A Petition to Stop Bait and Switch Scams

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

I searched, and couldn't believe I couldn't find a suggestion to stop simple bait and switch scams in GW!

The solution is easy: Once both parties submit their offers, they go to a "locked" window where they can either "Agree" or "Cancel" the trade (you cannot modify the trade at this point).

No more bait and switch. Painless and easy.

striderkaaru

striderkaaru

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Retired Officer

W/

this just adds an extra step and might be more of a hassle for those doing honest trades. really, all people have to do is double check all items and gold/plat amount before hitting accept.

the other person cancelled and/or modified the trade? double check again before hitting accept.

bait and switch scams rely on people being careless.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

The fact is, trade is being slowed down with so many scammers.

This "hassle" (come on, it's one extra mouse click!) will save you time in the long run because it will weed out all the crappy Bait and Switch scammers out there.

Honestly, legitimate traders should welcome this feature, as it will ultimately save them time.

Gargle Blaster

Gargle Blaster

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
The fact is, trade is being slowed down with so many scammers.

This "hassle" (come on, it's one extra mouse click!) will save you time in the long run because it will weed out all the crappy Bait and Switch scammers out there.

Honestly, legitimate traders should welcome this feature, as it will ultimately save them time.
NO!!!! your logic is flawed. Bait and switch scams are NOT the norm. More bureaucracy is never the answer... Don't punish everyone b/c you cant take the time to look over your trades.

fiery

fiery

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2005

maryland

InYurFace Gaming [IYF]

R/

people scam or try to cant do much.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gargle Blaster
NO!!!! your logic is flawed. Bait and switch scams are NOT the norm. More bureaucracy is never the answer... Don't punish everyone b/c you cant take the time to look over your trades.
I do look over my trades. But once I see the item is correct, I don't want to have to continually keep looking to make sure it doesn't change!

That's just silly.

Look, I don't see why people are against this. The only people it hurts are the scammers. Legitimate traders will not be slowed at all by this...

Damon Windwalker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Wandering Gits

How about a petition to get players to realize that protecting themselves is their own responsibility?

Gargle Blaster

Gargle Blaster

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

This is very simple really mistakes happen more frequently than scamms...

under your plan you would have to close out of the trade window and re-open a new one, and re-submit your items to be traded for both trading peoples(you ever think about that other person in the trade?).BTW that is more than 1 click

it's like copy protection - people that scam are always going to figure out a way around the system... then you are left with procedures that do nothing but slow down everyone else.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damon Windwalker
How about a petition to get players to realize that protecting themselves is their own responsibility?
Yes, it's the victims fault. Seriously, how would this one extra step harm you?

Even if you've never been scammed, I'm sure people have TRIED to scam you. That's wasting your time. This will end the majority of bait and switch scams, and there will be no excuse for people who fall for these scams with this fail-safe in place.

striderkaaru

striderkaaru

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Retired Officer

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
I do look over my trades. But once I see the item is correct, I don't want to have to continually keep looking to make sure it doesn't change!
isn't that exactly what you are suggesting? a final trade window where you double check the items?

and what's to stop the scammers from cancelling out of that trade final trade window, and redoing the whole process until someone gets careless and doesn't check at the final trade window?

1 extra step. problem still not solved.

aron searle

aron searle

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

Mo/

/ signed


if you dont like it at least come up with a good reason to not implement it.

OH NOEZ it will make me spend up to 5 secs more to finalize a trade and stop these scammers END OF TEH WOLRD !!!!!!!!!!

Yichi

Yichi

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2005

Guild Hall, Vent, Guesting, PvE, or the occasional HA match...

Dark Alley [dR]

I always make sure that everythings correct. as soon as i see the trade modified i cancel it and reopen. if it was an honest mistake, hell reopen trade. then when everything is correct, they hit accept first, then i do. never been scammed that way

/signed as i have had people i know get scammed by this

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gargle Blaster
This is very simple really mistakes happen more frequently than scamms...

under your plan you would have to close out of the trade window and re-open a new one, and re-submit your items to be traded for both trading peoples(you ever think about that other peorson in the trade?).BTW that is more than 1 click

it's like copy protection - people that scam are always going to figure out a way around the system... then you are left with procedures that do nothing but slow down everyone else.
Only if both people submitted their ends without checking first.

Come on, either people have responsibility for their actions, or they don't!

Don't tell me it's my job to make sure the trade is right (I agree, BTW), but then say the traders aren't responsible for what they are offering!

