ForumKorner's Guide: Prevent Yourself From Being Scammed
by Profanity
by Profanity
Introduction
Summary:
This guide will be a full and complete guide on how to prevent oneself from being scammed.
It will range anywhere from identifying a scammer to stepping stones on how to go about a deal. This will include suggestions and tips.
This is not a guarantee that it will 100% completely help you from being scammed, but it may/will prevent many scams from happening if users read this thread.
This thread will also include and be updated as user suggestions are stated below. It's really on you to try and not get scammed!
I hope you enjoy the thread.
In-thread Chapters/Sections:
- Introduction
- What to do Before Dealing
- Identifying a Scammer/Red Flags
- Tips and Suggestions
- Middleman/Staff
- Helpful Links
- Conclusion
- Edits/Updates
What to do Before Dealing
Summary of Section:
In this section of the thread, I will cover/talk about a variety of steps or things to do before dealing.
This will range from taking precautions to viewing the buyer/seller's profile.
Lets get started shall we?
Step 1: Check the Buyer/Seller's Profile Out
You may be asking yourself what I mean by this, but it's simple.
I would like you to check for things on the users profile that would help indicate things such as if there new, trusted/untrusted, and so on...
Below this will be a list of things to check for and I will elaborate on each..
- Reputation
- Post Count
- Join Date
- Open/Closed or Invalid Scam Reports
- Vouch Thread*
Reputation
A lot of members base there trust on reputation.
No, I'm not talking about the reputation earned by talking to people, I'm talking about the trust earned through deals.
People will also leave some red apples if the user sketchy, untrustworthy, or has been scamming offsite and such.
Once again, don't look for red apples that declare something such as "User stole my signature", look for the ones as stated in the above line to this.
Upon searching through one's reputation, look for any green apples in which the comment states something along the lines of "Smooth Deal" or "Just did a deal with this user!".
This is key as these green apples show that the user has done successful deals in the past with other members.
Now, look for the red apples that states something along the lines of "User is sketchy" or "User is a possible scammer/offsite scamming".
These are a big support into helping you determine one's legitimacy or not.
Post Count
Check their 'Post Count'. Why? Because this will help determine if they're both active and/or committed to the site.
But, when and before you determine their activity, look at their 'Join Date'. Why? Get fond of a ratio such as 'Join Date' to 'Post Count' to determine if they're active or not.
Join Date
Check their 'Join Date'. Why? This will help determine if they are new or have seniority.
Same rules apply as to the above. It will show if they are committed to the site.
And once again, get fond of the ratio!
Open/Closed or Invalid Scam Reports
Before dealing, always, and I mean always check for these!
I will be linking below all threads needed below to check for these (please refer to helpful links).
This will help determine if the user has had problems with dealing in the past.
Vouch Thread
Always check for these before dealing.
I will be linking below the 'Vouches' sub-forum in the 'Marketplace' section (please refer to helpful links).
If you'd like to find the buyer/seller's vouch thread, I suggest going to their profile and under their profile picture will be a header (shall we say) named 'Quick Links'. Click on 'Search all threads' link and look for something that says "User's Vouches".
Step 2: Asking Questions
This - out of all steps in this chapter - is most important.
There is 1 major question to be asked. What is it? Proof! Whether it be proof of funds or ownership of whatever is being sold, this must be asked!
Also, ask other questions such as "How did you obtain the item being sold?" and so on...
Let me state it one more time! ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE DEALING!
Step 3: Setting The Deal Up
Now before I get this step started, let me state this.. NEVER - and I mean never - deal offsite!
Dealing offsite causes to many problems and if you do happen to get scammed, the buyer/seller may not be banned.
Determine who is going first or if you're using a middleman.
I suggest using a middleman as it is the safest way to go and I will link below users who are deemed trusted with middlemanning (please refer to 'Middleman/Staff').
Though a middleman is not always needed, I suggest using one.
However, if you choose not too, this is how I determine who goes first.
There are factors contributing to a ratio/system.
Who's more trusted, buyer/seller and so on.
* indicates a user may or may not have a vouch thread.
