Scammers Ramping Up Efforts - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Oblina

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2008

E/Mo

28 Mar 2011 at 15:46 - 1

Just thought I'd share and also give a reminder to watch the trade window carefully!

Last week I had two people try to scam me in trade on higher end items, both using the same method (2 different people though).

Here's how it worked both times.

They opened trade with the proper amount of ectos and gold for the item and then rather than trading, they canceled. They pm'd me oops sorry and opened trade again with the wrong amount of ectos and when I pm'd back saying that's wrong, they changed the offer again to the right amount of ectos and dropped the gold from 100k to 10k.

Of course, I pm'd back saying 100k not 10k and then

shocker

they canceled the trade and mapped out.

One instance took place in GTOB for my EL Cerebral tonic and the second instance was in Kamadan for my Tormented Staff.

Watch the trade windows carefully, the scammers seem to be out in full force but those suckers didn't get me

Dark-NighT

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2006

Stygian Veil

Shoop Da Woop [Lolz]

N/Mo

28 Mar 2011 at 15:53 - 2

One should always be carefull, even when the trade goes wrong because someone has to much money in his/hers inventory, always recheck.

However it has come to my attention that a lot of the trades lately go in ectos only, it seems direct money trading has taken a step backwards in order to avoid scams, which is a smart move, however for items that are below the 100K+ value, keep your eye open.

RedDog91

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2007

Farming for Nick gifts

R/

28 Mar 2011 at 16:45 - 3

Nothing new.
These types of scams have been around since day 1.

Slaphead Monk

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2008

England

Terra Noise [Zraw]

Mo/

28 Mar 2011 at 16:56 - 4

you always get the occasional idiot... yesterday i had some guy pm me to trade his EL Cottontale Tonic ( worth about 20e) for my Unded Grawl (~120e) and was spamming trade with attempts to sell his tonic @ 180e, just double check trades before you accept/ peoples offers and you'll be fine, if you're ever unsure of an offer..ask a friend :P

clear

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2009

Mo/Me

28 Mar 2011 at 17:00 - 5

Since they implemented the new trade window back in the day this technique has been harder to scam people with but still people try.

Chrisworld

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2010

Gameamp Guides [AMP]

W/

28 Mar 2011 at 19:14 - 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by clear

Since they implemented the new trade window back in the day this technique has been harder to scam people with but still people try.

Well if I'm not mistaken, when you close the window and then trade again, the message does not show. It only shows up when the trade offer is hidden from you and then comes back to view, when people can change their offer.

This kind of scam has been in use in Guild Wars since day 1, in games before GW, after GW, and into the future of gaming.

You just need to keep an eye out for it, be smart.

Gabs88

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2011

28 Mar 2011 at 19:25 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oblina

Just thought I'd share and also give a reminder to watch the trade window carefully!

Last week I had two people try to scam me in trade on higher end items, both using the same method (2 different people though).

Here's how it worked both times.

They opened trade with the proper amount of ectos and gold for the item and then rather than trading, they canceled. They pm'd me oops sorry and opened trade again with the wrong amount of ectos and when I pm'd back saying that's wrong, they changed the offer again to the right amount of ectos and dropped the gold from 100k to 10k.

Of course, I pm'd back saying 100k not 10k and then

shocker

they canceled the trade and mapped out.

One instance took place in GTOB for my EL Cerebral tonic and the second instance was in Kamadan for my Tormented Staff.

Watch the trade windows carefully, the scammers seem to be out in full force but those suckers didn't get me

Be VERY aware of anyone giving you Merchantile Summoning Stones or anything like that. They like to trade you, post the right amount and when you accept they change their offer and add a merchantile summoning stone.

This is especially common among those trading cons such as Apples\Candy Corn or most dangerous of all Aged Dwarven Ale. Because what they do is that once you buy one item, they offer more, and then more, and then more, every time they do the same thing adding a merchantile summoning stone at the end of argueing about price. But at some point theyre going to change something else in their offer! Take away a zero in the gold portion, swap Aged Dwarven Ale for Dwarven Ale (This one has happened to me!) or something else thats hard to notice.

So in short, if anyone ever changes their offers without a very good reason. Be VERY aware and dont get accustomized to it!

