Hello,
So I am pretty sure I got scammed but I don't know if I can really report the person because it's sorta my fault. Someone was advertising that they wanted to buy a certain type of item, I checked the Auction house and found one that was cheaper then he was asking. So i messaged him and he said he would buy it. I bought it off the auction house to sell to him then he disappeared.
I quickly realized this was super overpriced and I had been had. He then basically laughed and said he does it all the time and makes tons of gold/paypal.
Blizzard says they are against scams hacks blah blah... This seems like a scam to me. Anything I can do or is it just lesson learned.
So I am pretty sure I got scammed but I don't know if I can really report the person because it's sorta my fault.
Any debate ends right there.
I never trust strangers. Even if they seem genuine, you can never tell through a computer screen. If there are any gold or items being transferred/traded, I never, never under any circumstances make the first move.
But you just took silly to another level by buying something for someone and expected to get reimbursed for it. Next time just tell the guy to punch in the numbers to his AH search parameters himself. But I gotta admit, that's pretty genius of him to subtly get people to buy items he himself listed on AH.
Yeah My fault lesson learned.... But a more interesting question I guess is, is what he is doing against terms of service? If they are against scams, what is blizzards definition of scam?
Its not a scam becasue really he didn't force or trick you into doing anything, he convinced you. You thought you could make some quick cash by flipping at item. You didnt do your research, and you trusted that someone would by something for even more then the as you stated already over priced item.
Its like buying a house without looking at it then getting made when you realize its in a Detroit suburb and you will never be able to re-sell it.
Yea this is a pretty old type of scam. Remember if it seems too good to be true it probably isn't.
It's pretty obvious if you think about it; Someone is willing to pay a high amount for a certain, specific type of item with specific stats. You just 'happen' to type in those stats and find ONE item on the AH that's just below what he's offering and you think you can make a quick couple mill. Do you really think someone wouldn't check the AH? It's their item they are trying to sell.
Things like this make me wonder why the seller's battle-tag isn't shown in the AH....
Because if someone is selling a very desirable item on the AH, that person is surely going to hounded by a ton of PMs or friend requests begging for 1-on-1 negotiations. Now if we all get to create an avatar within an avatar, then that might be better, but why complicate things?
I've read about this scam before. It's not as known, as it's not used as commonly as scams involving trade windows and item swaps.
1. Scammer puts own item on AH for an inflated price
2. Scammer messages on Trade channels that he's willing to pay above inflated price (and provides stats similar to item)
3. Someone decides to try to make a quick profit and buys item, and offers to sell to scammer
4. Re-sale does not happen, and person is stuck with the item which he/she overpaid
It happens. Just learn from this and watch out for it in the future.
Smart scam indeed. I still wouldn't do it. First because it's a scam, and second because if enough people report you for doing it, you might actually get banned eventually.
In WoW I've personally had someone agree to craft something for me and disappeared with the mats. Blizzard actually investigated and restored my items. But that's WoW with WoW's level of service and terms of use. But it does show that Blizzard's attitude leans towards "if you say you'll do something and then don't do it, you shouldn't be allowed to profit". Of course I don't think they even have the ability to "fix" this sort of thing in Diablo even if they wanted to, beyond banning the offender. Of course, the guy who scammed me didn't get banned, as I saw him continue to try scam other people some days later. Of course, with the whole server knowing he's a scammer, he doesn't have much left to do in the game without paying 25$ to move to a new server (paid name changes didn't exist back then).
I can't really decide what's worse in this thread.
If it's the people that see WTB's in the Trade channel, then run to the AH checking it they can make a quick buck;
If it's the people that think it's all the OP's fault, and that the 'scammer' is "just a smart dude";
of if it's the people that love this idea and will try this in the future.
^^ all of the above.
Seriously though, I feel that the OP gave himself a double-cross. Quite funny actually.
Yeah, well, it's really 2 people with a bad habbit screw each other over. First deserved getting scammed, while the second deserves getting banned. I'd say the second is worse, though, deserving a ban rather than just deserving to fall for a scam.
Well, the OP did post again (see post #4) admitting it was his fault and that he learned his lesson, so...
/thread?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
i would choose my own religion and worship my own spirit, but if he ever preached to me i wouldn't want to hear it. i'd drop him, a forgotten god, languishing in shame; and then if i hit stormy seas, i'd have myself to blame.
lol
Sorry you got taken by this one. Its is kinda funny to read about.
I don't think that the "scammer" did anything that isn't allowed by blizzard. Half of what I read in General chat looks like a bunch of lies. This doesn’t sound any different.
I can't really decide what's worse in this thread.
If it's the people that see WTB's in the Trade channel, then run to the AH checking it they can make a quick buck;
If it's the people that think it's all the OP's fault, and that the 'scammer' is "just a smart dude";
of if it's the people that love this idea and will try this in the future.
I find it not only sad but very disturbing that people believe
a) Scammers are "smart" people to be emulated
Victims are "deserving" of their fate
In a game where virtual gold can be sold for real money, this kind of scam could actually by legally actionable (petty theft?) I'm not a lawyer, so can't say for sure, but at a minimum, a civil suit for the actual damages plus punitive damages should be easily winnable (though might not be collectable, since it isn't possible to determine a person's real identity just from a battle tag, and Blizzard doesn't reveal personal information about players, even if they are scammers.)
