Official GW Scams Thread (no posting names) - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

BiggDunc

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

StL

[FahQ] Fierce Alliance HeadQuarters

R/W

12 May 2005 at 17:30 - 81

i actually did this as an accident one day
my in game name is Lord Dunc X, if you bought it from me, find me, ill return your money

i got it, by ending my first character, adn spending all his money, throwin the remover in storage, then it looked like red dye

so i sold it

if this was you, i am sorry
and thankfully they changed the icon for dye remover now

sorry

sulos

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

12 May 2005 at 17:30 - 82

Quote:

Originally Posted by Navaros

1. i was not going to be out 200 gold due to a scam. if NCSoft was not going to give me my gold back, then i was going to have to get it back myself by any legal means necessary

2. by scamming someone else, more people will become aware that the ashes scamming is a big huge issue

um... didn't someone in this thread say something about mental comprehension rating??? I MOVE THAT THAT BE ADDED AFTER READING THAT POST!!! you are crying about 200 gold???? if you don't make that 200 gold back within 10-25 min then you are still in town!!! that post makes no sense, maybe ncsoft needs to get a picture id from people who buy the game so they can inforce the age thing.

butcherboy

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

12 May 2005 at 18:36 - 83

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Elyas

omg... dont scam ppl... its just not cool

and, besides... ppl will see that same "dye" at the merchant, and be like, ooo! ima get that! and then, they see that its the dye remover, and you are totally screwed...

'nuff said

I am quite sarcastic when it comes to scamming newbies. I rarely trade with people unless I have a gazillion of what they want (usually collectables). If asked for anything I have a gazillion of and the other person tells me 0gp, I'll sell it to them for 0gp. I find resources are nearly unlimited in the game.

I don't think anyone asking for help should be turned down unless it is a lvl3 guy in post searing looking for someone to do a north of the wall quest (can you say Crall bait?). Information is free, common materials are free, and so are common weapons.

Personally, scammers should be penalized slightly for scamming (2 hrs of probation or something. However, I do agree that in reality there are scammers, shammers, and unsavory types and this *IS* and RPG. Of course, in reality you could filet them, too

. Perhaps GW needs a "duel" challenge button (mutually accepted) to resolve such instances - winner picks one item from the looser's inventory as payment. It would be nice to normal scrap someone's prized weapon and return the common raw materials back to them....

Cs Coldize

Guild Wars Guru

Join Date: May 2005

Georgia

BEER

E/Mo

12 May 2005 at 18:58 - 84

Selling Althea's Ashes. In Piken Square every once in a while you'll see someone trying to sell Althea's Ashes. See, when you complete the quest as a group, you dont lose the Barradin Family Urn so people pretend the ashes are still in there and they try to sell it. This isn't only in Piken Square, so watch out.

thegriffgeeks

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2005

in the wild with Lion

Knights of the Old Republic

R/Mo

12 May 2005 at 19:01 - 85

Quote:

Originally Posted by butcherboy

Personally, scammers should be penalized slightly for scamming (2 hrs of probation or something. However, I do agree that in reality there are scammers, shammers, and unsavory types and this *IS* and RPG. Of course, in reality you could filet them, too

. Perhaps GW needs a "duel" challenge button (mutually accepted) to resolve such instances - winner picks one item from the looser's inventory as payment. It would be nice to normal scrap someone's prized weapon and return the common raw materials back to them....

Sweet! I agree when can this start!!

Mountain Man

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

N/E

12 May 2005 at 19:04 - 86

I don't particularly like the "might makes right" philosophy that such a challenge system would promote.

thegriffgeeks

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2005

in the wild with Lion

Knights of the Old Republic

R/Mo

12 May 2005 at 20:40 - 87

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountain Man

I don't particularly like the "might makes right" philosophy that such a challenge system would promote.

So what would you suggest? Most people learn that something is wrong by punishment. Maybe a report-a-scammer system. Their pictures will be posted on the dye bottles saying "have you seen this scammer today?"

Flatliner

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Legion of Gallantry

E/Me

12 May 2005 at 21:04 - 88

Reminds me of a scam I was hit with..

I paid someone for 3 cloth, 1 iron ingot. When I got the items I found out He gave me 3 hides and something else. I would have complained to the scammer but I didn't want to deal with him again.

Norbix

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

12 May 2005 at 22:18 - 89

The dye remover icon is changed now to a light blue liquid.

