Anti Scam TechniquesFollow

I've been reading about all the scams and think that there needs to be a reoccuring thread where players post their best anti-scam advice. Here's what I think so far:

1. Password/Login - don't give it out. Ever. For any service. (Playonline, AIM, your email, etc).

2. Item Trades - In general you should always check the item before clicking OK and recheck the item if your OK button goes active again. If someone is spam selling items and offers to trade you can always ask them to list them in their Bazaar and buy it from there. (note there's a tax in Jueno try going out of the zone to avoid the tax).

3. Lending Items/Gil - don't lend items or gil that you don't expect to get back.

4. Mining/Logging - don't join a mage's party if you are mining/logging, or doing other gil farming activities. They might just Warp/Teleport you away. Also watch out for people trying to train monsters to your area to get you to leave.

5. Teleports - Many Teleport providers will want payment upfront. However, if you're unsure of the Tele-Provider try to pay for the teleport after the service has been rendered. Otherwise look for one of more usual Tele-Taxi services. Maybe ask around on your linkshell or a random person to see if the service is reliable. You could also request that you put up half the fare before you go and the other half after the service is rendered.

6. Valuable Drops -- Do these with people you can trust (e.g. long time LinkShell members)

7. Quarter Master in Party -- Unless everyone's agreed before hand that someone is going to be QM make sure you look out for a green dot by party members name in the party list. Usually the best way for drops is random, but also some people like to lot.

8. Lotting In the Spam -- I read somewhere that sometimes some players will lot on items during the midst of battle. I've never seen it myself, but you can try checking the log after a battle if you think someone's doing this. Not an issue when everyone is lotting, but problamatic when everyone's agreed to just random distribution.

Any others?


edited 9/14 -> teleport one based on feedback -thx!) Also request for tips on #6 Valuable drops

edited 9/18 -> try to get a reference on some teleservices if you can. Or try to pay half to cut your potential loss. Added tip for valuable drops and mining/logging.

edited 9/29 -> added QM item #7. Good tip DexxH! Also added #8.

edit 9/30 -> Updated #2 Item trades with the 'check tip'


Edited, Thu Sep 30 07:45:15 2004 by Subarru

My usual process for teleporting is that I don't expect them to pay until after I have invited them into my party. After that, I will not tele them until after they have paid, but I am very adamant about honor and will refuse to rip someone off; granted, one should be entirely careful, especially lately with more three year-olds on the server, but unfortunately we teleporters have to be careful too. Best course of action, be sure to report them to GMs and spread the word about people that rip you off.

Also, I ABSOLUTELY agree about this whole "Item Trades" thing. Let them put it in their Bazaar, not in a trade window. Do your best to inform new players about this; let's keep Lakshmi a nice, safe, FUN server to use and not let absolute morons drag us all down.

In Jeuno there is a tax on bazaar Items so it is much easier to trade..........

On a high price item, couldn't you avoid the tax by simply stepping out into Batallia/Rolanberry/Sauromugue? I would consider that a reasonable solution if two players are working out a transaction between each other.

Hey unfair mage bashing ;P

Yeah I've heard some pretty nasty things about people Warp2'ing others... You can always disband (if fast enough) and they get warped back to their HP :P -- But seriously why would you be in a party to min/log anyhow... I do most of my stuff solo.

I'm a mage. Just alerting folks to potential threats. :)

Edited, Wed Sep 15 11:40:27 2004 by Subarru

What are you suggesting? Making an explicit deal with other loggers to stay in their own 'zone'? Thanks for the post! :)

Edited, Wed Sep 15 12:43:25 2004 by Subarru

Instead of full payment for a teleport, why not accept half up front (once you are partied), then the other half once services are rendered. I have done this several times when I have needed a taxi. This way if you get ripped off by a untrustworthly whm your only loosing half and vice versa.

Just my thoughts on that...

LOL - I figured as much. I'm a little dense sometimes when it comes to jokes. :)

Great tip on the Tele-Scams. I agree if you get a couple people that are iffy about a service you probably don't want to use it.

i would rather lot on everything for the rest of my life then have that in effect...

i could see that statment coming up by the party leader disbanding the pt... but other than that... is it really possible?

Great tip! Thanks. :)

Hey, i was reading over this and I agree'd with most, the trading thing is impossible to get ripped off if both items are in the windows when you click okay.

The one that I didn't agree with completely is the Tele one, I'm 36 whm, and I occasionally try to get some gil by teleporting, if you don't trust the person, you shouldn't just d/b, I think a simple ask to go un-anon would do fine, or what I usually do is start casting and then trade, it makes everything faster. Just thinking about the d/bing and such because you'r enot comferatable isn't the best solution if it can be solved easily, because me as the WHM would not appreciate it. Just my 2 cents though ^^;

d/b = disband, I believe.