Nolone
(?)Community Member
- Posted: Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:41:15 +0000
Scammer Warning Petitions
If you are new to the petition forum, all you need to do to sign is to post "I sign"
Please! This is NOT a ChatterBox forum! DON'T spam up, ask for donations, stretch pages or bump my petition! Thank you.
There are more than just PASSWORD scams out there, and if that is the only type of scam you know about, you need to get online more...
Have you ever been scammed out of good items or gold,
just to find out that the scammer scammed other people before you?
It happens all the time ...It’s really sad.
But with all the scammers out there now-a-days the mods are overworked with all the reports coming in. It takes months, if not years to get a report back.
Meanwhile, the scammer is scamming more people. When the day comes and the scammer does get banned, he or she can just make a new account and start all over again.
If you are new to the petition forum, all you need to do to sign is to post "I sign"
Please! This is NOT a ChatterBox forum! DON'T spam up, ask for donations, stretch pages or bump my petition! Thank you.
There are more than just PASSWORD scams out there, and if that is the only type of scam you know about, you need to get online more...
Have you ever been scammed out of good items or gold,
just to find out that the scammer scammed other people before you?
It happens all the time ...It’s really sad.
But with all the scammers out there now-a-days the mods are overworked with all the reports coming in. It takes months, if not years to get a report back.
Meanwhile, the scammer is scamming more people. When the day comes and the scammer does get banned, he or she can just make a new account and start all over again.
Many people have been saying that you have really stupid or naïve to fall for a scam, and most scams are obvious. But day after day I see either new Gaians being scammed or trusting, more experienced Gaians getting scammed. The truth is, scams are only obvious if you know what to look of, and most younger users have may not know what to look for, so they tend to fall for scams. This petition is more for the safety of newer or young Gaians than for older Gaians. Therefore, I ask you, if you are an older Gaian, step up for the good of Gaia, and look out for the younger Gaians, because they are Gaia’s future.
There are more than just PASSWORD scams out there, and if that is the only type of scam you know about, you need to get online more...
I have been watching a scammer for almost three months now. I watched as he made fake giveaways: “800”, “ninja headband”, and “Leaving Gaia” giveaways. Looking for rich or trusting Gaians to scam. Most of the time he'll PM you saying you won, and then ask if you trust him. If you say, “yes”, he'll tell you he needs/wants your password before he'll start the trade or he'll PM you asking for items for the arena. Then he'll take the items and run. I have watched him jump account time after time, and I have seen him get banned time after time on different accounts. Today, I watched as he tried to scam even more Gaians.
My idea is to put a big red button that says "USER HAS BEEN REPORTED" next to the user’s info. If a user gets reported more than two or three times by different users or if it can be done three differnt IPs (so mules can't be used), it will stay there until a mod takes a look into the case and does what needs to be done. (idea from: seyekey8 cool the person that had been reported will NOT be able to see the button on their account.)
ex...
What I hope to see is the button leading to a page where users can see the reason why the user was reported. If a topic existed, there would be a link to the topic stating the nature of the report. If it was a post, it will show up like "view post", like we already have, and why it was reported. If it was a PM, the reason why it was reported will be displayed. This way, users will know how many times another user was reported and the nature of the complaints reported to Gaia.
If you click the button it will being you to a page like this. Tell you why and when they where reported.
Quote:
Reported: July 11, 2007 8:17PM
Reasons: -Attempted password gain
-Sending fake MOD/Admin PMs
Reported: July 11, 2007 8:18PM
Reasons: -Sending fake MOD/Admin PMs
Reported: July 19, 2007 7:53AM
Reasons: -Fake lottery/game/prize
-Changing trade
-Sending empty giftbox
By: xXxLOLAxXx_star
I'd also like to see IP warning flags, which only mods and helpers could see. IPs that have a lot of banned accounts(10-15+ banneds) will be flagged. All accounts that are used by that IP will be flagged. If someone steps out a line, the warning button will be put up after only one report. This way, if a scammer creates a new account using the same IP and starts scamming, it would take only one report to warn people. Since only mods and helpers can see the IP flags, it would not affect users that use public IPs like schools or libraries. Until they step out of line, that is. I know IPs can be changed, but I think it would be a good idea. Accounts with IP flags may stall them for a time—3 to 4 months is what I’m thinking. This way, scammers can’t just change IP addresses and use pre-made mule accounts to scam.
Why I think it will help?
1. Users will listen more to a Gaia warning system than to the good users that try to warn them of other users being scammers. The greater number of Gaians warned would result in fewer Gaians falling for scams, fewer reports, faster report feedback from the mods—all is good. This would also lead to less work for the poor mods.
2. Think about it. Would you like a red button that warns people "Hello, there I’m a scammer " or "Hello, I like to flame people". I know I wouldn't like it, not one bit. That means that people will follow the TOS a little more as well.
