Beware Scammer Alert! -ALL READ FOR YOUR SAFETY-

[VMK_KrazyLuke]

I never met this scammer nor ran into him but LOTS have been scammed by Him..including Cl's! Watch out for a guest with 4-5 infernos. He scammed them all to get them or either hacked. I was reading story's on another site about Cl's and people who got scammed by him, he is so swift u never would even know what he is doing.Just a warning if u see a guest with that many infernos and the profile..not trading inferno..report him. Staff are even looking for him because he keeps switching accounts.
~Thanks for your time~

Scammer:

PICTURE REMOVED it is the same as posting the name DO NOT DO IT!

CREDIT FOR THE PICTURE AND INFO GOES TO PINKTINKBRIT.

- BUT SERIOUSLY THIS IS ALL OVER AND STAFF ARE EVEN LOOKING FOR THIS PLAYER. THIS IS A BIG SCAMMER AND I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO MAKE A MULE ACCOUNT AND PLAY ON THAT OR TRANSFER ALL YOUR RARE VMK STUFF THERE AND THEN WAIT UNTIL HE IS CAUGHT. JUST A REMINDER HE IS A REALLY GOOD SCAMMER TO KEEP GETTING THAT MANY INFERNOS AND OTHER RARE. JUST WATCH OUT WHAT YOU DO. MANY HAVE TRADED WITH THEM AND HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS A FAIR TRADE UNTIL SOMEHOW THE SCAMMER'S STUFF THEY OFFERED DID NOT TRANFER BUT THERE STUFF WENT TO THE SCAMMER. JUST WATCH OUT WHAT YOU DO AND WHERE YOU GO. THIS PERSON IS SEEN ALOT IN THE ADVENTURELAND BAZAAR.

 

[Heynopushing!]

Thanks for the heads up I will keep lookout for him.

 

[Loves Disney]

I just don't understand how some people can have the heart to steal things from other players; players including young children. It simply makes me sick to know a real person can go and just take like this. It can be really heartbreaking for a little girl or boy to lose something in a game that has really become part of his or her life. If an adult feels awful about being taken advantage of, imagine how a 9, 10, or 11 year old may feel. I don't know, I just don't see how this could make anyone happy.

 

[Nanoer]

HEY!! I'VE SEEN THAT GUY!! i've seen him quite a few times before went i went to trade rooms to get more bat magics!

 

[SassySavanah]

I know exactly who that Guest is and I'm sure many of You know his title when he's not playing as a guest name but since we can't say names I wont post it, he also works with another person on there and I've hear of many scammed by him! They tried scamming me too, but didn't work. Lot of people are not as fortunate as I was.

I never met this scammer nor ran into him but LOTS have been scammed by Him..including Cl's! Watch out for a guest with 4-5 infernos. He scammed them all to get them or either hacked. I was reading story's on another site about Cl's and people who got scammed by him, he is so swift u never would even know what he is doing.Just a warning if u see a guest with that many infernos and the profile..not trading inferno..report him. Staff are even looking for him because he keeps switching accounts.
~Thanks for your time~

Scammer:

PICTURE REMOVED it is the same as posting the name DO NOT DO IT!

CREDIT FOR THE PICTURE AND INFO GOES TO PINKTINKBRIT.

- BUT SERIOUSLY THIS IS ALL OVER AND STAFF ARE EVEN LOOKING FOR THIS PLAYER. THIS IS A BIG SCAMMER AND I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO MAKE A MULE ACCOUNT AND PLAY ON THAT OR TRANSFER ALL YOUR RARE VMK STUFF THERE AND THEN WAIT UNTIL HE IS CAUGHT. JUST A REMINDER HE IS A REALLY GOOD SCAMMER TO KEEP GETTING THAT MANY INFERNOS AND OTHER RARE. JUST WATCH OUT WHAT YOU DO. MANY HAVE TRADED WITH THEM AND HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS A FAIR TRADE UNTIL SOMEHOW THE SCAMMER'S STUFF THEY OFFERED DID NOT TRANFER BUT THERE STUFF WENT TO THE SCAMMER. JUST WATCH OUT WHAT YOU DO AND WHERE YOU GO. THIS PERSON IS SEEN ALOT IN THE ADVENTURELAND BAZAAR.

