Guide to Identifying and reporting the Potential Scammer+staying safe during a trade!

Guide to Identifying and reporting the Potential Scammer+staying safe during a trade!~~By zzack13​

Recently I looked over the "Report a Scammer" threads and noticed many people (over 85%) did not have enough information to get their scammer infracted or ban. Today I am writing this guide because I want more people to experience a clean trade and have action taken when it gets a bit dirty.

NOTE: This is my method for reporting a scammer. It works 2 different ways and you will stay safe using both. Although other ways may work, this is what I reccomend.

Materials (Required)​

Microsoft's "paint" ( This should come pre-loaded on Vista and XP etc.)

An E-mail adress for creating the various internet accounts you may need

An account at "www.photobucket.com" or any other picture upload site

OPTIONAL Materials (For the advanced 2nd method)​

An account at "www.youtube.com"

"Windows movie maker" http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx (or other video editing software)

"HyperCam"(a web recorder) http://download.cnet.com/HyperCam/3000-13633_4-10004511.html
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is what is required in a "Report a Scammer" request. I am quoting "Matthew" from this thread HERE
And in the additional information on rule 5 I am quoting Sin666 from HERE

Please read these rules BEFORE posting a report:

• Proof is REQUIRED[/COLOR]. If you post a report without any proof, YOU will be given an infraction. You're wasting everyone's time by just posting something like "sellerBob is a noob scammer!".
  
• TEXT LOGS ARE NOT PROOF! Screenshots are REQUIRED. If you post a report with text logs the report will most likely be locked.
  
  
  
• POST EVERYTHING YOU HAVE! If you have screenshots, POST THEM! Don't just post "I have pics if you want them..." We do want them!!
  
• Videos can be used as proof. However keep a few things in mind: Staff won't watch a 30 minute long video of the entire trade. Note: Do NOT use youtube. It is impossible to see anything in a youtube video. (I do use Youtube because everything is visible using High Quality)
  
• DO NOT CHOP OFF THE SIDES OF YOUR MSN SCREENSHOTS!! It may result in a scammer not being banned!
  
  **You must take screenshots of the ACTIVE MSN window.**
  
  Do not copy & paste the convo.
  Do not take screenshots of the chat log/history.
  Do not crop out the MSN address or scrollbar.
  
  
• If your thread is locked for insufficient proof, do not make a new thread unless you have additional evidence.
  
• Staff will not download your files. Please upload them and avoid using Rapid Share or any other similar places.
  
• If you are banned from the forums before your report is answered, do not make a new account to post more evidence. Get in touch with a mod over MSN.

These rules may change at any time and I suggest checking for updates every so often.

The Safe Traders Tools to Success!​

The SCREENSHOT - is an image taken by the computer to record the visible items displayed on the monitor or another visual output device.

To take and post a screenshot follow these steps

• Open up what you want seen and close what you don't want seen.
• find the "prt scr" (Print Screen) button which should be next to your F12 button and press that
• Open up MS Paint and hit Ctrl+V
• You can crop the picture now, but it is not reccomended (see Rule 5 above)
• Save the picture in a place you will remember as a .JPEG file.

Uploading your screenshot

• Create an account at "www.photobucket.com" or whichever site you prefer that accepts photo uploads.
• Upload your saved screenshot file
• Use the link and paste it directly into your thread
  [/list]
  [IMG]http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk155/Kosky_skate/PBscreenie2.jpg
  
  **That is how you will be posting and using screenshots to prove your scammers guilty.**
  
  The CAMRA (In our case HyperCam) Will be explained below
  
  Steps to Staying Safe During a Trade​
  
  **Later in the guide I will explain why these steps are important and how you an use them to report a scammer**
  • Request a Private message! You can not get a scammer ban if you can not prove his e-mail is connected to an account at Sythe.
    
    Look closely at the e-mail adress to make sure it's authentic.
    
    Next Ask them to PM you on Sythe with the time, their e-mail adress, and why they are talking to you on MSN.
    
