johNNyboi
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It's happened to all of us, a malicous player switching out an item, hacking and who knows what else. This guide is written so people new to the game can be aware of the most common/obvious scams, so that you don't lose items, especially ones lent to you, that can get pretty embarassing >:O .
Scam #1 The basic switch-scam. Danger:Low Usage:High
Unfortunately, Blizzard made a huge mistake in that some very good items look like crappy ones of the same type. Some are obvious, like these two:
However, some others aren't so easy to see. A fake Shako is easily made with a cap and perfect emerald.A Variation on this scam is to switch a high-quality item for a lower quality one. What to do about it: It's pretty simple. Keep your mouse over their item until they click the little green box, that way they can't switch 'em on you.
Scam #2 The Peer Pressure scam. Danger:Very High Usage:Very Low
This is an extremely rare and effective scam, I only encountered it once, but it worked like a charm on me. Basically the idea is: Scammer A says they desprately need an item, and usually offer very well. Now, it just so happens that someone else in the game (scammer B) has that item, and makes sure the victim knows it. The victim, trying to make a good deal, asks scammer # what he wants for it. Scammer 2 ridiculously overprices it, but it's still a good deal because of what scammer #A is offering, so the victim takes it, and both scammers leave the game. If that sounded confusing to you, read the dialouge below. Say XXSlayerXX is the victim, UberNewb is scammer A, and GreatFlame is scammer B.
XXSlayerXX: Sees game named "Ist for cheap". He enters.
Ubernewb: Hey, wug?
XXSlayerXX: Yea, u have Ist?
Ubernewb: Yea.
XXSlayerXX: Hmmm, is there anything u need?
Ubernewb: Ummmm.....maybe an arreats?
GreatFlame joined our world. Diablo's minions grow stronger.
XXSlayerXX: *Runs to Flame* You have an arreats?
Greatflame: Yes, I use it though.
XXSlayerXX: I'll give you Pul for it (Arreats' normal value)
Greatflame: Nah, i need an Um
XXSlayerXX: *Thinking he still makes huge profit* Hmm....Ok.
Greatflame and Slayer trade at this point.
Greatflame: Hahahha, ur a newb.
Ubernewb: Lol, what an idiot.
Greatflame left our world. Diablo's minions grow weaker.
Ubernewb left our world. Diablo's minions grow weaker.
And Ubernewb/Greatflame have made a tidy profit, while Slayer is wondering wtf happened.
What to do about it: Not a whole lot that can be done, but if you seem to be getting a bit too lucky on the trading front, be suspicous.
Scam 3 The Anni/Gheeds scams. Danger: Medium Usage:High
Another really horrible mistake of Blizzard's. These two Unique charms cannot be put in the trade window, so Blizzard though no one would ever trade them. But a whole lot of people do, and thats where the problems are. The only way to exchange these little guys is to toss the items being traded, and anytime things happen outside of the trading window, odd things start to happen. There are way too many of these scams to list, but I'll include a couple guidelines.
#1 Never ever ever trade outside of town. Chances are about fifteen to one that they're wearing Enigma, and will pick up their item and Teleport over to you the moment you toss yours.
#2 Never trade with a Paladin, they are almost certainly going to use a maxed Vigor aura to beat you to the punch.
#3 Never trade with anyone else in the game. Too many possibilities here, such as a sorc w/MH waiting just off of your view, ready to tele into town and grab the items.
#4 Be worried even with others, there is a Towntele hack, so be EXTREMELY coutious.
What to do about it: Even all those are only a few examples. Generally its stupid to trade for these charms at all, except with someone you trust.
Scam #4 The Pitiful Newb scam Danger: None-Very High Usage:Low
This one is pretty basic, they act like a total newbie and beg for items. The reason for such a large danger range is that you may or may not be inclined to help them out.
What to do about it: Your best bet is to only give a new "friend" information and really newb stuff, and see how they react. Most scammers will just fade away after a while. A genuine newb will be appreciatie of all your help/info, so feel free to give gifts to them.
Scam #5 The "I need room" scam. Danger: Low Usage: Medium
In this one, a player will make a good trade with you, but will need room. He'll go to his stash and say something along the lines of: "Crap, i need room....can u give X item to me now and then trade Y to my mule?". Don't buy it. He's just going to leave as soon as you give him an item, and laugh at you from a chat channel.
What to do about it: Just make a basic trade. No weird stuff, that avoids pretty much all scams of this sort.
Scam #6 The Infamous "DND" Scam. Danger: Low Usage: Incredibly high.
The oldest trick in the book. Many commands on B.net can be abbreviated, such as /w instead of /whisper. The problem with this is that newbs are unaware of what some of these commands do. /DND stands for /do not disturb, and anything typed after it will be displayed as a reason if someone trys to whisper you. For example, if you type /dnd eating pie, it will display Your Name is away (eating pie), to anyone who attempts to whisper to you. However, there is a scam that doing that will give u free sojs or other, if you type /dnd *acctname* *password*, then they whisper you, get your account and raid it. The risk of falling for this scam is zero if you know about it, but the losses if you fall for it are more then any other scam. There are some variations on the scam, like someone named free_soj telling you to whisper free_soj for a free soj. If any scammers read this page, I ask you to stop using this one, is it really worth taking months of work from a newb for the shako you could find in 2 days? I hope this information will save you a lot of time and trouble, so you won't have to go through the same painful experiences I did (My Soj :...( ), and block those who would like to exploit you to their advantage. If you know of any additonal scams, please list them in your comments and whisper me at *Ihatebots@Useast.
