Guide to Dealing Safely & Avoiding Scammers

OversouL · 10-21-2013, 06:21 PM

Table of Contents

Researching who you're Dealing with
Observing who you are dealing with
Make Sure Read the Terms of Service(ToS)
Verifying the Users Contact Info
Request Proof
Hire a Middle Man
Making a Deal Dispute Thread

Researching who you're Dealing with.

This is one of the first things you should do before making a deal with somebody. The most common thing to do is to view the reputation of that user. Make sure you scan every page of his reputation. You should also check if he/she had an existing scam report in the Deal Disputes section. Research if he/she had some past scam reports with their old usernames. If the person you are dealing with has provided you with his/her paypal email, try searching Google using this format

Code:
PayPal: example@example.com

If the user you are about to deal has at least 1 deal dispute, then you should always be cautious if you proceed dealing.

Observing who you are dealing with

Most scammers try to make excuses that they will not go first as they have been scammed in the past. Try to be cautious when it comes to this as this is the reasons most scammers use. Scammers will always try to make up excuses.

Example

Quote:You: Hey! I've sent the money.
Scammer: Cool, let me check first.
Scammer(reason #1): I haven't received anything yet. Are you sure you typed the email correctly?
Scammer(reason #2): I seem to have problems logging in to my PP.

I'm sure by now you get what I mean. Anyway make sure to get a screenshot at this moments as this can help with your proofs.

Make Sure Read the Terms of Service(ToS)

Make sure to read the whole post and ToS of the seller you are dealing with. Members often get confused why they don't have access to the service the seller is providing. It then leads to inaccurate Deal Disputes. Some sellers also have full refund policies if you brake any of their ToS. It may also end up having a Deal Dispute open against you.

Examples of ToS you may encounter:

Quote:1. You shall not share or leak any past of this ebook.
2. You are not allowed to share your accounts with others.
etc..

Verifying the Users Contact Info

You should always verify if the user has given you the correct contact info or else he can just run away with what he scammed you. There is also a possibility that who you're dealing with is an imposter, make sure to ask that user to PM you here. If he/she refuses to PM you that person is most likely a scammer.

Request Proof

Make sure that you always ask for live proof. To know if they truly own the account program or proof of earnings of you are dealing with an ebook. Some users usually use fake/edited proofs. You should always ask for proof through Team Viewer or other programs like Skype. Skype has a feature that can share your screen with a contact. You can also request for a proof that has a sign by the user with their SL username and make a screenshot of it along with a date.

Hire a Middle Man

What does a middle man do? What a middle man does is to take the contents being exchanged by both parties and then giving them to each other to assure both the item and the money get to the other party. Hiring a middle man is a very smart and safe way to deal. There are free and paid middle man services here in DB. If your partner refuses to use a middle man most likely he will be attempting to scam you.
Make sure to hire a trusted middle man or else both of you will get scammed by the middle man you hired yourself.

Making a Deal Dispute Thread

When you get scammed by a member here, try to report it in the Scam Reports section. Make sure to provide solid proof that you got scammed. Make your thread organized so it will be easy to understand. You will not get back what the user scammed you, but the Admins or Staff will make sure that the user will be banned for good.

Use this template if you like:

Code:
[b]Username:[/b] TYPE HERE

[b]Scammer UID:[/b] TYPE HERE

[b]Link to profile:[/b] TYPE HERE

[b]What did the user scam?[/b] TYPE HERE

[b]What went wrong?[/b] TYPE HERE

[b]Detailed description of what happened:[/b] TYPE HERE

[b]Proof:[/b]

[spoiler]

[img]PROOF IMAGE LINK HERE[/img]

[img]PROOF IMAGE LINK HERE[/img]

(INCLUDE OTHER PROOF IF POSSIBLE)

[/spoiler]

Any suggestions on what to add, please PM me.
I will add graphics later on.

Auth · 10-21-2013, 06:22 PM

Nice thread, was this party took from HF?

Anyways, GJ.

OversouL · 10-21-2013, 06:31 PM

(10-21-2013, 06:22 PM)Villain Wrote: Nice thread, was this party took from HF?

Anyways, GJ.

I based some of the parts of it. Like the layout.

Auth · 10-21-2013, 06:32 PM

(10-21-2013, 06:31 PM)OversouL Wrote:
(10-21-2013, 06:22 PM)Villain Wrote: Nice thread, was this party took from HF?

Anyways, GJ.

I based some of the parts of it. Like the layout.

Ah well, nice layout & thread man!