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by striderkaaru
isn't that exactly what you are suggesting? a final trade window where you double check the items?

and what's to stop the scammers from cancelling out of that trade final trade window, and redoing the whole process until someone gets careless and doesn't check at the final trade window?

1 extra step. problem still not solved.
If you agree to a LOCKED screen where the items can't change, you have NO EXCUSE for being scammed!

I want to prevent people from offering one thing, and then switching to another at the last minute to scam people. It's a simple scam, and there's a simple prevention for it.

Gustav Gloomp

Gustav Gloomp

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

Sydney, Australia

leave it the way it is. if u implement this new way its gonna take up the same time as it does now, plus u hav to double check even with this new idea.

TheClash

TheClash

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Nov 2005

MI, US

Firey Dragon Knights

Mo/E

Why should A-Net have to take the time and implement an added system when the main problem is stupidity on the part of a player? They only get away with these things because people are moronic at times and don't pay attention. They should accept the fact that they screwed up and get over it and not make the same mistake again.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gustav Gloomp
leave it the way it is. if u implement this new way its gonna take up the same time as it does now, plus u hav to double check even with this new idea.
That makes no sense. It will take the same time, you still have to double check, but with the extra benefit of once you go to the locked screen, you won't be scammed by a last minute change.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheClash
Why should A-Net have to take the time and implement an added system when the main problem is stupidity on the part of a player? They only get away with these things because people are moronic at times and don't pay attention. They should accept the fact that they screwed up and get over it and not make the same mistake again.
For the same reason they put a fail-safe on deleting your character.

It will help prevent people from being scammed.

It's good customer service.

striderkaaru

striderkaaru

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Retired Officer

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
If you agree to a LOCKED screen where the items can't change, you have NO EXCUSE for being scammed!
under the current system, if you accept a trade and it is modified, your previous acceptance is cancelled and you have the choice of pressing accept again. in this case, it is your responsibility to look over the items once more before clicking "accept" again.

so this "locked" window prevents any further modification. however, scammers can still do the cancel-reopen trade trick.

the reason why i am not signing it is because i really don't see how it changes anything. when a scammer modifies a trade, you get asked if you want to "accept" again anyway. in the same sense, when a trade is modified and you don't check to see what was changed, you have no excuse for being scammed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
It will help prevent people from being scammed.
i don't see how it prevents it. people who are careless and accept a modified trade without checking will still be careless and accept the locked window without checking. it really changes nothing.

Juicey Shake

Juicey Shake

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

CA

in it for the trimmmm

R/

&no sign: should be checking anyway; and I quite like watching idiots scream 'omg someone scammed my _________' in all chat everytime some idiot gets duped, it's nice to remind him to his '__________ IS A SCAMMER' spam is also against the eula.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by striderkaaru
under the current system, if you accept a trade and it is modified, your previous acceptance is cancelled and you have the choice of pressing accept again. in this case, it is your responsibility to look over the items once more before clicking "accept" again.

so this "locked" window prevents any further modification. however, scammers can still do the cancel-reopen trade trick.

the reason why i am not signing it is because i really don't see how it changes anything. when a scammer modifies a trade, you get asked if you want to "accept" again anyway. in the same sense, when a trade is modified and you don't check to see what was changed, you have no excuse for being scammed.
First, I've heard different accounts of this. Are you POSITIVE that "Accept" resets?

Second, there's always a chance (however minute) that someone could change an item right as you click "accept." (This happened to me.)

In this case, you have no recourse.

striderkaaru

striderkaaru

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Retired Officer

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
First, I've heard different accounts of this. Are you POSITIVE that "Accept" resets?

Second, there's always a chance (however minute) that someone could change an item right as you click "accept." (This happened to me.)

In this case, you have no recourse.
yes, i'm quite certain the "accept" resets as many people have tried the bait and switch on me.

and you can't click "accept" (the button is greyed out), when a trade is being modified.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by striderkaaru
yes, i'm quite certain the "accept" resets as many people have tried the bait and switch on me.

and you can't click "accept" (the button is greyed out), when a trade is being modified.
If many people have tried this on you, wouldn't a "lock" screen reduce the number of scammers?

I admit, people will still try it. But with a Lock screen, the amount of people falling for these scams will drop tremendously. It's my belief that the majority of scammers will realize the Bait and Switch tactic is no longer as profitable.

As for your second point, I guess I was just unlucky, and happened to click accept right as he completed the switch.

But if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone...

