Things to think about when trading
A list of things to consider before making a trade:
- It's not safe to buy an account instantly only because the seller got a confkey.
Since the hacker could order one just the day after you activate yours and hack you since the key are sent via the rl mail system to the adress used on the account, which is his. Remember that it takes 30 days to change the information on the account, having a confkey or rk doesn't make it go any faster.
- Make sure the buyer/seller send you a e-mail to your email adress saying "Everything went smooth, I recived this amount of cash/items or characrer, and I paid/gave away this."
By having a email like this, sent from the same email used on the buyer/paypal or w/e you use, it will be much harder for the hacker to scamm you. And you can always use the IP to provide proof when making a chargeback of hacked.
- Search around useing the regular search forum which most of you guys seem to never have used before. It's simple, write the name in the search bar and press ENTER. WOOOHOO YOU MADE IT!
Browsing his name in the serch function will show all posts he made along with posts he's mentioned in, and by that you'll be able to see if he made any safe deals.
http://forums.xenobot.net/search.php
- If a person brag about making safe deals etc, make sure you contact a previous tradesman of him. Just make sure to check if they're close mates or something before you do, because if they are, it's obvious that they'll protect and vouch for each other no mather what. Afterwards they'll just go "men me is no know man why u say me this ok?". (-Polander edition)
- Remember that a confkey is valid for 6 months nowdays. The activation order doesn't matter when buying multiple keys. Which means, if you order 1, and 2 days later order another, and decides to activate the first one that arrived. The second one is still valid, and the other way around. Due to that, the account isn't safe from hacks untill 6 months after the purschase. You buy it (30 days), + another 6 months, as the seller could as well have ordered a new key to his adress on day 29.
- Paypal isn't always your best friend, keep that in mind. It's a fast and simple way of buying goods and such from a friend. But be aware of the risks while using paypal. Paypal do NOT provide any seller protecting, nor any buying protection when dealing with virtual items such as tibia accounts and items. The most common scam in Tibia is to sell an account, go to the bank and say "Hey, someone has been using my visa/mastercard to buy something on paypal. I wany my money back". Paypal will open a case towards you and you'll lose your money + a fee of 20 euro for dealing with the case + another transfer fee to them since you're not under any seller protection. That's how it works, so take a look into other ways of trading before using paypal. Atleast don't use it as alternative 1 when you don't know the other partner.
- And the most important part, don't be stupid. If something is too good to be true, it often is. Use your head, not your dick.
Kind Regards, HolmaN.
Just a few things I thought I might share with you guys and gals...
Hints/Tips to new or "paranoid" traders:
You have every right to be paranoid! People act in self-interest, simple as that. The reason I am writing this is because I've been victim to scams my for many years, and have come to learn a few tips and tricks to help weed out the scammers. However, nothing can guarantee you a safe trade unless it is done in very specific and tedious ways that most people are unwilling to comply with. But here's what I think will help you...
PayPal: Concerns & Red Flags
http://i60.tinypic.com/mhsfhw.png The person doesn't want to send payment as a gift:
This is not necessarily a definite warning sign of a scammer, but usually anyone concerned with sending as an Instant Payment will either do one of two things: 1). act out of fear (which you don't want because this may lead to regrets or doubts), or 2) refuse to trade with you because you requested them send it as a gift and this can mean a many number of things as well. Sometimes people see "gift" as a sign of scamming. So, your request for this may be falsely interpreted. Just keep an open dialog and never force their hand.
*
Warning! Get them verified. If they refuse, move on. Do not trade with unverified PayPal members, no matter what. To verify their account completely means they must confirm their bank account information and at least one credit card or debit card. PayPal requires real information from the person in order to verify their account. A verified member is less likely to be a scammer. Unverified members may hold brand new accounts, and this should definitely be of concern.
Warning! This is quite obvious. Do not let them take advantage of your desperation. I've seen so many good people desperate to make a sale or purchase and end up manipulated by some new member whom turns out to be a scammer. Notice I mention a "sales" reputation because it's easy to buy something. It's not as easy to sell something and keep your end of a deal, especially when it comes to characters, that require 31 days of waiting.
Warning! Do not fall for the, "I'm busy.", "Sorry, wasn't at home.", or plain ignoring of messages bullshit anyone may pull on you, particularly if they have no trade history or reputation on the forum. This doesn't mean they're scammers but a lot can be learned about a person when you consider their behavior. A person that wants to trade will make the time to trade, just like a girl you ask out will make the time to go out with you, even if she's currently busy. :cool: Of course, there's always the possibility someone may actually be busy. But if they are interested, they will set a time to talk.
Warning! For the love of God, do not trade with anyone that is acting suspicious or rushing the trade, especially if they do not have a solid reputation. I've seen so many people be scammed by others because they were manipulated into thinking they had to go or they'd lose out on the deal. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ANOTHER DEAL! DO NOT RUSH YOUR TRADES! Take the time to consider the situation and make the best decision.
Warning! This is another obvious one, especially if they do not have a trade history to uphold their claim of being trustworthy. I recently avoided a trade because I did not want to pay for a middle man. Does that make me a scammer? No, of course not. But I have a pristine trade history. If someone does not agree to a trustworthy middle man, do not trade with them. Also, NEVER allow them to choose the middle man alone. Choose one together. If they do not agree with those terms, simply end the conversation and move on. Leave them with the option of collaboratively deciding on a middle man and say your goodbyes. It's not worth the risk.
Warning! If they won't use any other payment methods, and also do not have a trade history, you should probably avoid trading with them. This does not mean they are always scammers, but it does mean they are not willing to negotiate and work with you. All parties involved in a trade (of any kind) should mutually benefit from said trade. You will always find another person to trade with. It's definitely worth waiting for the right person.
So, in the end, is this a full-proof system? No, but following these tips will surely help you avoid at least 50% of the scammers out there, putting the odds in your favor. If you need help with a trade, or want further advice, feel free to send me a private message. I'm planning to start a commission free middle man service myself to help deter scamming. Keep an eye out for that thread. :cool:
*Unverified members have another option known as MoneyPak. It is a prepaid card they purchase at the store and use through PayPal. It cannot be charged-back as long as they enter a valid confirmation number and send the payment properly. It should instantly arrive in your account. This should be seen as a last resort, and you should not deliver until the payment goes through.
