[Legal Scam] AH Gold Scam

[ReidE96]

DISCLAIMER: I searched and cannot find this already posted. However, credits for this must go to Ultimate WoW Guide. All I take credit for is posting it here, reuploading the images, and reformatting the text from HTML. Only the things in bold are my words.

You have probably come across this before you may have seen some items listed at very high price and you think who would buy that? Scammers list these items hoping that someone might accidentally buy it. This happens everyday when a buyer is perhaps a little tired and not paying attention to what they're buying after a series of purchase they expected the next item to be the same price.
This scam have been reported many times to Blizzard and it is 100% legal as Blizzard stated that it is the players own responsibility to monitor their purchase. Blizzard have taken step to prevent this in the past by making the currency more visible and a confirmation on purchase.
1st Method: This is done just by listing a full stack of item with the same reserve as the other listing but a very high buyout.

Notice a stack of 20 Netherweave listed at 300g? Some people actually fall for this and accidentally buy it.



2nd Method: This is done by listing a half stack of 10 items for same price of a full stack instead of the full stack of 20, some people may not notice this when they're a bit slow or tired.



Now you may think, this is stupid and obviously no one will ever fall for it. but read the story below for a laugh.

I know there have been countless posts on this "scam" already, but I finally had a moment of severe not paying attention, and bought TWO, yes that's right TWO, stacks of mageweave cloth for 99 Gold each.

Don't get me wrong, I take total responsibility for being careless - it was early in the morning, and I was buying up massive quantities of cloth quickly when the mistake happened. However, that being said, it is still a scam. The seller did not "accidentally" post the auction at 99 Gold. It was an attempt to cheat careless people like myself out of money that the seller did not earn or deserve.

So here is my question - has anyone else who has fallen for this ever successfully petitioned either the GM, or the seller to get their money back?

Feel free to flame if you must - but I already know how incredibly stupid and careless a move it was on my part, please just respond if you have been in this situation yourself.

And another one.

I'm curious why people spend all their time whining about low bid high buyout auctions when the real scam is half stacks

These sneaky bastards will place a stack of 4 or 10 out of 20 with the same bid/buyout as full stacks. Now I don't just have to worry about the buyout, I have to make sure it's a full stack too

I demand the guberment stop this.

I hope you find this scam helpful to know about.

[Zafni]

this is actually quite the imbapewpew. would rep if i could, but im currently trying to get some myself >.>

EDIT: Realised that i can actually rep, so i 1xrepped ya

[Apartment Wolf]

This owns all the other ah scams Goodjob

[polire]

I didnt actually think about halfstacking items gg

[yrref]

I've been using this for quite some time, I prefer the half stacking. most ppl dont watch that really.

[ReidE96]

Surprising how many comments the scams that can lose an account get, but one Blizzard has repeatedly stated as "Can't be banned for" gets a grand total of 3.

[[F]ear]

Yea... I started to do this after I fell for it myself;S

[omglol12345]

hehe nice guna try this

[ReidE96]

190 views, 6 comments by others. Now I know why the 1337 scammers hate going in here so much XD

[Hammerofthor]

My AH is listed via PPU (price per unit) so all my half stacks would appear midway, and any massive overcharge at the bottom, reckon this would actually get anyone? i couldnt see people not using Filters.

[dejavu11]

My AH is listed via PPU (price per unit) so all my half stacks would appear midway, and any massive overcharge at the bottom, reckon this would actually get anyone? i couldnt see people not using Filters.

The default wow auctionhouse doesn't show it like this. Are you running Auctioneer maybe?

[Gila]

Very awesome..!
Gunna try the half stack thing :P!

[Persian]

seen first one ages ago....but the 2nd one i never heard of or though .

[Smallfry]

Been using the first method for ages. But the second method is new +Rep

[Koonuhibutu]

Hey. I have just tried this and cant believe it worked...it was at 3:00am just so people would be tired as you reccomended...I put up [Blade Of The Titans] (there were loads on the at the time but instead of 100g as the regular price I put it up for 1000g (so it looked a tiny bit like 100g if you aren't paying attention). After that I go straight to sleep and only 3 hours later when I wake up I have 100g in my mail!!! I really couldn't believe that this worked and I only tried it for fun to see how many stupid people there are out there...nice one guys!