bamboo
03-03-2008, 03:30 AM
Got this from another invite forum, but every trader should really read it as it dispels many popular myths about "how to be safe when trading".
Here's the original URL: [edit] no url's.
First of all hello to all traders and torrent lovers,
I just wanted to post a message to all newbies to trading and really all traders alike to avoid being scammed. When I first came onto the private tracker scene all I had was a lone account at Demonoid so I know how it is to be stuck at a lower-level tracker. I got my FTN account through private invite while I was in IT community college from a INET Security intructor that I had. He was a sith lord in hacking/cracking and we started talking about trackers one day at break. Ironically enough, he actually first got his FTN account through scamming but is now a respected uploader on the tracker with is kind of funny.
Anyway, a few rules when trading and popular myths to debunk to help protect you from scammers.
First, NEVER TRUST SCREENSHOTS OF ANY KIND!!! What a lot of scammers do is get people into a trade handshake and agree to exchange screens and when someone provides the screen they save it and use it to act like they have the tracker in another trade. Some will even throw it into photoshop and edit out the date to match what they need it to. There is absolutely no way to see if a screenshot is stolen from someone else or photoshoped. So, in the end I know it is popular to show "proof" with a screenshot but it really is just a good way to get taken. Even if you ask them to put something special into the screenshot, like a name in the URL or a special webpage in the screenshot...again it is very easy to accomplish the illusion with photoshop, and again you will get scammed.
Second, use a middleman whenever you can, but do so only when trading mid to low-level trackers. I have heard many horror stories about the middleman taking the higher-level account details for himself. Cut out the middleman when trading high-level trackers! Trust me, EVERYONE INCLUDING MIDDLEMEN WANT HIGH-LEVEL TRACKERS!!! I even know of one invite trading forum where the owner/admin will pay other mods to give him high-level trackers that he has taken through being a middleman...its a dirty buisness so use your head.
Third, do not accept silly demands from people. For example people who want you to send your details first when they are offering lesser value tracker invites or accounts.
Fourth, many scammers will try to intimidate you into trading or sending first by saying "first prove to me you're legit". This is a classic scam technique used to get free invites or accounts. And a lot of them with use their "rep" on a certain forum to try and intimidate you further. For example if you choose not to send first, they will say that YOU are the scammer.
And Fifth, if you just don't feel comfortable with the trade or things seem shady as stated above. Swallow your pride and don't make the trade. If you are labeled as a scamer because you wouldn't send first so be it, there's no reason to get ripped off just to prove you are innocent.
I am currently offering a trade right now here in the trading forum, unfortunately all I have to offer is a screenshot as most people. But the sour truth is that ANY TRADE you make is a gamble but at least I'm tryng to make that clear to the people here.
Anyway, be safe out there and use your head.
Here's the original URL: [edit] no url's.
First of all hello to all traders and torrent lovers,
I just wanted to post a message to all newbies to trading and really all traders alike to avoid being scammed. When I first came onto the private tracker scene all I had was a lone account at Demonoid so I know how it is to be stuck at a lower-level tracker. I got my FTN account through private invite while I was in IT community college from a INET Security intructor that I had. He was a sith lord in hacking/cracking and we started talking about trackers one day at break. Ironically enough, he actually first got his FTN account through scamming but is now a respected uploader on the tracker with is kind of funny.
Anyway, a few rules when trading and popular myths to debunk to help protect you from scammers.
First, NEVER TRUST SCREENSHOTS OF ANY KIND!!! What a lot of scammers do is get people into a trade handshake and agree to exchange screens and when someone provides the screen they save it and use it to act like they have the tracker in another trade. Some will even throw it into photoshop and edit out the date to match what they need it to. There is absolutely no way to see if a screenshot is stolen from someone else or photoshoped. So, in the end I know it is popular to show "proof" with a screenshot but it really is just a good way to get taken. Even if you ask them to put something special into the screenshot, like a name in the URL or a special webpage in the screenshot...again it is very easy to accomplish the illusion with photoshop, and again you will get scammed.
Second, use a middleman whenever you can, but do so only when trading mid to low-level trackers. I have heard many horror stories about the middleman taking the higher-level account details for himself. Cut out the middleman when trading high-level trackers! Trust me, EVERYONE INCLUDING MIDDLEMEN WANT HIGH-LEVEL TRACKERS!!! I even know of one invite trading forum where the owner/admin will pay other mods to give him high-level trackers that he has taken through being a middleman...its a dirty buisness so use your head.
Third, do not accept silly demands from people. For example people who want you to send your details first when they are offering lesser value tracker invites or accounts.
Fourth, many scammers will try to intimidate you into trading or sending first by saying "first prove to me you're legit". This is a classic scam technique used to get free invites or accounts. And a lot of them with use their "rep" on a certain forum to try and intimidate you further. For example if you choose not to send first, they will say that YOU are the scammer.
And Fifth, if you just don't feel comfortable with the trade or things seem shady as stated above. Swallow your pride and don't make the trade. If you are labeled as a scamer because you wouldn't send first so be it, there's no reason to get ripped off just to prove you are innocent.
I am currently offering a trade right now here in the trading forum, unfortunately all I have to offer is a screenshot as most people. But the sour truth is that ANY TRADE you make is a gamble but at least I'm tryng to make that clear to the people here.
Anyway, be safe out there and use your head.