Protect Yourself - Trade Scams

[bytheblood]

I wanted to make a suggestion to you all....

I do not know a lot about quests, where to find stuff or how to play all of the games well, but I do know how to CMB.

When you are trading, take a screenshot first to ensure you get the players name.

Tell the other VMK player that you are doing this. I have done that. Something like (in VMK speak), "One moment - I am writing your name and taking screen shot for my protection."

I refuse to trade (unless it is somebody I know from the Disboards) because of scammers: which sadly, I will never get Mickey ears, a Maleficent or Princess hat because of it, but on the few times I have, I have done this.

Either the trade goes well or the person freaks and backs out altogether and disappears from the room.

Also, before you begin the trade, write the name down. Just in case anything happens before you print that screenshot, you still have yourself covered in the event you need to report to VMK.

 

[Laurabearz]

I am not sure how much a screen shot would help... VMK doesnt really seem to be interested in trading scams... at least that is how it looks from a players point of view. (maybe if mal and other's who have screen shots would get their items back I would have a different view on this... but until then)

 

[Maleficent2]

I am not sure how much a screen shot would help... VMK doesnt really seem to be interested in trading scams... at least that is how it looks from a players point of view. (maybe if mal and other's who have screen shots would get their items back I would have a different view on this... but until then)

Just so everyone knows....I sent screen shots to VMK only to have the player and all their IDs banned, I did not ask for nor do I expect to get my inferno back.


Bytheblood-

If you meet me in vmk I think I can help you out with your hat situation, at least the Maleficent one.

You can also find Trade scam advice here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=993603

 

[steamboatpete]

Single window trading is pretty safe. There is no reason why you can't get black ears or a maleficent hat, even if you don't know or trust the person you are trading with, since those can be done in a single trade window.

 

[moochinkassarole]

I was wearing my witch hat and someone asked to trade my witch hat for a ticket to his high paying "cute or boot" game. I can't stand cute or boot.

I said no thanks after he hounded me and finally had to cancel the trade. As soon as that was done, I had another trade request. Someone asked if the person I was trading with traded me a ticket. I said they wanted to, but I said no. They said to please trade him, as he is only offering those tickets to a few people and his prizes are really good and she "always wins" and he won't let her trade for a ticket anymore. She offered something crazy. Tons of magic, lots of witch hats (how did she know that's what he was after?) and would not leave me alone. I had to cancel that trade as well.

First of all, trading to play a game? Seriously? I'm fairly new to VMK, so maybe I don't know better. Second, how can you possibly "always" win at cute or boot? If the guy doesn't like her, he would just boot her. It's just a game of opinion, if you can even call it a game.

So my guess, the two of them are working together on a scam. They get my hat and give me a useless ticket. They do this all day and then bingo, they have some good stash. Maybe they do end up playing cute or boot, and one of them is the winner, so it's totally rigged. I may be cynical. Has anyone heard of this?

I am hiding my head in shame, falling for the "look, a princess top!" and then I lost my santa hat [/COLOR]after she tossed up a bunch of total junk and took the princess top off. As soon as the trade was over, I realized what she did, but she was gone. Embarrassing!

sweeping_beauty

 

[koolashley]

I've been scammed, but it was before there was Safety Corner and Yavn's Newsletter, and the month VMK first opened. Someone came into my room and asked me if he could use my invisibility magic in the room really quick and promised he'd give it back. I didn't know anything about scamming, and I didn't know any better, so I told him "ok". We traded, he left the room, and deleted me off of my friends list. I reported the problem to VMK immediatly (foolishly forgetting to remember his name) and they replied saying, "We're sorry, but this was your responsibility and not ours. We cannot get it back for you. Thank you for contacting VMK."

It's sort of a lesson when you get scammed in VMK, this happens in real life, too. And it is our responsibility if we lose something we enjoyed to have, and it's ok to be angry, too. Eventually, though, VMK might give the exact thing you want back out in the Emporium or other shops. (Surely, moochinkassarole, they will bring back out the Santa Het you want this year again) Have a great day, everyone