What are these name sellers doing?

http://www.sythe.org/name-sales/180...hop-500-vouches-200-donor-buying-selling.html
http://www.sythe.org/name-sales/1821842-selling-rare-name.html
http://www.sythe.org/name-sales/1762238-fortos-rare-name-shop.html
(many more examples in that section)

I understand if a name seller does not want to publicize exact names he's selling (for fear of name snipers/maybe jmod scouting ur thread), but why censor the names and then give hints that allow anyone with half a brain to guess the exact name?
It's like obfuscating ur code and then providing the de-ob tool...
As if there are scripts that surf the web and use some algorithm involving complex regex to collect RS names on sale...

 

maybe so google doesn't index it?
or when searching the rsn on google doesn't show up the thread...

 

Or they could just be idiots.

But really, I think they're under the impression that, by not posting the full account names, the names won't be prevented from being sold. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

The real question is: Why does it matter to you? It's a better alternative than just giving out the name. If you're able to apply common knowledge to figure out the name, then good for you.

 

pretty sure its so that if jagex sees the pages, they can't ban the names as they aren't directly listed

 

They don't ban names based on a random internet listing, but it does give them reason to investigate.

OP, I'm guessing it's to avoid a Google cache of the name on a sales thread. Especially if the name's been sold in the past it's not necessarily reassuring as a buyer. Other actual, RS community members probably don't want to be able to Google your name and easy associate you with presumedly buying a username as well.

 

Nick makes a really good point, along with the whole buyer confidentiality point, as well as the fact that without 100% proof Jagex wouldn't touch it even if they did waste their time searching through

 

It was probably one person who didn't to consistently pm names to people that weren't serious buyers and not get brought up by search engines, then a bunch of people copied the idea. I doubt it has anything to do with Jagex, never seen accounts banned for being for sale on Sythe not to mention a name on a level 3.

 

Yes, it's called google.

 

Google doesn't specifically collect rs names, they collect all texts from Web pages.
Anyway most of the names on sale are either 2-3 digit or common words so it's hard to find the thread using search tools. If anything censoring one character would be sufficient.

Also iirc jagex stated that name sales (transfer only, not the whole acct) are allowed but do so at your own risk.

Obviously sellers can market the names however they like, I'm just asking this out of curiosity rather than becos it matters to me lol