Possible solution to preventing scammers from stealing your prized cars?

[Johnny.Ly]

To those that have been scammed from people who don't follow through with their end of the trade, I have a *possible* solution to this problem.

Since many (if not all) members who post in this marketplace list their vehicles they have for trade, many members who are interested in their vehicles simply post up what they have to offer as well, without solid proof that they actually have that vehicle in their possession. Like many members on these boards, I'm a car enthusiast, and this isn't the first 'car enthusiast' forum I post on, and when it comes to Selling/Trading items, there are certain rules to abide by in order to sell/trade items on that car forum.

What is it exactly? Well, it's rather simple, and an effective way to prevent scams from happening.

Here's what you need:
Digital Camera
Piece of Paper
Marker/Pen

Since it's 2010, and as technology continues to improve and get better and better, having a digital camera and/or camera phone is easily accessible to many (if not all) people of all ages. So please, don't say all this mumbo jumbo that you don't have a digital camera. If you can afford a PS3 and Gran Turismo 5, surely you can afford (or have access) to a digital camera!

So what do you need to do? Easy.
1. Grab a sheet of paper, write your username, date, email address, AND www.gtplanet.net on that sheet of paper. *Writing MUST be legible, or easy to read*

2. Place that sheet of paper right next to the car(s) you're trading. If you have multiple cars for trade, add those cars to your 'favorites' in your garage and put that sheet next to that list of cars you have for trade.

If you have a car for trade, you do the same thing. Since you're only able to trade a maximum of 1 car a day (more if they're still in coupon form), this should be a piece of cake, and take no longer than 5 minutes of your time. Sounds like a lot of work? Psh. This is a walk in the park compared to how much time you spent trying to get that prized car and losing it in a matter of seconds to someone that "says" he has a Formula Gran Turismo or X1 in his possession.

*I will post sample pictures to those that are more of a visual person in about 30 minutes or so (just need to finish this endurance race =P )*

 

[GR1P_0082R]

Not a bad idea, is it possible to sell cars to other people though? I'm just aware of trade.

. . .and who the heck scammed you?

Or I think a better way, way less time consuming, is for both parties to add each other as friends, then enter an online race to show the other the car(s) in question for trade.

 

[Johnny.Ly]

Sorry, I meant to put trade. =P

I'll show you some examples in a bit.

 

[GR1P_0082R]

I know what you're talking about man. 👍

You get my PM btw?

 

[Johnny.Ly]

I know what you're talking about man. 👍

You get my PM btw?

I did, and I do have a Formula Gran Turismo, but I haven't even raced in the Formula GT series yet, and once I do finish the series, I'm letting my brother and cousins borrow it. Sorry man, family's priority, no hard feelings

 

[GR1P_0082R]

Okay man.

 

[Lavaman]

no need for this, nice idea but there's a better solution; just set the car you want to trade to 'share with friends' that way when your trading partner adds you he/she will see the car on your profile.

 

[Johnny.Ly]

no need for this, nice idea but there's a better solution; just set the car you want to trade to 'share with friends' that way when your trading partner adds you he/she will see the car on your profile.

Hmm. Didn't think about that. I guess I always think of the longer, more complicated solutions while others come up with an easier one

 

[Live_Fr0m_NY]

What we really need is a real feedback system.

 

[Supercheyenne]

Are people REALLY scamming that much? Over free cars on a video game?

We need an :ashamed: smiley...

 

[Kunglig]

What's wrong with the option "share car with friends"? Then you will se that the person has the car ingame and not faking it. And no need to use paper & camera.

 

[Fyshokid]

I've got a better idea, if a trusted dealer is willing to help out. You need the trusted dealer to be your "middle man", and then have both the other traders send their cars to him. If both cars get sent and everything goes smooth, the middle man will send the cars to where they need to go. No problem.

However if only one car arrives, and the scammer refuses to send his car, the middle man will send the one car back to it's owner.

The only problem I see with this, is the one trade per day limit, so the middle man will probably have to operate two PSNs at the same time (for example, I could do it with my "Fyshokid" and "GTP_Fyshokid" profiles).

 

[Live_Fr0m_NY]

The only way to prevent scamming is to impose a minimum requirement to be able to post in the marketplace. Many other forums have done this and it works.

A minimum of 100 posts, and 1 month as a user should keep the scammers away.

 

[Jordanp19]

Although all are good ideas I think that the "Share with Friends" feature is the one that will help.

And even thought the 100 post and 1 month membership would work there are people, such as myself, and many others that have only recently signed up so would not be able to access the forum...

 

[Live_Fr0m_NY]

Although all are good ideas I think that the "Share with Friends" feature is the one that will help.

And even thought the 100 post and 1 month membership would work there are people, such as myself, and many others that have only recently signed up so would not be able to access the forum...

Yea but technically a scammer could have the vehicle in possession... That doesn't mean that he will send it to you.

I understand where your coming from. The only way to stop scammers is to do your homework!

-If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. They entice you with nice cars and accept anything for it. This is the bait, do not take it.

-Go to the "Reputation thread" and SEARCH their user name. This is the first line of defense.

-Check their profile! Look for account creation date, previous postings, anything that seems weird.

-Be wary of users with no history REFUSING to trade first. There is a reason why they refuse.

-If you are scammed, REPORT IT! The reputation thread is a great tool in the prevention of scammers.

 

[Jordanp19]

Yea but technically a scammer could have the vehicle in possession... That doesn't mean that he will send it to you.

I understand where your coming from. The only way to stop scammers is to do your homework!

-If a trade seems too good to be true, it probably is. They entice you with rare cars. This is the bait, do not take it.

-Go to the "Reputation thread" and SEARCH their user name. This is the first line of defense.

-Check their profile! Look for account creation date, previous postings, anything that seems weird.

-Be wary of users with no history REFUSING to trade first. There is a reason why they refuse.

-If you are scammed, REPORT IT! The reputation thread is a great tool in the prevention of scammers.

This here. These points should be saved somewhere! I think this is basically one of the main things to do. Follow these guidlines and all should go well

 

[Hayden]

I've got a better idea, if a trusted dealer is willing to help out. You need the trusted dealer to be your "middle man", and then have both the other traders send their cars to him. If both cars get sent and everything goes smooth, the middle man will send the cars to where they need to go. No problem.

However if only one car arrives, and the scammer refuses to send his car, the middle man will send the one car back to it's owner.

The only problem I see with this, is the one trade per day limit, so the middle man will probably have to operate two PSNs at the same time (for example, I could do it with my "Fyshokid" and "GTP_Fyshokid" profiles).

Actually if you recieve a car it comes as a ticket in the car exchange, so the middle man shouldn't have to worry about 2 accounts

 

[Live_Fr0m_NY]

Actually if you recieve a car it comes as a ticket in the car exchange, so the middle man shouldn't have to worry about 2 accounts

Exactly, i have been doing this since day 1... It's a little known fact is that cars still in ticket form count as items. therefore they do not count as a car if you gift them. You are able to send infinite items. I debated whether or not i should create a post about this but i came to the conclusion that a birthday glitcher would have a field day with this knowledge. There are enough glitched 67's on the marketplace already. It seems people are realizing this trick now though.

Now the problem is having to get a middleman!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

If you suspect you have been a victim of scamming, please report them to the moderators immediately rather than publicly posting about it so that we can deal with the problem. Any posts accusing another forum member of being a thief - particularly posts with unsubstantiated claims - will be deleted on sight and further moderator action may be necessary.