Gabs88

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2011

28 Mar 2011 at 19:26 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slaphead Monk

you always get the occasional idiot... yesterday i had some guy pm me to trade his EL Cottontale Tonic ( worth about 20e) for my Unded Grawl (~120e) and was spamming trade with attempts to sell his tonic @ 180e, just double check trades before you accept/ peoples offers and you'll be fine, if you're ever unsure of an offer..ask a friend :P

Yeah lol, I noticed that guy...

Bristlebane

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2008

Mo/

28 Mar 2011 at 19:29 - 9

.. this makes me wonder, can a scammer create a texmod skin that secretly also change icon and name of say frozen ecto, then try trade with those he thinks uses the texmod skin? I guess the best countermeasure then would be, *always* be careful what texmod skins you use before you do bigger trades.

Skyy High

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: May 2006

R/

28 Mar 2011 at 19:30 - 10

Oldest. Scam. Ever.

Xslash

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2008

28 Mar 2011 at 19:45 - 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bristlebane

.. this makes me wonder, can a scammer create a texmod skin that secretly also change icon and name of say frozen ecto, then try trade with those he thinks uses the texmod skin? I guess the best countermeasure then would be, *always* be careful what texmod skins you use before you do bigger trades.

you dont broadcast what texmod skin you have loaded.
therefore either of the following:

1. the skin is so rarely used that you'll probably never bump into someone with it.

2. the skin is popular enough that someone would have noticed that you changed the skin image.

Lord Dagon

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2009

Inside the Oblivion Gate

The Imperial Guards of Istan[TIGE]

E/Me

28 Mar 2011 at 19:48 - 12

this isnt anything new. the only new tidbit in this is that more people are doing it. not really surprising.. more people want HoM=people need more money= people try to power trade(or scam, preety much the same, ones just "right").

nothing new at all.

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

"Pre-nerf" is incorrect. It's pre-buff.

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

28 Mar 2011 at 20:17 - 13

And the poorly designed /report system won't let you report players who leave the district.

I've seen those dual scams popping up in Kamadan again too. Those scams where someone wants to buy some piece of junk for an extortionate sum, and his buddy/alt is selling that junk for a moderate price.

novawhiz

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

A/

28 Mar 2011 at 20:19 - 14

It seems like there a new one of these threads every week...

and its not like this is even really some special scam thats just cropped up. Its just someone hedging their beats. Reading the trade window before you hit accept is not that hard..

-Martian-

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

W/

28 Mar 2011 at 20:26 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by novawhiz

It seems like there a new one of these threads every week...

A locked sticky thread full of most common scamms in Riverside and it would resolve the issue.

Obviously only mods can post in it to evade any my-scamms-r-smarter-than-ur-ones fest.

My 2 cents.

StormDragonZ

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2008

New York

W/R

28 Mar 2011 at 20:46 - 16

Someone offered 20k for my Fire Drake, I got tired of standing around so I accepted his offer. He enters in 15k saying he meant 15k. I said 20k was the first number said and agreed with, so he canceled, we try again and he puts in a Mini Unded Dagnar Stonepate saying he'll trade.

I said I'll accept that instead if you don't have 20k available. Another closed trade and this time, he puts in 15k and the Dagnar Mini. I put in the Fire Drake, said nothing at all and the trade was finally made.

About an hour later, he sends a PM saying he's missing 15k and said he'd report me for scamming him. I even said I'd return it back to him, but he logged off and hasn't been on since.

Some scammers really suck.

Gabs88

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2011

28 Mar 2011 at 21:04 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by makosi

And the poorly designed /report system won't let you report players who leave the district.

I've seen those dual scams popping up in Kamadan again too. Those scams where someone wants to buy some piece of junk for an extortionate sum, and his buddy/alt is selling that junk for a moderate price.

I dont really see those people as bigger scammers then the ones buying it and trying to sell it on to the poor chunk offering way too much though xD

Kook~NBK~

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2005

A little chalet outside Drok's

Natural Born Killaz

28 Mar 2011 at 22:10 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabs88

Be VERY aware of anyone giving you Merchantile Summoning Stones or anything like that. They like to trade you, post the right amount and when you accept they change their offer and add a merchantile summoning stone.