Identifying a Scammer/Red Flags
Summary of Section:
In this section, I will cover things that scammers usually do.
I will also cover Red Flags.
Just remember, there are some elaborate scammers out there who know what they're doing.
Identifying a Scammer/Red Flags
So, first things first. Identifying a scammer. You may ask yourself "How do I do this" but just follow along and I will teach you.
When a scammer is out for some profit, they tend to do things that I (and others) would call sketchy or slip up. These are things to watch out for.
I will list below things that scammers do that can seem sketchy.
Now before I do, just know that some of these things does not mean that they're a scammer.
- The Scammer is Rushy
- Unprofessional and/or Low Quality
- Using a Suspicious and/or Jacked SM to Contact a Person
- Using a Account that has been Previously Used for Scamming
- Contacts You First
- Contacts You Offsite/Impersonator
- Refuse to Use a Middleman or Go First
- Wants To Deal Offsite
I will elaborate on some of the things in the list but some of the other look-outs in the list are self explanatory.
Always look-out for these!
The Scammer is Rushy
What I mean by this is that the scammer is anxious to get the deal done.
He wants this shit to go by fast and will/may try to push you to be faster if you aren't so quick.
If you're ever dealing with a legitimate member, know they won't rush you, but also know not to waste their time.
Unprofessional and/or Low Quality
This is something to be looked out for. A proper business man never acts in a unprofessional or "low quality" manner.
Just always check out for this.
Contacts You First (when they are selling something)
This is a major component. Why? Wouldn't you find it sketchy if someone came to you randomly to sell their item?
Maybe it isn't. Then you're asking "How is it not?". Well, you may have posted a thread saying that you are looking to buy something,
Just look-out for this too.
Contacts You Offsite/Impersonator
Okay, this is the most sketchiest thing a scammer could do. Why? Because this is their playground. They won't be banned if you deal offsite!
Another reason why this may be sketchy is that it may be an impersonator! Now, if someone does contact you offsite, message them here first to confirm that it is indeed them!
I cannot tell you how important the above is!
Tips and Suggestions
Summary of Section:
In this section, I will cover a wide variety of tips/suggestions to use before, at the time, and after a deal.
Below is a list.
- Always follow procedure.
- Always check their profile.
- Look up the accounts they use/is being bought or sold to see if that account was used to scam before.
- If your gut says "SCAM!", maybe you should trust it.
- Always ask for proof.
- Secure the account/item after purchasing it (if you're the buyer).
- Always deal onsite.
- Ask questions.
- Check their posts/threads to see if they're "low quality" or not.
- If you have been scammed, open a report STRAIGHT AWAY!
- USE COMMON SENSE!
Middlemen/Staff
Summary of Section:
In this section, I will cover current trusted middlemen and staff for you to contact and/or use as a middleman.
Below are two lists containing tags to current trusted middlemen and staff.
Staff:
- @Philly - Admin
- @"Color" - Mod
- @"rude" - Mod
Trusted Middlemen:
[*]@Philly
Helpful Links
[*]Summary of Section:
In this section, I will provide links to helpful threads and info that you need to know.
Below are links to threads that are helpful.
- Scammers Bay - http://www.forumkorner.com/forum-27.html
- Known Scammers - http://www.forumkorner.com/forum-79.html
- Invalid/Resolved Reports - http://www.forumkorner.com/forum-244.html
- Find a Middleman here - http://www.forumkorner.com/forum-35.html
- Find one's vouches here - http://www.forumkorner.com/forum-33.html
- ForumKorner Marketplace Guide by @Michael - http://www.forumkorner.com/thread-163777.html
- STOP Being Scammed by Imposters! by @Philly - http://www.forumkorner.com/thread-77885.html
- How to Properly File a Scam Report by @Jason - http://www.forumkorner.com/thread-40817.html
- Official Middleman Information by @Philly - http://www.forumkorner.com/thread-2883.html
Conclusion
[*]Well, that's pretty much it!
I will update the thread as I go along and I suggest that users partake in this thread giving me ideas of what to update and what not.
I hope this helped and remember to play it safe!