SOT

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

East Texas

12 May 2005 at 22:54 - 90

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cs Coldize

Selling Althea's Ashes. In Piken Square every once in a while you'll see someone trying to sell Althea's Ashes. See, when you complete the quest as a group, you dont lose the Barradin Family Urn so people pretend the ashes are still in there and they try to sell it. This isn't only in Piken Square, so watch out.

The scamming of Althea's Ashes has become something of a pestilence in Post Searing. I have been verbally, in the trade channel (no what you think of me doing it in trade channels matters not) debunking people on the spot when I see it.

Example:

"Selling ALTHEA'S ASHES FOR QUEST COMPLETION WITHOUT THE WORK! 1 plat!"

My response: "[player name] is scamming, you cannot get xp or item rewards for bought quest items. Do not fall for this trick"

Almost without fail, the offender in each case responds:

[player name] "oh my bad, I thought it was possible. SORRY ALL PEACE"

...Which leads me to believe this is an organized effort from the People's Red Army region of the globe. Nuff said...

Kialya

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

12 May 2005 at 22:54 - 91

Third Degree Burns sold me what I thought to be a sigil and instead did the bait and switch after cancelling and reopening the trade window a few times - I ended up with a really expensive Rune of Minor vigor (identical graphic).

For those of you who are going to reply to this thread "you stupid - you fell for that scam blah blah .. save it. I already know how stupid I was etc, etc." I am ONLY posting this (and sharing my humiliation with everyone) ONLY with the hopes of preventing someone else falling for this same scam and to let Third Degree Burns know he can rot in hell and I hope the petition I sent to GW with all the screen shots will get him banned.

Just don't be stupid like I was and fall for this crap.

Thank you for your time.

Odai

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

Columbus, Ohio

13 May 2005 at 14:13 - 92

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger on this.

I did it to.

Master Elyas

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

People Of The Dragon

W/Mo

13 May 2005 at 15:52 - 93

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flatliner

Reminds me of a scam I was hit with..

I paid someone for 3 cloth, 1 iron ingot. When I got the items I found out He gave me 3 hides and something else. I would have complained to the scammer but I didn't want to deal with him again.

dear god... I would say that this is your fault. Cloth and hides look totally different... and, you cant really mistake an iron ingot... anyway, if you are new to GW, then i guess that this is ok... but, you should of looked at the names of the items anyway. If you need any materials in the future, message Lord Of The Dawn, and I will be happy to help.

WeiPing

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

13 May 2005 at 17:34 - 94

I'm amazed that scamming would exist in a game where money is essentially meaningless and really, really easy to accumulate.

I know people trade their morals for things of value...but trading it for things without value? *sigh*

sybban

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Beaufort Fun Park

I don't remember the guild name

Mo/W

13 May 2005 at 17:52 - 95

Meaningless? Ya I guess if load all your stuff then money is meaningless. Good luck with that. Anyway, is this the scam post thread or the trade post. Not sure why this was stickied if people get extremely off topic. But anyway as far as scams go, don't cry about it. Chalk it up to experience. Rip someone else off and make your money back. They'll do the same thing to someone else. Then after you do it let people know. I can't beleive people are still buying althea's ashes. That's hilarious. People who say scamming ruins a game, are the ones who ruin the game. If you can't take a joke then go cry yourself to sleep in your pillow about it. No one cares. Call me what you wil, but things would go a lot smoother if everyone let the petty bullsnuff slide. Just my opinion.

Dr Muffin

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

Canada

Ice Hellion [Ice]

13 May 2005 at 19:53 - 96

Couldnt have said it better myself if i tried my hardest. The only way people will learn is through first hand experience.

WeiPing

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

13 May 2005 at 20:02 - 97

The only way people will learn...what, exactly? That the GW community is selfish greedy jackoffs?

A valid point. The best way to teach someone that important lesson is to be a selfish greedy jackoff.

CtrlAltDel

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Ohio

Brotherhood of Havoc

Mo/Me

13 May 2005 at 20:07 - 98

yeah dunno about a scam, unless its been fixed recently as the bottles appear differently to me

biggest scam i saw, was people paying people to escort them to places in the world, aka travel guide...

Lasher Dragon

Draconic Rage Incarnate

Join Date: Apr 2005

Iowa

Alphahive

R/A

13 May 2005 at 20:21 - 99

Quote:

Originally Posted by CtrlAltDel

yeah dunno about a scam, unless its been fixed recently as the bottles appear differently to me

biggest scam i saw, was people paying people to escort them to places in the world, aka travel guide...