This is especially common among those trading cons such as Apples\Candy Corn or most dangerous of all Aged Dwarven Ale. Because what they do is that once you buy one item, they offer more, and then more, and then more, every time they do the same thing adding a merchantile summoning stone at the end of argueing about price. But at some point theyre going to change something else in their offer! Take away a zero in the gold portion, swap Aged Dwarven Ale for Dwarven Ale (This one has happened to me!) or something else thats hard to notice.

So in short, if anyone ever changes their offers... Be VERY aware and dont get accustomized to it!

Fixed that for you.

clear

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2009

Mo/Me

28 Mar 2011 at 22:18 - 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisworld

Well if I'm not mistaken, when you close the window and then trade again, the message does not show. It only shows up when the trade offer is hidden from you and then comes back to view, when people can change their offer.

This kind of scam has been in use in Guild Wars since day 1, in games before GW, after GW, and into the future of gaming.

You just need to keep an eye out for it, be smart.

You are correct but the old trade window used to have one spot for the number display of gold. The only thing that would change would be the coin symbol changing from gold to silver indicating platinum or gold.

TheRaven

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2006

Virginia

Spirit of Elisha

W/

28 Mar 2011 at 22:19 - 20

One time I was selling a Celestial Shield for 1k on an auction site. Really nice skin and decent stats but nothing special and I was happy with 1k just to free up a storage slot.

My buyer met up with me and tried to scam by offering 1g instead of the 1k for it.

Seriously? If you have to scam 1k that's really pathetic.

Which reminds me of the only time ingame a scammer was successful at getting my money. It was back in the day when Ranger trappers were the farmers of choice in the UW. I joined a team of 3 other rangers and we set up to go in. The leader demanded 250g from each of us to pay the entry fee. We paid and zoned in. As soon as we loaded, the leader aggro-ed all the Aatxes onto us and we died while he lived. He told us to just leave. He had a solo build and wasn't gonna rez us. He just didn't feel like paying the 1k entry fee. Guess he could have just taken our 750g and left the party before zoning in, but he wasn't that bright.

Voodoo Rage

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2008

Sacramento, CA

Geezers

R/

28 Mar 2011 at 22:31 - 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by makosi

And the poorly designed /report system won't let you report players who leave the district.

I've seen those dual scams popping up in Kamadan again too. Those scams where someone wants to buy some piece of junk for an extortionate sum, and his buddy/alt is selling that junk for a moderate price.

For some reason this "not quite a" scam really gets under my skin. It's just so pathetic, especially when the item is just so obviously worthless. I remember when I first started playing GW, I saw a guy spamming WTB Blazing Wing Wand 90k. I thought, "Holy crap! I have one of those! I'm rich!". Of course the guy just kept ignoring and closing my trade attempts. Later of course I noticed the inevitable "WTS Blazing Wing Wand 60k" in the trade window. I was even naive enough to message THAT guy, "Hey there's a guy in the district trying to buy one of those but don't waste your time, he's ignoring trade offers." The guy was even savvy enough to message me back, "Hey, I'll sell you mine for 50k, you can sell it to him when he's back online. I don't mind...". Good thing at the time 50k was a veritable fortune to me or I would have been scammed in the most pathetic way possible.

Urcscumug

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2011

UNO

W/

29 Mar 2011 at 10:29 - 22

Bristlebane did raise an interesting idea. Is there a texmode skin dedicated to eliminating trade confusion ie. that replaces skins of common items that are too similar to more valuable items? That would be useful.

On the other hand, I don't like to rely on the icon alone. It's best to always take a second or two to actually look at the stats, even if everything seems ok. No honest trader will mind the extra seconds, it's only the scammers who are trying to pressure you into doing it fast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StormDragonZ

Another closed trade and this time, he puts in 15k and the Dagnar Mini. I put in the Fire Drake, said nothing at all and the trade was finally made.

I probably don't have to say this, but that's why I always repeat the terms of the deal in chat, just in case somebody has a scheme that involves a report threat. Because if a GM has to take a look at things later, that chat will be there to show I clearly stated what was going on.