but they also don't want the scamming to continue or for people to think that they will do nothing about it. Confirmed punishment/revocation of account privileges is suppose to serve as a deterrent. If it actually does, well that's another question entirely.