    If the potential scammer claims "Sythe is down" or their "Pm's arn't working" tell them politely that you do not want to trade with them until you get a PM on sythe. DO NOT do any type of trade with this person until you have linked his MSN to a Sythe account
    
  • Achieving the scammer proof position or advising a middleman
    
    For example lets say you were trading a Runescape pin for a Runescape account. Everyone should know that once a pin is used it's used so it isn't smart to go first when trading a pin usually.
    
    If you are the one with the pin explain to him you don't feal comfortable "going first"
    
    If he protests don't panic. You can offer to use a Middle Man.
    It is possible to use a regular Middle Man but I DO NOT advise it.
    
    What I do is add quite a few Mods and OMM's on MSN. My favorite mod is "badger191" because he is usually on when I am on.
    
    From here if the potential scammer refuses to use a middleman because it is "un-safe" you can now report him for attempting to scam and you can put in a "trade-with-caution" request. (We will go into this later)
    
    But if he accepts you can finish your trade without worrying it' a scam.
    
    GATHERING THE EVIDENCE​
    
    OMG! WTF?!!! I'VE JUST BEEN SCAMMED!! WHAT DO I DO?
    
    Don't panic. If you have your materials and you did what I said you can get your scammer banned.
    
    **from here I will only post the method using the required materials using screenshots instead of the optional video materials**
  • If you initiated the trade with the scammer go to his thread and take a screen shot of his MSN listed OR click on the MSN icon by his name and take a screen shot when the window comes up.
    
    If he approached you take a screen shot of the PM you requested earlier. Proving that he did attempt to trade with you.
    
  • Take screen shots of the entire conversation. **This may not be necessary but it's good to be safe**
    
  • Take a screen shot of any Paypal claims, invalid pins, or locked/changed passwords.
  CONGRATZ! YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BAN YOUR SCAMMER!
  ...but how do I report him?
  
  THE REPORT​
  
  You can "Report a Scammer" by going HERE
  
  **You can and should report a person for attempting to scam you.(like in the pin situation above)**
  
  When someone attempts to scam you but does not get the chance to actually do it you should put in a TWC request.
  
  TWC stands for "Trade-With-Caution"
  
  You may have seen "trade-with caution" under a user's name before. They recieved that because they were sketchy during a trade or that attempted to scam another user.
  
  When you fill out your "Report a Scammer" thread title it this for a TWC request.
  [User's name] - TWC request
  
  When filling out a regular report use the title [User's name] - Scammer
  
  In the actual thread post all of your evidence and wait for action to be taken.
  
  CONGRATZ! You now have all the skills needed to stay safe during a trade and all of the skills needed for reporting the casual scammer.
  
  The Optional Method (Under Construction)​
  
  With the optional method you can use video instead of screenshots.
  
  • Open HyperCam and set it up so it captures your whole web browser while recording (some users may not be able to do this because of a slower computer)
  • Record yourself scrolling down your MSN conversation slowly, then open your inbox where your PM should be.
  • Once you have all of your evidence put it on Windows movie maker.
  • "Publish" your video on WMM
  • Get on your Youtube account and upload your video
  • Post the link of your video into your thread
  congratz

 

awesome guide.

but i guess this should be moved to the rs guides section/other place which is more active so there would be more awareness

 

Good guide, well written, 4/5, but it's in the wrong section.

 

great guide. helped me report a scammer

 

This guide isn't in the wrong section. The tech section is specificly for anti-scam guides..odd..I know..but I'm not trying to get another infraction for anything stupid.. I did post another one identical to this one in the guides section though..

 

this is really detailed.
How long did it take you?

 

Well tbh I hada huge urge to make a guide so I didn't really keep track. Maybe a few hours..I actually have more information and compiling to do. One day when I get that urge again I'll edit this one up nicer.

 

Nice guild , it will help alot new comers.

 

free bump

 

Pretty Decent Guide. You can fix a couple of errors starting with spelling mistakes and etc. I like the information thought. A 8/10.

 

Good guide, 4/5

 

ironic that he got banned :/