Curse

Chthon · Nov 28, 2007, 08:51 PM // 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcady

Somebody throw me a clue here...

Why would anyone ever need you to drop something for them to see it? That's what most of these scams seem to be about.

If you wanna see my loot, watch me wearing and holding it.

It dates back to D2. There were so many vulnerabilities in the code for D2's trade system that, even quite late in the game's lifecycle, there were still exploits that would allow someone to totally fake what showed up in your trade window. Thin air could be made to look like any item in the game. But the on-the-ground display was, ttbomk, always accurate. Since D2 didn't allow skills or speed boosts in town, "stand all the way over there and drop the item so I can see that you really have it" was not a tremendously unreasonable request.

Accurate descriptions of these exploits and clear-headed reasoning about how to prove one wasn't using them were pretty rare, and silly superstitions abounded. Still, people came to understand that dropping items was a way of proving something, even though they were never really quite clear on what exactly it proved. It became part of the "culture," you might say, and people would drop or ask others to drop items to "prove" this, that, or the other thing on the basis of whatever "explanation"/rumor they had heard and believed.

Of course, since people were willing to drop items to "prove" X, scammers popped up using every conceivable means of tricking people into dropping items under circumstances that allowed the scammer to get there first.

GW inherited this "cultural" myth that "dropping an item on the ground proves something that you can't prove using the trade window" from D2, even though it largely did not inherit D2's legacy of technical problems with the trade window. And, unfortunately, GW inherited the scammers to go with it too.

onerabbit · Nov 28, 2007, 09:02 PM // 21:02

i dont know if this counts as a scam, but...

Guildchat: hey, does anyone have a wand, doesnt have to be max or anything, i need it to test an UW build.

Me: yeh sure, i got a Zarnas Wrath you can have, i dont need it.
30mins later

Guildchat: Selling Zarnas Wrath 5k

me: dude...

Guildchat: ?

i didnt say anything after.. just kicked the lil shit.

Squishy ftw · Nov 28, 2007, 09:06 PM // 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by onerabbit

i dont know if this counts as a scam, but...

Guildchat: hey, does anyone have a wand, doesnt have to be max or anything, i need it to test an UW build.

Me: yeh sure, i got a Zarnas Wrath you can have, i dont need it.
30mins later

Guildchat: Selling Zarnas Wrath 5k

me: dude...

Guildchat: ?

i didnt say anything after.. just kicked the lil shit.

omg, that's seriously lame...and awfully dumb aswel.

Dweasel · Nov 28, 2007, 09:22 PM // 21:22

A guy in Lion's Arch was looking for a run to Ascalon. I offered to do it for 2.5k, and he laughed at my price. I asked for a counter offer, and he offered ... a monastery credit.

After a few minutes he agreed to 2.5k, but only if he paid on arrival.

Onarik Amrak · Nov 28, 2007, 10:10 PM // 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dweasel

A guy in Lion's Arch was looking for a run to Ascalon. I offered to do it for 2.5k, and he laughed at my price. I asked for a counter offer, and he offered ... a monastery credit.

After a few minutes he agreed to 2.5k, but only if he paid on arrival.

And did he pay?

I stopped doing runs because of morons who don't pay up.

Fury Incarnate · Nov 28, 2007, 10:10 PM // 22:10

I've seen a lot of different scams since GW came out - it's actually interesting to watch them evolve with the game. But when it comes to the most pathetic scam, it's either the "Running to uber farming spot 5k" scam or the "Selling uber-rare [insert crappy item name here] 100k+xx ectos!!!11!" scam.

Woop Shotty · Nov 28, 2007, 10:15 PM // 22:15

There are some pretty big accounts of scamming here. Mine's not as big of a deal, but it has aggrevated me and many others. There are people in pre-searing that say they'll basically make a pre for post gold trade. I think the amount I lost to this guy was 25k. And this guy continues to do it all the time, and he's not alone to do the scam.

boxterduke · Nov 28, 2007, 10:17 PM // 22:17

I had people putting gold amount instead of plats in the trade window, this was before the way gold is displayed now in the trade window.

I had someone put in mursaat tokens instead of ectos, I wasl "lol nice try"

Kusandaa · Nov 28, 2007, 10:32 PM // 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onarik Amrak

And did he pay?

I stopped doing runs because of morons who don't pay up.

That's why I stopped doing runs as well. For a short while I ran Zen Daijun as MM for a bit of extra cash - charged 1k/head, which I found reasonable (most runners were charging the same). I got people most of the time, but other times there were runners and the competition settles in. >_>.