 

[mking624]

I don't mean to be a pain or go slightly off topic, but if even mods are posting warnings about how to be careful of not being scammed, then why aren't we taknig precautions by making an alert list of known scammers to make sure people here aren't taken for? I understand that some of these people cannot "defend" themselves...but come on, we know of legitimate scammers and we warn about them but we're not allowed to name them? So basically we're telling people to be careful but then to play a guessing game? We can't get to know and trust people if we're not naming names on who is not trustworthy. It kinda limits trading sometimes if you don't know who is legitimate and who is not.

We should at least have a thread of members on here who are verified decent traders.

 

[Loves Disney]

EDIT: Heard other responses and have changed my opinion!

 

[Bellboy]

What are this scammers prefered methods of scamming? That can better help us, all.
Defense through knowledge, not pointing fingers.

 

[LoriR]

Let me address a few reasons why naming suspected scammers can't be allowed.

1. Unfortunately, people could make false accusations. We have no way to verify if a scam took place. Only VMK can check logs and that is why we ask you to be sure and report any scam in the game directly to them.


2. As soon a scammer is identified, they can simply create a new name to scam with. Describing how a scam takes place and warning others how to avoid this situation is a better education. Names can change quickly, while the type of scam usually stays the same.

Paying attention to how scams are taking place, and learning to avoid these situations is the best way to stay safe!!

LoriR

 

[Maleficent2]

What are this scammers prefered methods of scamming? That can better help us, all.
Defense through knowledge, not pointing fingers.

thank you bellboy!


You can not now or have you ever been allowed to post the names of scammers here on the DIS.

We have no way to check out what you say is true or not or if you just made something up because you do not like the person(s).

I do not think that anyone of you would like to be accused of scamming have your name posted all over the DIS or any other forum for that matter and it was all a lie.

I am sorry if some of you can not or do not understand this rule but that is the rules and if you chose to post you agreed to them.

You can however share what ever info you want via PM or email.

Mal

 

[mking624]

Thank you Lori for the explanation, I can better see where you're coming from...particularly with creating new names. Mal, I know I chose to agree to the rules. I'm not asking for a lecture on "I chose to agree to them, so that's the final word"...I'm looking for an explanation on why things are in place so I can better understand the situation.

There should be something in place that members, particularly new members/players can refer to so that they can see what are typical scams...or what new methods scammers are using. I think it's a great way to keep guarded. Or as I mentioned, a verified trader list...members here who have traded successfully, but more than just once or twice. That way we know who here is more trustworthy with trades. This is especially helpful if people are trading rare/beta items or a ton of items. I'm just tired of seeing people here, particularly younger/new members being had because they don't know what to look for, except for perhaps "be careful of being scammed" comments. Just my two cents.

 

[puckstopper55]

While i agree that scams are horrible, and i realize thatr scams do happen, unless you give out your personal information your acount is almost 100% secure. VMK uses encrypted password transfer between your pc and their servers, so even if it does get stolen its almost impossable ot be cracked. If itthey do crack it, i am sure they have better more profitable things to do then hack VMK items. Secondly, if you are in a trade window, there is no way to remove items after the "do you agree" button is clicked. Sure they may be able to remove items and then click trade and if you arent paying attention you will be trading for nothing, in such a case you get an additional message asking "are you sure ...". Basically, unless you arent paying attention or really dont know what you are doing, you canno tbe hacked, or scammed. My advice is simple. Pay attention to all trades, do not share login info, and use common sense. If a deal is too good ot be true, it prob is.

