How to guarantee safe trade

[cherry0706]

Recently, there have been many people asking me about buying prepaid game cards and codes. I tell these people that most who do sell them are scammers using stolen credit cards, so Blizzard will remove the time in a couple of days or maybe a few hours.

Here are some things to watch out for, so that you can avoid scamming.

1. Prepaid Games Cards For Gold

Most of these sellers are probably scammers, even if they give you the card before you trade them the gold. Probably 99% of game card sellers are scammers, especially the ones you see in trade chat. They but these game cards with stolen credit cards so the payment will get recalled and the game time removed.

2. Blizzard Store Mounts For Gold

Along with game cards you will see many people selling these in trade, almost all of them are scammers. They might even be on a level 85 using the mount, don't trust this, they are just using a hacked account to do that. The only place you can safely buy game codes and Blizzard store items is through the Blizzard store and trusted sellers (always check feedback and reputation).

Not only are there scammers that will try and sell you items that will get removed, but there are also ones that will try and steal your items. This is why if you are buying or selling gold in the starting areas, or Orgimmar and Stormwind bank, you have to pay attention. Here are some things to look out for.

1. Buying

After you receive the gold from a seller, you may receive a whisper from a level 1 with a very similar name to your delivery guy, it may look something like this: "hey i didnt take the screenshoots ,plz trade back the gold ,i ll trade back to you then take the screenshoots". Do not trust this, if you do, you will lose your gold. Instead, what you should do is contact your seller over skype, msn, aim, or their website to confirm what the person said; 99/100 times you will find out that it was a scammer.

2. Selling

As with buying there might be a lot of level 1 alts there, with names very similar to your buyer. They might open a trade window with you and you might not realize that it is not the person you are selling to and trade with them. If this happens there is nothing you can do but contact a Blizzard GM to get the gold back. What you should do when selling is never accept trades initiated by the buyers, instead invite them into your group then click trade through the group frame.

Not only are there scammers who want to steal your money or your gold, but there are also ones who will try and take your account. Never trust any rewards news from "Blizzard" that comes from an in game whisper. Often they might tell you to go to a site likeus.batt1e.net and enter your account info, this is called phishing. If you do enter your information they will steal your account and all your items. Also, never enter your account information on any website but the Battle.net login form, if you leave your account information on a forum or "private" site scammers will find it!


My history of getting scammed:

I am a seller, and I got scammed the very first time that I tried to trade on a trading site. The scammer talked to me for about one hour through skype and even bought a middle man into the chat to do the trade, I checked to make sure he was a legit middle man and then traded 30M RS gb to him. In the end they scammed me and did not pay. So you must always be careful and make sure that others have had experience with your buyer or seller, do not always trust reviews from new accounts; instead look for reviews from well known members.

Another time I was met by a scammer who said he was going to buy a few months from me, on an inactive account. So I gave him the activate code that only lasts a few hours and then he logged off and never talked to me, it was funny because what is a code worth? Even though it was not a bad loss, it still hurts to know that there are always scammers out there looking to cheat you.


I hope that from this guide you have learned some scams that are used and that you know how to avoid them now.

Have you ever been scammed before? If you have, maybe you can post in this thread and we can share or experience here, so that people know the scammer ways. This way we will make sure that no members are scammed in the future

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, please move it if you find the need

[xdixonx]

Good guide. Mostly common sense, but you never know.. could come in handy.

Nice to know you're not a scammer, and I'll probably be buying from you again soon

[Confucius]

Great guide!

One scam that has happened to me before is a gold buyer with an aim name very close to the site, one of my friends recommended him but he did not realize he had the wrong name. It was mmofIy (capital i) instead of mmofly (lowercase l), so watch out for things like that as well, best to copy and paste those names.

[gr3g]

Very useful guide, tyvm

[Disavowed12]

I'm sure there are 'legit' people out there that will sell the items from the Blizzard store for gold no? I would have thought there'd be quite a few as it seems like a 'blizzard legal' type of way of buying gold ingame I guess.

I've considered it myself before in times of need but always decided not to in the end.

[Relican]

I'm sure there are 'legit' people out there that will sell the items from the Blizzard store for gold no? I would have thought there'd be quite a few as it seems like a 'blizzard legal' type of way of buying gold ingame I guess.

I've considered it myself before in times of need but always decided not to in the end.

When I opt for things like this, I simply do it through friends whom I know have money.

[Disavowed12]

When I opt for things like this, I simply do it through friends whom I know have money.

In the event that I eventually feel the need to do such things... what would you suggest is the best route?

I'm not looking to scam anything or anyone. I just see it as a legitimate way to essentially buy gold in game (assuming this method is all good in Blizzards eyes)

[Confucius]

In the event that I eventually feel the need to do such things... what would you suggest is the best route?

I'm not looking to scam anything or anyone. I just see it as a legitimate way to essentially buy gold in game (assuming this method is all good in Blizzards eyes)

Blizzard is against this method and will ban you for advertising it in trade. Trading anything out of game for gold (codes, ect), is against their rules. It's easy for scammers to make a profit by recalling payments on these mounts because blizzard will not return the gold as they do not support these types of actions. The only legit way of "buying gold" would to buy an in game pet or TCG mount and trade the actual item in game for gold.

[Snowee]

I'm sure there are 'legit' people out there that will sell the items from the Blizzard store for gold no? I would have thought there'd be quite a few as it seems like a 'blizzard legal' type of way of buying gold ingame I guess.

I've considered it myself before in times of need but always decided not to in the end.

Sure there are legit people. But not anyone who posts in trade is legit.
Try to get a privat seller, like i do.

[topalsinek]

i scammed once when i look for arena boost (i was desperate about find teammates from my country).i talked about one hour at skype checked his gear (He had elite gear).I knew the risk and i took it but ends bad.Lost decent amount of gold.Actually i can easly forget about it but i had transfered my character new server and transfered limited amount of gold.

[Folien97]

Not very useful for me, but still a great guide! +1rep (Can't give more).

[cherry0706]

Attachment 7169 Attachment 7168
Here are the correct sreenshoots which can prove the trades

[Halfshey297]

Nice guide. I think you should add something about those guys selling tcg codes ingame though as they appear more often these days. Buying a spectral tiger for like 200k can easily get you banned.

In fact it will most likely get you banned.

[Unfolded909]

Look in the wow trading area for people with high rep/post count/join date , and previous sales they have done .. I have purchased several timecards,keys from that area

[cherry0706]

Look in the wow trading area for people with high rep/post count/join date , and previous sales they have done .. I have purchased several timecards,keys from that area

they are all legit and safe ? just wondering