To make sure I'd get some cash, I tried to ask for half at the start, half at the end, but scammers do that so I didn't get a lot of business (but still got some... who actually paid the rest at the end). I tried asking for full payment at the last boss, which never worked because there was always an AFKer or a survivor who didn't want to follow. Payment at the end of the mission never worked, I didn't get paid half the time since people would escape right away, even when they showed me the cash before.

I think I've made one successful run where everyone paid without whining. I stopped running for cash shortly afterwards, but sometimes I still take PUGs when I run the mission for guildies. And I'm amazed that people tipped me for it O_o.

Sypherious · Nov 28, 2007, 10:53 PM // 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinterSnowblind

I once saw a guy in Ascalon City, asking for a runner to Ascalon for 2k.
Not sure if it was a scam, or if he was just very confused, but it was pretty funny.

Unfortunately, I never got a screenshot.

OMG, I did that!! about 1 or 2 months ago, i was just being stupid and i started saying that, not sure if it was me you saw. but i DO remember doing that lol

HawkofStorms · Nov 28, 2007, 11:11 PM // 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chthon

It dates back to D2. There were so many vulnerabilities in the code for D2's trade system that, even quite late in the game's lifecycle, there were still exploits that would allow someone to totally fake what showed up in your trade window. Thin air could be made to look like any item in the game. But the on-the-ground display was, ttbomk, always accurate. Since D2 didn't allow skills or speed boosts in town, "stand all the way over there and drop the item so I can see that you really have it" was not a tremendously unreasonable request.

Accurate descriptions of these exploits and clear-headed reasoning about how to prove one wasn't using them were pretty rare, and silly superstitions abounded. Still, people came to understand that dropping items was a way of proving something, even though they were never really quite clear on what exactly it proved. It became part of the "culture," you might say, and people would drop or ask others to drop items to "prove" this, that, or the other thing on the basis of whatever "explanation"/rumor they had heard and believed.

Of course, since people were willing to drop items to "prove" X, scammers popped up using every conceivable means of tricking people into dropping items under circumstances that allowed the scammer to get there first.

GW inherited this "cultural" myth that "dropping an item on the ground proves something that you can't prove using the trade window" from D2, even though it largely did not inherit D2's legacy of technical problems with the trade window. And, unfortunately, GW inherited the scammers to go with it too.

Wow. Did not know that. The more you know.

Nemo the Capitalist · Nov 28, 2007, 11:23 PM // 23:23

lotta scammers out there most of them have been based upon chase me in town etc

warcrap · Nov 29, 2007, 01:02 AM // 01:02

well a guy was selling some kinda of weapon that was 8-11 it was a sword with an upgrade when he put it on the trade screen he took it away really quick when i put my gold on it but good for me he was to slow and i took it away and reported him.

Str0b0 · Nov 29, 2007, 01:52 AM // 01:52

I can't believe the shadow stepping scams...reminds me of Diablo 2. The old" You go in town and drop so I can see it I'll stand outside of town and look." scam and then poof teleport and snatch.

RPGmaniac · Nov 29, 2007, 03:04 AM // 03:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Šiljo

dupe under the tree near droknar...lame...

How does this one work?

And thanks to whoever brought up Ebon Escape for shadow stepping.

Onarik Amrak · Nov 29, 2007, 03:33 AM // 03:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legendary Shiz

EAT SHIT AND DIE KURZDICK

Right... is it even remotely possible you take the game too seriously?

Just throwing that out there.

Lady Raenef · Nov 29, 2007, 04:37 AM // 04:37

I've never actually encountered one. Ever. Which makes me sad. I have no story to tell.

AuraofMana · Nov 29, 2007, 10:07 AM // 10:07

I wish there is a way to INVITE in scammers so I can make fun of them, screenshot, and report.
Oh the feeding to my sadistic nature.

TheRaven · Nov 29, 2007, 09:02 PM // 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemo the Capitalist

lotta scammers out there most of them have been based upon chase me in town etc

LOL, I forgot about that one. I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet in thread either.

The old...."First person to find me and open trade gets 10k!!!!!!!" spam. It wouldn't be so annoying if the kiddie wouldn't spam it every 2 seconds.

These people spamming it are almost always in Kaineng Center (the section reachable only thru the Divine Path) or Lion's Arch at the Lighthouse.

I was bored one evening so I actually tracked down one of them. He was in LA spamming the message every second. I checked the Lighthouse hill. Of course that's where he was. As soon as I came within his radar he left town. At least I stopped the spam.

So has anyone ever been paid by one of these kiddies?

Omniclasm · Nov 29, 2007, 09:05 PM // 21:05

I sold my armor for 15k

A piece