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PSA: How to Avoid Getting Scammed
strandtheman
Member Posts: 24 Arc User
Greetings everyone!
As most of you know, Neverwinter is a game that relies heavily on its player-driven economy as trading/selling items is crucial to advancing your character(s). Unfortunately, I've been coming across a growing number of players who found themselves cheated during trades as well as had a few try and cheat me. Being cheated can mean not just getting a bad deal, but you can outright get robbed of your AD simply because you trusted the MMO equivalent of a used-car salesman. For many of us, this isn't our first rodeo, but other's aren't so knowledgeable yet. For that reason, I've listed below some of the various warning signs and tactics you should keep an eye/ear out for when trading with players in order to protect youself:
1. Seller/trader tries overly hard to be your friend sound like he's going to cut you a really good deal just because he/she likes you and/or wants to "fair" - This will usually involve them making up false numbers on what the item is really worth in comparison to what you're getting it for. Be sure to check the auction house while in trade discussions to see the average value on rare items for yourself.
2. Seller/trader invites you to a party with them and a friend - The point of this friend is to chime in to support everything the Seller is saying to lend false credibility and hopefully persuade you into making the trade. This person is also serves as the "shadow buyer", which I will explain later. Not always a major flag, but be cautious.
3. Seller refuses to list the item you want to buy on the auction house for the same amount they are willing to sell it to you - This should be a clear red flag. If they are willing to make only so much AD off of it...why worry if someone else will buy it instead of you?
4. Seller tries to make you give them full or partial payment first - Always a bad idea. Unfortunately, this is where many people get robbed. This is how it goes down...Seller tells you they will put up a junk item for the agreed upon AD cost of the real item you want. Once you buy the junk item, they'll then give you the real item. What really happens is they take your AD and run. Another variation of this is they will have you buy a junk item for half the AD amount of the real item you're buying from them and they will put up the item for the remaining amount (sounds reasonable, right?). Well, this is where the "shadow buyer" friend comes into play. They will either listen for a key word from the Seller to make sure the item is bought before you can buy it (if actually placed up) or they will lie and say they saw the item listed by the Seller and that you were simply too slow to buy it. The Seller would then keep the pervious AD you gave him/her since they lost their item.
5. Seller/Trader will inform you they have everything and tons of AD so they have no need to cheat you - This is a lie. They are trying to get as much AD from unsuspecting players as possible by temping them with the few rare items they have.
These are just a few of the warnings you may come accross so always be cognizant of what is being said and if something doesn't feel or sound right, don't deal. We unfortunately can't call out these frauds since public shaming is forbidden on these forums, but hopefully this information helps keep a couple of you from being cheated by these scumbags. Please feel free to share any other tips or tactics you may have come across.
As most of you know, Neverwinter is a game that relies heavily on its player-driven economy as trading/selling items is crucial to advancing your character(s). Unfortunately, I've been coming across a growing number of players who found themselves cheated during trades as well as had a few try and cheat me. Being cheated can mean not just getting a bad deal, but you can outright get robbed of your AD simply because you trusted the MMO equivalent of a used-car salesman. For many of us, this isn't our first rodeo, but other's aren't so knowledgeable yet. For that reason, I've listed below some of the various warning signs and tactics you should keep an eye/ear out for when trading with players in order to protect youself:
1. Seller/trader tries overly hard to be your friend sound like he's going to cut you a really good deal just because he/she likes you and/or wants to "fair" - This will usually involve them making up false numbers on what the item is really worth in comparison to what you're getting it for. Be sure to check the auction house while in trade discussions to see the average value on rare items for yourself.
2. Seller/trader invites you to a party with them and a friend - The point of this friend is to chime in to support everything the Seller is saying to lend false credibility and hopefully persuade you into making the trade. This person is also serves as the "shadow buyer", which I will explain later. Not always a major flag, but be cautious.
3. Seller refuses to list the item you want to buy on the auction house for the same amount they are willing to sell it to you - This should be a clear red flag. If they are willing to make only so much AD off of it...why worry if someone else will buy it instead of you?
4. Seller tries to make you give them full or partial payment first - Always a bad idea. Unfortunately, this is where many people get robbed. This is how it goes down...Seller tells you they will put up a junk item for the agreed upon AD cost of the real item you want. Once you buy the junk item, they'll then give you the real item. What really happens is they take your AD and run. Another variation of this is they will have you buy a junk item for half the AD amount of the real item you're buying from them and they will put up the item for the remaining amount (sounds reasonable, right?). Well, this is where the "shadow buyer" friend comes into play. They will either listen for a key word from the Seller to make sure the item is bought before you can buy it (if actually placed up) or they will lie and say they saw the item listed by the Seller and that you were simply too slow to buy it. The Seller would then keep the pervious AD you gave him/her since they lost their item.
This is a tricky area as many people want AD directly for their items and this forces you into having to take a leap of faith. Once again...don't do it. If a Seller wants only AD, my solution is to offer Coalescent Wards in lieu of AD as the direct value of these are directly tied to the ZEN/AD exchange rate and is easily determined. C.Wards are also easy to sell back for the AD as they are needed by everyone. This also allows you to use the official trade screen which is much safer.
5. Seller/Trader will inform you they have everything and tons of AD so they have no need to cheat you - This is a lie. They are trying to get as much AD from unsuspecting players as possible by temping them with the few rare items they have.
These are just a few of the warnings you may come accross so always be cognizant of what is being said and if something doesn't feel or sound right, don't deal. We unfortunately can't call out these frauds since public shaming is forbidden on these forums, but hopefully this information helps keep a couple of you from being cheated by these scumbags. Please feel free to share any other tips or tactics you may have come across.
Post edited by strandtheman on
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Comments
Tell the person you're trading with that you're recording the trade, and that if it goes soar you'll be posting the video to reddit, along with making a complaint to both MS and CW along with your video evidence.
Won't always protect you, but will make the other person think twice.
Join us brothers and sisters and distant relations and confused onlookers.
Join us in the shadows where we stand mostly vigilant... although slightly distracted by our inventories.
"In war, unqualified. In peace, disorganised. In death, mild irritation."
JOIN US.
But this is Xbox so I'm sure people never have been scammed before
For some people this is their first MMO.......
Wut scammers like to do, and im surprised i haven't seen it mentioned yet. Is: in the player trade, they flash the correct item, then cancel the trade saying "whoops" or sumthin similar, then place a similar looking item at lesser value.
This usually wont work on the average player, but merchants, due to their high amount of trades, may not notice and lose out.
Just make sure to verify the correct items are there before confirming the trade, just a helpful hint