- Misc. Scams - "Miscellaneous Scams", in this guild it counts as any scam that does not involve trading.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Misc. Scams ---------------------------------------------------------------
Common Misc. Scams:
- Lotteries - Someone is selling tickets to a lottery! There are 5,000 tickets worth 500g each. The winner gets 2mill on the drawing next week. You go to buy 500 tickets, knowing that you would win. wink On the scheduled date, you wait patiently and bump the thread. The host is late, so you leave for the night. The next day, you wait around again and there is no drawing. After a week, you try to PM the host, only to realize that you have either been put on his/her ignore list, or that you will not be getting a refund and the tickets and that the lottery has closed down. REMEMBER: REGARDLESS OF ANY REASON YOU ARE GIVEN, IF YOUR GOLD IS NOT RETURNED OR A PUBLIC DRAWING IS NOT HELD, YOU CAN REPORT THE PERSON FOR SCAMMING. NOT ALL LOTTERIES ARE HONEST.
- Towns/Forums Passwords - Someone goes into towns and starts saying "HEY LOOK! Gaia blocks your password! See: ********! TRY IT OUT!" You attempt to say your password. "Password1", you announce. There are no asterisks (*) blocking it out, and the person quickly logs out of towns. You leave towns, hoping nobody saw. You find yourself logged off a minute later, and your account is empty within the hour. REMEMBER: GAIA DOES NOT BLOCK PASSWORDS IF THEY ARE SAID IN TOWNS.
- Quizzes - Quizzes are more entertaining than bumping when you're looking to make gold through posting. You see someone post a quiz that looks pretty fun; maybe you'll even make friends, too! "Do you have any pets?" Yes. "If so, what are their names?" Spike (dog), Immy (parakeet), and Goldine (goldfish). "What is your mother's maiden name?" Smith. "Are you dating anyone?" "What is his/her name?". Some time later, you check your account to find that your password didn't work. You then check your email to resend the password, and you find it, too, isn't working. You check your security questions, and they have been changed. You have no way to access your email or Gaiaonline account. REMEMBER: NEVER ANSWER ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A SECURITY QUESTION.
How to Prevent/Spot Misc. Scams:
- Keep your password to yourself; never try typing it out EVER.
Scammers primarily work off of greed and curiosity. If someone is attempting to evoke either feeling in you, walk away.
Avoid giving away personal information to strangers, or even to friends without a reason.
Avoid sharing your facebook/myspace on your profile/signature if it is public.
Do not put your email address on your profile or signature.