Scam #1 The basic switch-scam. Danger:Low Usage:High
Unfortunately, Blizzard made a huge mistake in that some very good items look like crappy ones of the same type. Some are obvious, like these two:
However, some others aren't so easy to see. A fake Shako is easily made with a cap and perfect emerald.A Variation on this scam is to switch a high-quality item for a lower quality one. What to do about it: It's pretty simple. Keep your mouse over their item until they click the little green box, that way they can't switch 'em on you.
Scam #2 The Peer Pressure scam. Danger:Very High Usage:Very Low
This is an extremely rare and effective scam, I only encountered it once, but it worked like a charm on me. Basically the idea is: Scammer A says they desprately need an item, and usually offer very well. Now, it just so happens that someone else in the game (scammer B) has that item, and makes sure the victim knows it. The victim, trying to make a good deal, asks scammer # what he wants for it. Scammer 2 ridiculously overprices it, but it's still a good deal because of what scammer #A is offering, so the victim takes it, and both scammers leave the game. If that sounded confusing to you, read the dialouge below. Say XXSlayerXX is the victim, UberNewb is scammer A, and GreatFlame is scammer B.
XXSlayerXX: Sees game named "Ist for cheap". He enters.
Ubernewb: Hey, wug?
XXSlayerXX: Yea, u have Ist?
Ubernewb: Yea.
XXSlayerXX: Hmmm, is there anything u need?
Ubernewb: Ummmm.....maybe an arreats?
GreatFlame joined our world. Diablo's minions grow stronger.
XXSlayerXX: *Runs to Flame* You have an arreats?
Greatflame: Yes, I use it though.
XXSlayerXX: I'll give you Pul for it (Arreats' normal value)
Greatflame: Nah, i need an Um
XXSlayerXX: *Thinking he still makes huge profit* Hmm....Ok.
Greatflame and Slayer trade at this point.
Greatflame: Hahahha, ur a newb.
Ubernewb: Lol, what an idiot.
Greatflame left our world. Diablo's minions grow weaker.
Ubernewb left our world. Diablo's minions grow weaker.
And Ubernewb/Greatflame have made a tidy profit, while Slayer is wondering wtf happened.
What to do about it: Not a whole lot that can be done, but if you seem to be getting a bit too lucky on the trading front, be suspicous.
Scam 3 The Anni/Gheeds scams. Danger: Medium Usage:High
Another really horrible mistake of Blizzard's. These two Unique charms cannot be put in the trade window, so Blizzard though no one would ever trade them. But a whole lot of people do, and thats where the problems are. The only way to exchange these little guys is to toss the items being traded, and anytime things happen outside of the trading window, odd things start to happen. There are way too many of these scams to list, but I'll include a couple guidelines.
#1 Never ever ever trade outside of town. Chances are about fifteen to one that they're wearing Enigma, and will pick up their item and Teleport over to you the moment you toss yours.
#2 Never trade with a Paladin, they are almost certainly going to use a maxed Vigor aura to beat you to the punch.
#3 Never trade with anyone else in the game. Too many possibilities here, such as a sorc w/MH waiting just off of your view, ready to tele into town and grab the items.
#4 Be worried even with others, there is a Towntele hack, so be EXTREMELY coutious.
What to do about it: Even all those are only a few examples. Generally its stupid to trade for these charms at all, except with someone you trust.
Scam #4 The Pitiful Newb scam Danger: None-Very High Usage:Low
This one is pretty basic, they act like a total newbie and beg for items. The reason for such a large danger range is that you may or may not be inclined to help them out.
What to do about it: Your best bet is to only give a new "friend" information and really newb stuff, and see how they react. Most scammers will just fade away after a while. A genuine newb will be appreciatie of all your help/info, so feel free to give gifts to them.
Scam #5 The "I need room" scam. Danger: Low Usage: Medium
In this one, a player will make a good trade with you, but will need room. He'll go to his stash and say something along the lines of: "Crap, i need room....can u give X item to me now and then trade Y to my mule?". Don't buy it. He's just going to leave as soon as you give him an item, and laugh at you from a chat channel.
What to do about it: Just make a basic trade. No weird stuff, that avoids pretty much all scams of this sort.
Scam #6 The Infamous "DND" Scam. Danger: Low Usage: Incredibly high.
The oldest trick in the book. Many commands on B.net can be abbreviated, such as /w instead of /whisper. The problem with this is that newbs are unaware of what some of these commands do. /DND stands for /do not disturb, and anything typed after it will be displayed as a reason if someone trys to whisper you. For example, if you type /dnd eating pie, it will display Your Name is away (eating pie), to anyone who attempts to whisper to you. However, there is a scam that doing that will give u free sojs or other, if you type /dnd *acctname* *password*, then they whisper you, get your account and raid it. The risk of falling for this scam is zero if you know about it, but the losses if you fall for it are more then any other scam. There are some variations on the scam, like someone named free_soj telling you to whisper free_soj for a free soj. If any scammers read this page, I ask you to stop using this one, is it really worth taking months of work from a newb for the shako you could find in 2 days? I hope this information will save you a lot of time and trouble, so you won't have to go through the same painful experiences I did (My Soj :...( ), and block those who would like to exploit you to their advantage. If you know of any additonal scams, please list them in your comments and whisper me at *Ihatebots@Useast.
