Secure PM verification which all market users should use.

I was going to post the following as a response to a victim who got scammed by an imposter of Won Gold.

"This is what would have happened, and why big traders should not be lazy and simply copy chatlogs. A screenshot with skype profile they are speaking to is 20 seconds extra effort, but stops 99% of imposter scams, which is why i do it.

This is what will have happened:

1) Imposter guy logs on a second skype and talks to Won Gold posing as a customer.

2) Imposter guy requests Won Gold to PM you. He is saying the exact same things to Won Gold that legit buyer/seller is saying, and then clones what Won Gold says in response, creating a cloned conversation without both the buyer and seller knowing.

3) Won Gold does the careless mistake 9/10 market users do and simple copies chatlogs. Then PM's the guy he's been told to PM.

4) guy he PM's gets scammed, and it looks like Won Gold did it due to the PM

5) imposter leaves with the money, and repeats as he knows Won Gold didn't realise."

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I'm tired of seeing this happening. Although it's not the vendors fault, it is minimal effort to right click the skype profile you're speaking with. Screenshot it, then send to the profile you've been told to PM.

It makes perfect sense. Once the other party reads the PM, if they notice it's the wrong profile, they will know something is up and not trade.

In short, it requires 10 seconds of additional effort to screenshot the profile, instead of lazily copying chat log text which can easily be fabricated.

I've been sending PM's in this format for over one year now and it's extremely rare imposters succeed when impostering me now. Baring in mind there are 3 active imposter skypes impersonating me, it's evident this works and should be applied by everyone if you genuinely care for your reputation and customer base, aka potential leads.

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For example:

Let's say @Factory New is buying a product/service from me and asked for a PM.

This is how it'd be done:

PM subject (title): "PM please check"

PM content (text etc you type in the message):

"Screenshot of the profile I am speaking with: Screenshot"

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I know a lot of market users deep down do not give a fuck about anybody unless it makes them money. However if you're starting out and/or do care, then start doing this and those extra few seconds of effort will save you stress and wasted time dealing with reports.

 

A better way is to actually write out the vendor skype, the other trader's skype, and what the trade is.

The biggest problem is that the traders don't even open the PM, they just see that they got one and they think they're good to go.

 

That doesn't work as most people who fall for this scam look at the display name of the skype profile, not the actual Skype ID which cannot be edited.

That is what I used to do before the above mentioned method which is far more effective.

 

I've had so many imposter issues over the years and it all comes down to laziness.
Personally I think we should include multiple things in every pm.
1. Their skype ID
2. Your skype ID
3. A hats script Skype add button
*Put a note that they should click it and make sure it is same skype they're talking to*
4. Exact details of deal
I.E. Account they will be trading and the location they will trade it at.
5. Screenshots of conversation
6. Conversation itself.

The fact is most of us are either to lazy or just in too big of a rush to make a $1 profit to actually do this. When in reality if you protect your customers from scams you will actually most likely make more money in the log run.

 

I also include my in game name (a very simple one not prone to impostor RSNs)

 

A good suggestion for trades which involve RSGP.

If you switch up the mule then it makes it harder for an impostor to learn of your RSN and impostor that too.

 

Bump some helpful info in this.