7.8.2007 - kakashi[DUI] and DarthObiwan make lol at stupid scammers
7.9.2007 - They decide that a thread would be cool. So liek, they reserveth posts and start workin on it.
7.11.2007 - Some parts are under construction, but the store is open to the exchange! Phew! xU
7.23.2007 - Moved the Selling/Buying post and Useful Tips/News post around. Added some names to the white list.
--
Also, nothing replaces a solid anti-virus like Norton or McAfee. Please use the above programs in conjunction with your usual anti-virus scanning.
Because we just *love* the exchange, and *hate* what's happening to it, we thought we'd contribute our two cents into helping others with some of the more unscrupulous things we've learned. There are probably other guides that have come before and after us, but we wrote the majority of this guide on our own, and hopefully something good comes out of it. We'll be listing some of the common scams and other stuff that you need to look at, and a few common sense tips you might find useful when encountering them. Also included is just some common sense stuff while in the exchange ;D
. Phishers/Keyloggers - These are a serious threat, and are the reason alot of people, who would never fall for normal scam letters, are getting their accounts stolen. This is where someone posts a link, and because we're all used to just clicking links without really even thinking about them, we click them.
The above example looks like a link to a thread, but is actually a link to lemonparty. Now, besides a momentary attack on your eyes, no damage is done. But the link could also lead to a fake login page (which has a frame breaker, so it won't have the little part that says the site is not part of Gaia), or worse, lead to a page where a keylogger is automatically downloaded to your PC. Keyloggers record all the keystrokes you make on your PC, and are extremely dangerous, as it doesn't just record what you do on Gaia, it could also record a lot of information such as your
google porn searchings bank/paypal info! Keyloggers are detected by most anti-virus software, so be sure to run that if you suspect you are infected.
Please remember to always look at the bottom bar on your browser to check where you are *really* going.
Fake links could be disguised as anything-- avatar arena entries, giveaways, images, even a quest thread. We are too used to just clicking everything we see. When in doubt, do not input your login info! If you really do need to log back in, do it from the main Gaia homepage. If someone ever PMs you or posts something like that, you should give this this image
cool
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/aznriceball/haha_dumbass.gif
.[II] Multiple item exchange - When going about your day in the exchange, you will find that you'll come across deals that seem to be based only on your trust of the other person. One such type of trade is trading a large worth item for many smaller items (more than can fit in a single trade, which is 12). If the person with the larger item places it in the first trade, he risks only getting the first 12 items while the other person runs off. If the person with the larger item places it in the last trade, the person trading off the smaller items risks sending the items and not getting the item in the last trade, effectively sending the other person a bunch of free items.
example
Billy wants to trade Joe a Steel Plated Ninja Band for 50 of his Sealed Envelopes.
Two possible situations, aside from just a normal trade are:
[+] Billy sends the first trade with a Ninja Band and Joe sends over 12 sealeds. The trade is completed. Billy sends a second trade to ask for more sealeds, and Joe never responds. Billy just lost out!
[+] Joe sends a trade to Billy with the 12 sealeds and Billy accepts. They complete 4 trades with 12 of Joe's sealeds in each one. For the final trade, Joe sends 2 sealeds over, expecting Billy to send a Ninja Band back for it. He never does. Joe just gave Billy 48 sealed envelopes for free.
While we all want to be trusting, especially with friends, the presence of mules and such make it hard to trust people we don't know and who don't really have a reputation to lose. Taking this into consideration, there are ways to go about these trades.
[+]
Use gold to compensate for blank spots. - At the end, the gold traded from one side can be traded back for the final item. In this way, although it is possible either side could break the trade, at least no one is scammed and each side is still even.
[+]
PM a mod to have them monitor the trade. - This is an extreme measure, and really shouldn't be resorted to, as it shouldn't be hard to avoid these situations and mods are generally very busy.