3. The two report system will slow scammers. This way they can't just make another account and start scamming all over again. Because, after two reports, people will know they are scammers. The scammer with either have to stop scamming just with one person or create a new account—that is, if they don't want people to know they are a scammer.
Problems I see:
1 . Flaming: If people see a person with a lot of reports on his or her account, they may flame them since nobody likes a scammer that steals from other people.
2. Fake Reports: Users using the system to get back at people with fake reports. For example, ex-girlfriends or ex-boyfriends or a friend they had a fight with trying to make them lose face in the eyes of other users and their friends. However, I have been informed if a user makes a fake report, they can get banned. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know: This is also known as: false reporting people
But if Gaia make it clear to New users that making fake reports can get you banned. That will greatly remove this problem.
This is on the report system that we have already.
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The Good suggestion board !
A very nice suggestions from c_kitty16
Quote:
(since most scammers nail you via trade or PM) when the reported person makes contact with another person, the reported sign shows up in ONLY the bank or PM, rather than in the forums. Thus you don't get a) excessive reports and b)flamers/haters reporting everyone and making up reasons, clogging up the reports and admin's schedules.
a Good suggestion from Sake Sakura
Quote:
Okay, so I think this is a pretty good petition. Here's an idea for the abuse of the button: Have a warning button instead. Every time someone warns you, your warn meter goes up 10%. You can only warn once at an IP address. Kinda like AIM.
Good suggestion from Mourning Dusk
Quote:
the most effective way to do this, would be so you can only report a user from an ip adress one time.
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Small update: The new profile changes have made it so you can hide your profile. One of the ways that I find scammers is by his or her profile and the comments left behind. One would have to be blind or stupid not to see someone yelling at them for scamming. With this change, Gaia has handed the scammer a way to hide a little better in the folds of the site from the users that try their best to stop them.
Good quotes
animebuddykh2
I'll sign, but I just want to say something about this quote.
Of course online privacy is important, that's why the admins gave us the option of hidding our profile. However, privacy is a privilege. Haven't you noticed on the news when someone commits a crime, their whole situation is displayed for us to see? That's because they broke a rule, and when you break rules, you lose privileges. A scammer goes against Gaia's ToS; they break rulles, therefore, they lose their privileges.
Experimental Rose
i dont think its right to see what other poeple have been reported for it invansion of online privesy
Of course online privacy is important, that's why the admins gave us the option of hidding our profile. However, privacy is a privilege. Haven't you noticed on the news when someone commits a crime, their whole situation is displayed for us to see? That's because they broke a rule, and when you break rules, you lose privileges. A scammer goes against Gaia's ToS; they break rulles, therefore, they lose their privileges.
this is a very nice quote Zevion on page 16
Zevion
This seems like a great petion. Ever since a few months since I'v joined Gaia Online, I'v been really worried that somebody is going to scam me. I'v changed my password how many times and always try to think of a better one, I feel like me account is in-secure because of all of the people on Gaia hacking and scaming other accounts. This website is the coolest one I have ever seen, now if only people would stop being jerks and acually care about other people and stop taking all of their hard earned things. This is a great idea, it seems like it is effective and will really come in handy. I feel that if this comes true, there will be alot less scammers on Gaia and alot more people who are safe. I hope that this petion becomes a reality for Gaia, and soon.
another great quote
~Phoenix~Princess~
Today's hackers on Gaia are getting a little more convincing on giving out passwords, and it's really starting to bother me. A petition like this is really going to make a difference and hopefully put a stop to peoples accounts being hacked.
Many times I have been sent PMs saything that I was being reported for something, and come to find out, other people have had the same form sent to them, with the same report number across the bottom! I believe that it is time that we as Gaians opened up the eyes of the administrators and got something done about this.
This petition is a great idea because it offers a sense of security to those of us who have worked very hard for what we have gotten. I agree that we need some kind of system to prevent this from happening to anyone ever again. Though it may not be 100% accurate, it does offer the kind of protection that we need.
I will add my name to this petition, and hope that with enough signatures we can actually put a stop to this hacking and scamming once and for all.
Many times I have been sent PMs saything that I was being reported for something, and come to find out, other people have had the same form sent to them, with the same report number across the bottom! I believe that it is time that we as Gaians opened up the eyes of the administrators and got something done about this.
This petition is a great idea because it offers a sense of security to those of us who have worked very hard for what we have gotten. I agree that we need some kind of system to prevent this from happening to anyone ever again. Though it may not be 100% accurate, it does offer the kind of protection that we need.
I will add my name to this petition, and hope that with enough signatures we can actually put a stop to this hacking and scamming once and for all.
Removing names from list. If you sign, then change your mind after 10+ page. You have to PM me the number you are on the list. because i will NOT go looking for it for you. Also, if your name is in the linked screenshots, i will not remove it do to time reasons. thank you.