Gargle Blaster

Gargle Blaster

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
If many people have tried this on you, wouldn't a "lock" screen reduce the number of scammers?
it curently is a lock screen... why would there be any less number of people trying to scam you?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
I admit, people will still try it. But with a Lock screen, the amount of people falling for these scams will drop tremendously. It's my belief that the majority of scammers will realize the Bait and Switch tactic is no longer as profitable.
why would bait and switch not be profitable?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
As for your second point, I guess I was just unlucky, and happened to click accept right as he completed the switch.

But if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone...
you are not a special snowflake... deal with it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
Come on, either people have responsibility for their actions, or they don't!

Don't tell me it's my job to make sure the trade is right (I agree, BTW), but then say the traders aren't responsible for what they are offering!
your point is moot as all people are responsible for their actions.

you also seem to be droping some of my ideas... like mistakes happen more than scams... or that scams will happen in any system. --your ideas ar not solving any problem they are just making it more difficult to play the game... the game design should try to get out of the way of the players not in it...

Damon Windwalker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Wandering Gits

Caveat Emptor
Latin for "Let the buyer beware." The idea that buyers take responsibility for the condition of the items they purchase and should examine them before purchase. This is especially true for items that are not covered under a strict warranty. See, e.g. SEC v. Zandford (01-147).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/lexicon/caveat_emptor.htm

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gargle Blaster
it curently is a lock screen... why would there be any less number of people trying to scam you?
It's NOT locked. You can change and item in the last minute, while someone his hitting accept, and scam them. This IS possible!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gargle Blaster
why would bait and switch not be profitable?
Not AS profitable. Scammers rely on people falling for their scams. A "locked" screen would reduce the number of people falling for these scams. Thus, scamming would become less profitable (Time is money).


Quote:
Originally Posted by Gargle Blaster
you are not a special snowflake... deal with it.
I'll ignore this, as it does nothing to address my argument.
If anything, it just reinforces my point: I'm not the only one who is effected by scammers! We ALL are, whether we fall for them or not.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Gargle Blaster
your point is moot as all people are responsible for their actions.

you also seem to be droping some of my ideas... like mistakes happen more than scams... or that scams will happen in any system. --your ideas ar not solving any problem they are just making it more difficult to play the game... the game design should try to get out of the way of the players not in it...
OK, how does my idea make the game "more difficult."

If people spend a few seconds picking out the items they're going to trade, (which they should be doing anyway) the extra "locked" window will not slow down trades significantly.

Game designers have a responsibilty to make a game as fun to play as possible.

IMO, being scammed is NOT fun.

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damon Windwalker
Caveat Emptor
Latin for "Let the buyer beware." The idea that buyers take responsibility for the condition of the items they purchase and should examine them before purchase. This is especially true for items that are not covered under a strict warranty. See, e.g. SEC v. Zandford (01-147).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/lexicon/caveat_emptor.htm
If that's the kind of world you want to live in, fine.

I don't.

darkdragon99

darkdragon99

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2005

decatur indiana

hell's mercenaries

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gargle Blaster
it curently is a lock screen... why would there be any less number of people trying to scam you?



why would bait and switch not be profitable?



you are not a special snowflake... deal with it.



your point is moot as all people are responsible for their actions.

you also seem to be droping some of my ideas... like mistakes happen more than scams... or that scams will happen in any system. --your ideas ar not solving any problem they are just making it more difficult to play the game... the game design should try to get out of the way of the players not in it...
oh you mean like the freaking chest keys

Quote:
Originally Posted by Juicey Shake
&no sign: should be checking anyway; and I quite like watching idiots scream 'omg someone scammed my _________' in all chat everytime some idiot gets duped, it's nice to remind him to his '__________ IS A SCAMMER' spam is also against the eula.
as far as i'm concerned is long as the all chat is being spammed on a constant basis by so called traders i don't care if it is against the eula i'll spamm what ever the hell i want

and finaly if you don't want scammed don't trade with other ppl simple as that

Medion

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Netherlands

Quote:
if you dont like it at least come up with a good reason to not implement it.
Because I would like Anet to spend their time on more things then making sure you are not scammed.
I mean if the choice is:

balancing / make sure I can't be scammed

I would surely chose balancing.

being scammed is only because you don't check the items you buy. And I have never been scammed to be honest, it's not like 10% of the GW people are scammers.

You say you don't want to check every time he changes his offer? Sorry but I think then it is your mistake when you are scammed. (not saying that scamming is good)

And if, as i hear in this thread, people keep switching their offers more often, doesn't something pop-up into your head that it might be a scam?
One switch can happen, two switches, although rarely, happen but not if it's like 4 times.