How is that a scam? If they advertise that for X amount of gold they will escort you to far-off Leetville, and they do it, seems like a legitimate service to me.

wizorack

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

South Carolina

Whiz Kids

R/Mo

13 May 2005 at 20:32 - 100

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegriffgeeks

So what would you suggest? Most people learn that something is wrong by punishment. Maybe a report-a-scammer system. Their pictures will be posted on the dye bottles saying "have you seen this scammer today?"

That is the best Idea..

SOT

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

East Texas

13 May 2005 at 21:16 - 101

Quote:

Originally Posted by Odai

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger on this.

I did it to.

If this was in response to my post, I am not the Lone Ranger. I never said I was doing this alone or thought it up. If it was not responding to my post, then what are you babbling off-topic about?

Taranis

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2005

14 May 2005 at 02:31 - 102

I almost got Sigil-Scammed! Some guy in Nolani was like "WTS> C. Sigil! Pm offer! Was happy to hear that and offered 25k, he first was like "SURE", opened a trade with me, inserted the Sigil (really was one), then broke up the trade and was like "Wait, getting other offers" so I waited a sec....he came back telling me someone offered 27k but couldn't get more so he also added a black dye, I really wanted this Sigil for my guild so I told him I'd give him 27k and 2 black dyes, again he was like "SURE meet at storage"....new trade, I added all my stuff but didn't accept, he added the Sigil, broke up the trade saying "Wait a sec", then a "Nvm" and he tried to trade me a Minor Vigor Rune insteat. Since I'm not totally dumb I whispered him and asked what he was doing -> Ignored....Already eMailed ArenaNet about this and I believe they'll change it!

Devil's Dictionary

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2005

Presumed missing...

Me/N

14 May 2005 at 02:59 - 103

Yes, the sigils now have a different icon (link).

Talus

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Hamilton, ON

E/Me

14 May 2005 at 03:16 - 104

NEW SCAM (2 variants)

By now, I'm sure you've all seen these god-aweful casinos. Man, do I ever hate 'em.

Anyway, there are 2 scams going now:

#1. The gambler fakes his rolls by assuming that nobody has changed the size of the chat portion of the GUI and types a very long sentence and a bunch of spaces followed by a fake roll. To anybody who has NOT changed the size of the chat box, the roll appears in white text and is wrapped to the next line.

e.g.
SomeScammer: Oh I hope I win this time!!________long string of spaces___________________SomeScammer rolls a 99 on 100 sided dice

But it appears like this:
SomeScammer: Oh I hope I win this time!!
SomeScammer rolls a 99 on 100 sided dice

#2. The dork running the casino KNOWS about this scam and gets a buddy of his to do all these fake rolls to get people believing that 'they too' can win at the casino. No money actually exchanges hands, these 2 are just trying to drum up business for the lame-o casino.

They actually tried to pay me off so that I would stop exposing their scam in the local channel.

See the 3 attached screenshots. Notice my expanded chat interface.

The solution?

Either BAN casinos

OR
Change the dice rolling text to another colour to it cannot be faked

SOT

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

East Texas

14 May 2005 at 03:20 - 105

If gold does not exchange hands, what is the ****ing point to all this? I saw it myself in Piken Square earlier. Wtf does it accomplish if people show up for this inanity?

This is crime against reason

Spartan2

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

The Intarweb

Wrath of Nature [WoN]

E/Mo

14 May 2005 at 05:08 - 106

Yea I just witnessed thisright as I finally completed the mission to reach LA. ugh.... Anyway I attacked the scam and it just attracted more people to it.. :-( He was not doing the text scroll trick but was using someone as bait to say that he was "winning". All the guy has to do is do "real" bets until he gets enough people to buy in, he said he had a 200g max :roll:, and then run off with 200g times x people. This needs to stop, well, it will stop once the community wakes up to its own ignorance.

Talus

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Hamilton, ON

E/Me

14 May 2005 at 13:26 - 107

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOT

If gold does not exchange hands, what is the ****ing point to all this? I saw it myself in Piken Square earlier. Wtf does it accomplish if people show up for this inanity?

This is crime against reason

In example #1, the gambler is actually trying rip off the player running the casino. He actually gets gold.

In example #2, the 2 in cahoots are not exchanging money, but they are encouraging other players to give money to them through false advertising.