 

[mking624]

I do agree with you, puck...but my thing is that there are obviously really good scammers out there if even CLs are being taken for...know what I mean? Or for example, the warning we had about someone going around on IM contacting Dis members and trying to scam them. It's things like these that we could keep a list of so people know what to look for. Like for example the IM...what was involved? Sharing of information? Something else? I personally think it's just more helpful to other people. I'm not saying that the mods HAVE to do something like this. But as Lori said, describing how a scam takes place is better education...so maybe having a list of things like that where we can add to it as new scams enter the picture could be beneficial. No names included obviously.

 

[Maleficent2]

Thank you Lori for the explanation, I can better see where you're coming from...particularly with creating new names. Mal, I know I chose to agree to the rules. I'm not asking for a lecture on "I chose to agree to them, so that's the final word"...I'm looking for an explanation on why things are in place so I can better understand the situation.

We have no way to check out what you say is true or not or if you just made something up because you do not like the person(s).

I do not think that anyone of you would like to be accused of scamming have your name posted all over the DIS or any other forum for that matter and it was all a lie.

I also gave an explanation, see above, you must have missed it.
I think the above says the same thing as Lori just in a different way. I was not lecturing you or anyone else but this has been discussed over and over everytime almost that someone posts a name and it is deleted.

It turns out that Lori and I were posting at the same time. While you do not like the way I explained things, that is clear, those are the rules of the DIS not just the VMK boards.

 

[Maleficent2]

links to threads about scamming:

IMPORTANT Reminder about trading for Room Codes

Don’t Get Scammed – Play it Safe

Warning - Do not get scammed!


**Scammers Beware** DIS Boards Unite

Scam alert! (quest related)

I was robbed NEED VMK STAFF!! Multiple trade window scam

Scam Stories

I could go on and on just do a advanced search for the word 'SCAMMERS" and the VMK board and you will get at lease 76 threads

 

[mtlhddoc2]

I kind of agree with puck - it is next to impossible to "scam" someone, it is possible to lie though, so the word "scam" in and of itself is a little harsh. Most of these scams are "let me borrow and I will give it back" - thats not a scam, that is a bald faced lie.

 

[mking624]

links to threads about scamming:

IMPORTANT Reminder about trading for Room Codes

Don’t Get Scammed – Play it Safe

Warning - Do not get scammed!


**Scammers Beware** DIS Boards Unite

Scam alert! (quest related)

I was robbed NEED VMK STAFF!! Multiple trade window scam

Scam Stories

I could go on and on just do a advanced search for the word 'SCAMMERS" and the VMK board and you will get at lease 76 threads

Speaking as a message board administrator (I've owned/run one for over 5 years), many newer members don't really know how to search forums right away. For those who've never used a message board before, it can take a bit of time to get to know all the different features something like this has (especially when it's a large board like Dis...it can be overwhelming for new-to-ANY-message-board-users). Even for me, a more "seasoned" message board user, the search function does not always work. Many times searching Dis, the searches have timed out, not found what I was looking for, etc. If you do a search for how to do certain things, etc, you can find several threads as well...but we also have them listed in the Player's Guide. My suggestion would be to add some key thread links or info to the Player's Guide as a quick reference to members. Or perhaps instead of the players guide, adding the the sticky in the trade forum (scammers beware thread) tips on how to spot a scammer or how to avoid being scammed. It may come in useful just as a quick reference and hopefully we won't see many "I've been scammed" threads as a result. Really I'm just trying to make it easier for other people.

 

[Maleficent2]

My suggestion would be to add some key thread links or info to the Player's Guide as a quick reference to members. Or perhaps instead of the players guide, adding the the sticky in the trade forum (scammers beware thread) tips on how to spot a scammer or how to avoid being scammed. It may come in useful just as a quick reference and hopefully we won't see many "I've been scammed" threads as a result. Really I'm just trying to make it easier for other people.

Beware of Scammers Guide for the Trades/Wishes Board is an excellant idea and that is a great suggestion and we would be happy to do that. We could also use some help getting that set up and keeping it current if you would like to do that.

Mal

 

[mking624]

I would love to help out in any way I can.

 

[Maleficent2]

Well start and maintain a Scam Thread on the Trade/Wish board...would be a start I have posted some of the links for you already.

Good Luck.

Mal