In the WOW forums, I remember seeing many different threads about this very scam, and have seen blue posts that said this type of scam was against the TOS (ruining another person's enjoyment of the game) and was a bannable offence. So if I was the OP, I would report the person.
This is a case of a scammer tricking another scammer. Both are equally guilty, one undoubtedly more clever but nevertheless; close thread.
How is one labeled a scammer for looking to flip an item for profit? Many of us buy low and re-list on the AH on an every day basis.
The OP fell for a scam that prey on our nature to make a quick buck. Made a mistake, paid the price for it. Should Blizzard refund the gold? Of course not. However, to label the scam victim a "scammer" is going too far.
So I am pretty sure I got scammed but I don't know if I can really report the person because it's sorta my fault. Someone was advertising that they wanted to buy a certain type of item, I checked the Auction house and found one that was cheaper then he was asking. So i messaged him and he said he would buy it. I bought it off the auction house to sell to him then he disappeared.
I quickly realized this was super overpriced and I had been had. He then basically laughed and said he does it all the time and makes tons of gold/paypal.
Blizzard says they are against scams hacks blah blah... This seems like a scam to me. Anything I can do or is it just lesson learned.
Any debate ends right there.
I never trust strangers. Even if they seem genuine, you can never tell through a computer screen. If there are any gold or items being transferred/traded, I never, never under any circumstances make the first move.
But you just took silly to another level by buying something for someone and expected to get reimbursed for it. Next time just tell the guy to punch in the numbers to his AH search parameters himself. But I gotta admit, that's pretty genius of him to subtly get people to buy items he himself listed on AH.
Too naive, sir.
Armory | YouTube | Twitter | Clan Site
Its like buying a house without looking at it then getting made when you realize its in a Detroit suburb and you will never be able to re-sell it.
It's pretty obvious if you think about it; Someone is willing to pay a high amount for a certain, specific type of item with specific stats. You just 'happen' to type in those stats and find ONE item on the AH that's just below what he's offering and you think you can make a quick couple mill. Do you really think someone wouldn't check the AH? It's their item they are trying to sell.
Because if someone is selling a very desirable item on the AH, that person is surely going to hounded by a ton of PMs or friend requests begging for 1-on-1 negotiations. Now if we all get to create an avatar within an avatar, then that might be better, but why complicate things?
Armory | YouTube | Twitter | Clan Site
1. Scammer puts own item on AH for an inflated price
2. Scammer messages on Trade channels that he's willing to pay above inflated price (and provides stats similar to item)
3. Someone decides to try to make a quick profit and buys item, and offers to sell to scammer
4. Re-sale does not happen, and person is stuck with the item which he/she overpaid
It happens. Just learn from this and watch out for it in the future.
Well played scammer.. well played...
In WoW I've personally had someone agree to craft something for me and disappeared with the mats. Blizzard actually investigated and restored my items. But that's WoW with WoW's level of service and terms of use. But it does show that Blizzard's attitude leans towards "if you say you'll do something and then don't do it, you shouldn't be allowed to profit". Of course I don't think they even have the ability to "fix" this sort of thing in Diablo even if they wanted to, beyond banning the offender. Of course, the guy who scammed me didn't get banned, as I saw him continue to try scam other people some days later. Of course, with the whole server knowing he's a scammer, he doesn't have much left to do in the game without paying 25$ to move to a new server (paid name changes didn't exist back then).
End of story.
BurningRope#1322 (US~HC) Request an invite to the official (NA) <dfans> Clan
^^ all of the above.
Seriously though, I feel that the OP gave himself a double-cross. Quite funny actually.
BurningRope#1322 (US~HC) Request an invite to the official (NA) <dfans> Clan
/thread?
Sorry you got taken by this one. Its is kinda funny to read about.
I don't think that the "scammer" did anything that isn't allowed by blizzard. Half of what I read in General chat looks like a bunch of lies. This doesn’t sound any different.
I find it not only sad but very disturbing that people believe
a) Scammers are "smart" people to be emulated
Victims are "deserving" of their fate
In a game where virtual gold can be sold for real money, this kind of scam could actually by legally actionable (petty theft?) I'm not a lawyer, so can't say for sure, but at a minimum, a civil suit for the actual damages plus punitive damages should be easily winnable (though might not be collectable, since it isn't possible to determine a person's real identity just from a battle tag, and Blizzard doesn't reveal personal information about players, even if they are scammers.)
In the WOW forums, I remember seeing many different threads about this very scam, and have seen blue posts that said this type of scam was against the TOS (ruining another person's enjoyment of the game) and was a bannable offence. So if I was the OP, I would report the person.
How is one labeled a scammer for looking to flip an item for profit? Many of us buy low and re-list on the AH on an every day basis.
The OP fell for a scam that prey on our nature to make a quick buck. Made a mistake, paid the price for it. Should Blizzard refund the gold? Of course not. However, to label the scam victim a "scammer" is going too far.