Makkert

Black Beast of Aarrrrgghh

Join Date: May 2005

The Netherlands

The Biggyverse [PLEB] // Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

14 May 2005 at 14:53 - 108

I actually today whitnessed some dork that tried to sell a blue dye for 200gp in Ascalon City....while the trader sells for 175....

So I openly busted his balls and called him a dumbass, much to amusement of everyone.

nitetime

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

eotn

W/

14 May 2005 at 19:15 - 109

This was a very useful thread to read, except for all the idiots who keep confirming the red dye scam has been fixed. Uh, yeah. We knew that on page three, does anyone read?

Tur713

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2005

Pink Animal Clan

E/Me

14 May 2005 at 19:18 - 110

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitetime

This was a very useful thread to read, except for all the idiots who keep confirming the red dye scam has been fixed. Uh, yeah. We knew that on page three, does anyone read?

Heh, thought it was only one page when I first read it...I have deleted my post.

Spartan2

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

The Intarweb

Wrath of Nature [WoN]

E/Mo

14 May 2005 at 20:58 - 111

Hey Mods, I keep running across many scammers. Some people have the awareness to know when some one is scamming or not, but can we make this or another thread an *Unofficial Scammer List*? -- as in listing their handle and the scam that they were caught redhanded trying to commit? I know this forum has a strict policy on keeping flame wars to a minimum, but this could ultimately educate those that lurk or post regularly on this forum into avoiding those that conduct shady and illegal trades and scams. If they can't find anyone to scam, then they will fail and hopefully leave the game altogether. The thread could be a locked one where only a certain Mod or Mods could post on but they have an email address where forumgoers could submit scammers that they have found. If the overwhelming opinnion is that this person was scamming or the validity of the person is sound, then the Mods could list out the perps on a weekly basis.

Edit: I know this is a site suggestion but it goes along the lines of this current thread and was posted here for keeping the idea streamlined. I was meaning to post the names of a few scammers but I wanted to mak sure this was okay before making such a post and starting a trend.

SOT

Banned

Join Date: May 2005

East Texas

14 May 2005 at 21:06 - 112

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan2

Hey Mods, I keep running across many scammers. Some people have the awareness to know when some one is scamming or not, but can we make this or another thread an *Unofficial Scammer List*? -- as in listing their handle and the scam that they were caught redhanded trying to commit? I know this forum has a strict policy on keeping flame wars to a minimum, but this could ultimately educate those that lurk or post regularly on this forum into avoiding those that conduct shady and illegal trades and scams. If they can't find anyone to scam, then they will fail and hopefully leave the game altogether. The thread could be a locked one where only a certain Mod or Mods could post on but they have an email address where forumgoers could submit scammers that they have found. If the overwhelming opinnion is that this person was scamming or the validity of the person is sound, then the Mods could list out the perps on a weekly basis.

Edit: I know this is a site suggestion but it goes along the lines of this current thread and was posted here for keeping the idea streamlined. I was meaning to post the names of a few scammers but I wanted to mak sure this was okay before making such a post and starting a trend.

You post the idea, it becomes a trend

I saw last night, another scam. This one, involving a combination of the dye thing, and iron ingots...

I was selling steel ingots, not iron ingots. A guy in the trade chat decided to sell steel ingots also, and undercut me. I was offering mine for 400 gold each, he said 200. No big deal, all's fair in business and war. I changed mine to 150 each. I sold all of mine. I let it go at that. Then some poor sod was running around the district, screaming the name of the aforementioned iron ingot saleman, telling everyone he sold him steel ingots and then red dye, but that he kept CANCELING the trade window session repeatedly for the sole purposes of annoying.

Although this is not so much a scam as a blatant irritant, it is becoming more common, things like adding invites to a person even after several rejects, or opening and closing trade. It even has been known to cause confusion in some players, and they click trade in a fit of rage and end up being duped. It seems that there is always some new way....

Sausaletus Rex

Death From Above

Join Date: Dec 2004

14 May 2005 at 22:20 - 113

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan2

Hey Mods, I keep running across many scammers. Some people have the awareness to know when some one is scamming or not, but can we make this or another thread an *Unofficial Scammer List*? -- as in listing their handle and the scam that they were caught redhanded trying to commit?

