Return of the Ontario Scammers?

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kswiston Posted: 08-19-2009 3:17 PM

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Some of you might remember that last summer there was a scam going on inGoozex where a new user would:

1) sign up for a new account
2) trade two no name 100 point games with another newly created user(s)
3) get feedback for said games the day after shipping
4) list a high demand 1000 point game once the 'points after feedback restriction' was lifted and then never send the game
5) use the ill gotten points to get as many free games as they could before their account was banned

These users seemed to largely be registered from Ontario leading myself to believe that it was really one or a handful of individuals behind all of the accounts.Last summer I was matched with three of these scammers before going on a rant here on the forums about it. Whatever Goozex did at the time worked as I had no problems with scammers for about a year after that.

However, it appears the scammers are back, despite the new rule where users need 5(?) positive feedback trades before the 'points after feedback' restriction is lifted.

I was matched for Suikoden II today. Immediately after I received confirmation that the game was on its way, I was suspicious. I have had the game on my list for about a year and a half, but what are the odds of getting matched for it with 50 people ahead of me in line? Sure enough, when I checked the sender, he was A) from Ontario, B) registered 3 days ago, C) had 5 positive feedbacks from the same user (also newly registered from Ontario 3 days ago!), each for no name 100pt games! To make it worse that second user "sent" another 5 games to a single (third) user in 2 days.

Last year when this happened I was really mad. It was tying up the points on my account for a week or two at a time and really hampering my Goozex experience. This year I know how to deal with these people. I sent the user a PM demanding a trade cancellation for their bogus offer, and they have complied (adding "your loss, I really had the game!" of course).

My points will have only been tied up for a couple hours, but I want others to be on the lookout for these bogus trades, and I hope Goozex is able to get rid of this scammer quickly. I would post their username if it wasn't against site policy/good forum behaviour.

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simpsonsdude replied on 08-19-2009 4:18 PM

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Hi kswiston

I believe the user you are talking about is me and i dont mind everyone knowing, but i think you should understand my situation before blaming me for a scammer.
Since im in university i live in a house with a dozen other guys and since its the summer we are bored to hell. One of the guys found that site and made half of us join in as well. We all have tons of games sitting on the shelf so we thought , hey why not get rid of it and get some  new games before the summer ends. So me and a few other friends opened new accounts, since the summer is about over and we have to go to back to class soon we thought that we can get the games faster if we trade the crappy games between our self (and we actually did trade them for points instead of buying it from each other) so that we can get the instant points. So yes that might have been not the proper way to do it but hey i paid goozex their money for the trades and i am going to mail the games that i have, im not trying to scam anybody here. This way i can get the games i requested before school starts and have the other user get their games.

my friends account just got disabled and he is trying to contact goozex and see whats going on. as for your game i did cancel as soon as i got you message so you didnt loose your place in line or valuable time.
so i understand your frustration on this matter but i hope you can understand my side of the story as well, im not really familiar with the site and i sure dont know of good way to scam it except the one that you just posted lol

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Hexpane replied on 08-19-2009 4:25 PM

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the plot thickens!

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soldierone replied on 08-19-2009 4:36 PM

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I think Goozex needs to set up some new rules now. Instead of basing it purely off positive feedback it should be several timeframes too. For example one of the 5 positive feedback needs to be from a positive longer term member, aka anyone that isnt a newbie within a month.

If people keep going into this loophole (no matter the reason) its a HUGE problem if its used correctly, these guys can easily scam everyone out go back to school and not give a crap about anything. A game for a few bucks, some points, is better than 60 bucks. If it keeps happening Goozex has no choice but to play middle man for new users. When your new (up until being a member for so long and so much positive feedback) you send all your games to Goozex, they confirm it and ship it out to the user that requested it.

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Maskim replied on 08-19-2009 4:49 PM

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If you're truthful about your recounting what happened, then your housemate's account was disabled because it's one account per household.

I can't blame the OP for his reaction at all.  Sounds like a scam to me too.

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Vernox replied on 08-19-2009 4:55 PM

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Ya it's a flow I'm sure Goozex has thought of time and time again. It sucks that jackasses like this exsist but the 1 account per household helps along with the rating system. Timed ratings for getting points automatically might help and hinder the process.

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EricKei replied on 08-20-2009 1:02 PM

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simpsonsdude:

Hi kswiston

I believe the user you are talking about is me and i dont mind everyone knowing,

Simple solution if you get matched again and the buyer questions it -- take a pic of the game disc & package with a datestamp on the pic that is generated by your camera :)

At least that would settle any question of its existence

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batmania15 replied on 08-20-2009 1:59 PM

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simpsonsdude:

Hi kswiston

I believe the user you are talking about is me and i dont mind everyone knowing, but i think you should understand my situation before blaming me for a scammer.
Since im in university i live in a house with a dozen other guys and since its the summer we are bored to hell. One of the guys found that site and made half of us join in as well. We all have tons of games sitting on the shelf so we thought , hey why not get rid of it and get some  new games before the summer ends. So me and a few other friends opened new accounts, since the summer is about over and we have to go to back to class soon we thought that we can get the games faster if we trade the crappy games between our self (and we actually did trade them for points instead of buying it from each other) so that we can get the instant points. So yes that might have been not the proper way to do it but hey i paid goozex their money for the trades and i am going to mail the games that i have, im not trying to scam anybody here. This way i can get the games i requested before school starts and have the other user get their games.

my friends account just got disabled and he is trying to contact goozex and see whats going on. as for your game i did cancel as soon as i got you message so you didnt loose your place in line or valuable time.
so i understand your frustration on this matter but i hope you can understand my side of the story as well, im not really familiar with the site and i sure dont know of good way to scam it except the one that you just posted lol

Well looks like goozex reacted i just tried looking at this guys profile and it no longer exists.  You get what you deserve.  Thanks goozex for keeping our trades safe!!!

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xBuTcHeRx replied on 08-20-2009 3:16 PM

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What a twist!

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Duddy07 replied on 08-21-2009 12:16 AM

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An entertaining read none the less. Thank you G-Team for putting this to an end.

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redboy replied on 08-21-2009 12:34 AM

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The power of the ban hammer..

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Hexpane replied on 08-21-2009 2:34 PM

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Bravogoozex!

what scam will be next,  next trading obscure 100pt games w/ your cat?

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batmania15 replied on 08-21-2009 2:40 PM

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Hexpane:

Bravogoozex!

 

what scam will be next,  next trading obscure 100pt games w/ your cat?

actually just read one in these forums that users are trying to convince people that request psp games to send them there psp and memory card so they can load the game on the card and send it back because it was a downloadable version

whoever would fall for that one is beyond me

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madfigs replied on 08-21-2009 2:41 PM

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Hey, my cats love gaming (or getting in the way, at least)

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Connell replied on 08-21-2009 2:47 PM

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Hexpane:

what scam will be next,  next trading obscure 100pt games w/ your cat?

Hey if a cat can get a MBA, it can trade on goozex.