[+]
Do a gold exchange and then buy back. - This is only an option if the person trading the many items also has pure gold equal to the items they are trading. They send over an the amount in gold for the large item, like, and then the person who received the item will proceed to 'buy' the items agreed upon from the person who sent the gold. This option in itself requires a measure of trust, as pure gold may not be a trade that one or both sides want.
[+]
How about, just don't trade for more than 12 items? - This, in my opinion, is the best option of all. Instead of more than 12 items, the remainder of the 'balance' could just be replaced with pure gold. Although it may not be the most convenient at the time, it is by far the safest method for both parties, as it only involves one trade.
.[III] Giftwrapped Items - Here is an example of a typical giftbox scam. Someone PMs you an unbelievable deal.
As our example shows, a staff of the angels for a shadow spirit. That is an unbelievable deal of course, you will make tons of gold for a smaller item. Well it comes in a giftbox but they say it is because they like giving gifts. So of course you send off the item..
bad idea. The only thing that giftbox holds is a crappy item. You have just lost an item and gold. Because once you open it, that too good to be true deal,
was too good to be true. So, be sure that the person shows the item fully, less cause for confusion and you make sure you are getting what you are supposed to.
.[IV] Reporting.. properly - When reporting a scam PM, you should click on the
Report This PM button as shown in the example.
When reporting a thread you should click on the
Report This Thread button on the bottom as shown in that example.
If only one post is to be reported, click the
Report This Post button above the post in question.
Write up a little description of why you are making the report. Depending on the severity of the item being reported, screen shots might be needed.
Proof is always a good thing to have when backing up reports. What is useful to have are screenshots. Here is a link that explains how to take one:
Taking Screenshots. Screenshots prove your case effectively when talking to Mods or when asked about your reports.
If you are unfortunate enough to already have been scammed or hacked, you will need to fill out an appropriate report, which can be found here:
Hacking,
Scamming. Be as descriptive as you can, and submit screenshots of your trade history and PMs, if you have them. This will help your case. Gaia is backed up with cases, so be patient about your wait for them. The best advice though is to try and get back to your quests, I know it isn’t always easy but you will be alright, it just takes time.
.[V] Admin needs your password? lol - This is one of the simpler and easier to avoid scams. They come in many forms, but they generally ask for your login information for one reason or another. To address this in the easiest way, we'll just quote a direct reminder from the administrators themselves:
Gaia Online
Gaia moderators and administrators will NEVER ask for your password. Never give out your password to anyone claiming to work for Gaia Online, and report anyone who asks immediately! - Sometimes people manipulate an item on the marketplace to make its value misleading. Tektek.org has a decent price guide system that gives a ballpark of what an item is really worth. Also, this scam is part of a sticky, and you're better off reading that.
http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17928499
.[VII] A Changed trade - While going about your routine in the exchange, making deals and such, you will find that you are completing dozens of trades quickly, and that sometimes, all you are doing in that trade screen is inputting your password.
This is dangerous!
As you should know by now, trades consist of an offer, the response, and then both parties accepting. Any other situations usually is a changed trade on part of the scammer. This could be anything from removing a zero from the amount of gold (difference between 9k and 90k), or even removing the items themselves from a trade.
changing the gold amount
The best rule to remember is that
EVERYtime you enter your password, CHECK EVERYTHING IN THE TRADE to make sure it is correct.
If you see in the trade window 'trade has changed since your last offer', something is up! This is an extremely common scam, and through this scamming is extremely difficult to get your items back, as it is a general opinion that you are supposed to check your trades, every time!
More to come.. even though it would be better if there wasn't gonk
Introduction | Rules/Updates | Selling/Buying | Useful Tips/News | Contest | Whitelist/Blacklist | Miscellaneous
- x18,000 - .9g each
- 30,000g
- 7,950g
- 30,000g
- 40g each
- 410g each
- 390g each
- 55g each
- 370g each
- 135g each
- 180g each
- 25g each
- 25g each