Or is it that this problem only occurs in America/Korea? Cause I haven't met any scammer in Europe so far.

xxhell

xxhell

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

northend blvds

E/Me

i dont evan consider bait and switch scaming(but i still dont do it) anyone dumb enough to fall for it should be scammed.. im not flaming your thread im just saying instead of having some extra step why dont you just worry about yourself and ill worry about myself.. of course the bait and switch in diablo 2 is what got me to scamming in that game.. i ended up hacking acounts.. bait and switching.. every scam in diablo 2 i knew i made so much *real* money off it.. all because someone scamed me for the first soj i found.. and i wanted it back but realy i got it back times 10k lol..most scammers start scamming because they got scammed its a on going circle
/not signed

capblueberry

capblueberry

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

Lexington, SC

Grenths Mercenaries[DEAD]

I have a nice little method i use to make sure i dont get scammed, its quite simple, pay attention to wth ur doing

Mordakai

Mordakai

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Kyhlo

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by capblueberry
I have a nice little method i use to make sure i dont get scammed, its quite simple, pay attention to wth ur doing
I was. It would not have stopped this scam (I was a victim of bad timing).

Javinator

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2005

Mo/W

Really, unless you are one of these bait and switchers, I don't understand why you'd be so adamantly against this one extra locked screen just to make sure that everything is as it should be. Having to constantly recheck that you're getting the right item, although your responsibility, is not the point of trading.

Trading wasn't made as a test to get people scammed since they're not paying attention, so why are so many people fighting this one extra screen where the items are locked? Personally, I think these bait and switchers should be forced to put as much time into the game as the rest of us to make their money and, unless you're REALLY stupid (I mean like beyond dumb), there would be absolutely no more scamming.

Someone said that this would not stop bait and switchers since they'd merely click decline and try it on someone else, but they'd probably give up as the bait and switch would not work 99.9% of the time and the scam would become a thing of the past.

/signed

Javinator

actionjack

actionjack

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2005

Kali

W/E

why not
but I would just wait for the Auction house...

Damon Windwalker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Wandering Gits

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
If that's the kind of world you want to live in, fine.

I don't.
Yes, it is. I'm a big fan of personal responsibility.

Carinae

Carinae

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

Inside

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

Quote:
Originally Posted by striderkaaru
under the current system, if you accept a trade and it is modified, your previous acceptance is cancelled and you have the choice of pressing accept again. in this case, it is your responsibility to look over the items once more before clicking "accept" again.
Everything hangs on this. If 'Accept' is behaving as it should, scamming is going to be minimized. But that is the 64,000 platinum question now isn't it?

If 'Accept' is not being cleared out on a modify, then we have a HUGE security issue! If it is, then I agree that a mouseover before accepting is expected behavior.

But it was my understanding that Accept was NOT being cleared. And that's very bad.

I didn't have time to check the trade screens last night, I got sidetracked by naked necros.

Damon Windwalker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Wandering Gits

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordakai
Hmmm, wonder why not signed? (coughcoughscammercoughcough)
Ahhh yes...let's summarize this whole scenario:

1. Get scammed because you aren't paying attention.
2. Start a campaign spamming this into every thread you can imagine.
3. Deny any personal responsibility.
4. Call anyone who disagrees with you a scammer.

Xenrath

Xenrath

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2005

W/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carinae Dragonblood
Everything hangs on this. If 'Accept' is behaving as it should, scamming is going to be minimized. But that is the 64,000 platinum question now isn't it?

If 'Accept' is not being cleared out on a modify, then we have a HUGE security issue! If it is, then I agree that a mouseover before accepting is expected behavior.

But it was my understanding that Accept was NOT being cleared. And that's very bad.

I didn't have time to check the trade screens last night, I got sidetracked by naked necros.
I just checked and it appears to be working correctly.

jammr_m32

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2005

W/

/not signed

If a person isn't paying close enough attention to realize an offer has been modified and accepts the new offer, I doubt they would be paying any more attention if there was another window. This wouldn't help at all, in my opinion. As it stands now, if an offer is modified you have to accept the new offer. If you've accepted an offer once and are prompted to accept again and foolishly click the accept button again, you're just asking to get scammed.

Damon Windwalker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Wandering Gits

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xenrath
I just checked and it appears to be working correctly.
Then that makes his argument moot, and proves that he wasn't paying attention - and trying to blame his lack of attention on someone else. As I suspected all along.