No, there's too much potential for abuse and harrassment. Sure, *you* say that so and so is a scammer but what if they're just someone you're trying to grief? There's no way of knowing and we'll not be responsible for sicking our many posters on some poor innocent person with whom you've had a disagreement. Post the scam and tell others to watch out for it but keep names off our boards and in your report to ArenaNet where it belongs.

Kaleido Katie

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

US

Hot Pink Tears [HPT]

Me/E

14 May 2005 at 23:42 - 114

I saw the Casino thing going on today.

This one guy is going around saying he has a Sigil, and he's holding a casino in the Lion's arch districts. Says to give him 200 gold, and if you roll the number die he picks, you will get the sigil. Only when people ask to see the sigil in trade for proof, he says he's "..too busy, I have a lot of bids, maybe later." then changes districts and ignores whispers. He's made quite a lot off of people for nothing.

I know it's people's own risk to take the chance and give him their money in the first place, but seeing how desperate everyone is for sigil's now I don't think they're thinking very clear.

Spartan2

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

The Intarweb

Wrath of Nature [WoN]

E/Mo

15 May 2005 at 05:54 - 115

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sausaletus Rex

No, there's too much potential for abuse and harrassment. Sure, *you* say that so and so is a scammer but what if they're just someone you're trying to grief? There's no way of knowing and we'll not be responsible for sicking our many posters on some poor innocent person with whom you've had a disagreement. Post the scam and tell others to watch out for it but keep names off our boards and in your report to ArenaNet where it belongs.

Ok, cools. I'll keep the flaming off the boards because no one likes a flame war except for those crazy trolls. I'll only post new scams and their locations when I come across them.

Makkert

Black Beast of Aarrrrgghh

Join Date: May 2005

The Netherlands

The Biggyverse [PLEB] // Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

15 May 2005 at 06:03 - 116

Quote:

Originally Posted by sot

have personally walked up to these "casino people". I have interacted with them. Where is this dice rolling and you are losing money coming from

i believe its a command, /dice, to roll a die...or something like that.

i also some of those offer item just to annoy. 'selling a 20-35 bow'. right....
you can't loose on viewing an item, so i asked if i could see it. then he said it was a joke.
some people got such good sense of humor............

Sazi The Beast

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

15 May 2005 at 08:30 - 117

my friend was scammed the other day. He has been wanting one of those fire swords since he started playing, and someone shouted that they were selling one of these swords for 2.5k and my friend happily bought it. He goes to equip it, and he can't. Turns out it was customized for the person he bought it from. they need to make the text for customized more obvious, not the almost transparent text they have now

Pevil Lihatuh

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Yorkshire, UK

R/Me

15 May 2005 at 20:21 - 118

I saw someone in Foible's Fair last night. He was trying to tell noobs that Bear Pelts, Devourers Eggs and Mysterious Scrolls as 'rare items'... his sales techniques involved telling people the bear pelt was a nice warm cloak you could wear and stuff like this. Needless to say I broadcast that these items were, in fact, all quest items and not rare at all.

No clue if he sold them or not but hopefully if someone did buy them they at least got them as the quest item and not as an unusable fashion accessory

mthegreatone

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

15 May 2005 at 22:15 - 119

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Meriam

This morning I got my noob character scammed. I admit I am learning this game and very vulnerable to scams. I am posting this to alert people.

************ (his name) shouted out "Red Dye--100 gold" and wanting this color I bought from him. He placed a Red Dye in window and I happily paid him 100 gold. Two more red dyes, and I have my outfit I thought. Well upon closer inspection, I found I had bought dye remover (looks exactly like red dye) and I was victim to my first scam. (reminds me of the AC1 black robe scam--the white one which was common looked exactly like the black one in trade window, and they were not labeled).

Anyway, I guess us new players need to be VERY aware of people ripping us off. If you know of any other things that people do, please post so we can be aware of crooks and swindles.

perma-ignore: ************

this is the kind of thing that usually occured in diablo 2 (expansion as well). you guys know how d2 only has a few designs for their rings/ammys and such...it use to be easy to show the victim something and switch it as soon as they make the transaction.

Lone Wolf

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

16 May 2005 at 09:43 - 120

I was just wondering (since people were thinking earlier some kind of punishments to the scammers)
that what if there were a pillory in the Ascalon City? And whenever one makes a scam his/her character
would be locked on the pillory for two gaming hours (so that s/he had to stay there until /age was two hours more)...

At least it would be reasonable punishment
-also other people could see the actual scammers and be then aware of them.