Make IRC Scamproof! : A Simple Tip

[Cutpurse]

Since the current rules state that IRC has no restrictions on scamming, yet the message boards do, just follow these steps:

(1) If you offer an item for sale or trade in IRC, finalize the details of the items being traded.
(2) Once the items have been determined, come to the trade forum and start a topic with this title:

"The Pending Trade Contract Between <seller> and <buyer>"

(3) Once this thread is made, direct all parties involved to the thread with the instructions to respond, in writing, that they agree and will adhere to all terms of the trade.

This should make the trade now under the umbrella of the trade regulations applying to scams over the message boards.

This part is KEY:

-If the person REFUSES to agree to the contract IN WRITING then they are PROBABLY TRYING TO SCAM YOU.

This process takes 2 minutes, and will protect you from being scammed out of hours of work.

[Downs]

to expand on it a bit, if a 3rd party broker is involved, know your 3rd party. Don't assume that messaging Blackfoot in IRC means you're talking to him. Have them confirm through forum PM message.

[GomerPyle]

how are you supposed to confirm that the person replying to your thread is the same person meeting you ingame? someone could tell his friend to reply to your thread and then send yet another person to come scam you, without even meeting you once themselves. ...making this useless. or am i missing something?

[Arkosh Kovasz]

how are you supposed to confirm that the person replying to your thread is the same person meeting you ingame? someone could tell his friend to reply to your thread and then send yet another person to come scam you, without even meeting you once themselves. ...making this useless. or am i missing something?

I don't understand what you mean by "someone could tell his freind to reply to your thread", but if you use a third party broker, arrange the trade via PM(to verify a persons identity), and make them confirm the trade on the forums, then your making it illegal for them to scam you, while better protecting yourself. No trade is 100% safe,or secure. These steps are just added protection.

[Cutpurse]

The thing is, the person replying in the thread is the person held accountable for the transaction. So if some scammer gets his buddy to log in to "okay" the transaction on the boards and then scams -- then the buddy will basically be going down for the scammer's gain.
The problem fixes itself.

[dog1706]

Selling everything you can off a vendor. A NPC vendor cannot be scammed.


If you must trade you can refer to my broker thread

http://forum.uosecondage.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=11076

This will give you tips on who is trustworthy for trades via the community and also tips to make sure you are dealing with the right person.