This thread is mostly just to make you aware of tf2outpost and steam scammers. It's based on my personal experience, please post below if you have anything to add. Also share a good laugh by posting your screenshots. Show us how dumb they are. FAQ on how to deal with them How do I know that this guy is probably a scammer? Take a look at his comments on the profile page. Only 2-3 comments saying that he is an awesome trader? Caution. Look at his total tf2 playtime and compare it to his backpack. 5 hours total playtime and 6 unusuals? Caution! Go to outpost and check his trade posts. Click on one of his items (preferably unusual hats). Did he trade it from a marked and permbanned scammer? Caution! Only 5 steam friends? Caution! Also almost every scammer will use an alt account. Some are dumb enough to use their main account. (nevertheless, his main account can be found out by his trade history) How can I check that he is trustworthy? (money transfer via paypal) Look up his steam community id and search for it here: <a class="postlink" href="http://steamrep.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://steamrep.com/</a> Everything will be fine if he has a good reputation (green), be careful if he has no special reputation/marked as scammer! Reliable paypal traders will always post links to specific reputation websites. Dont trade with someone if he doesnt want to show his rep (and tells you to go first). Impersonators (thanks to Camper): they usually provide the link to a rep thread and also to SteamRep which shows their nice green status...so don't trust any links that you get unless you really know the guy that you are talking with and also make sure to check the other guy yourself on SteamRep! How do they find me? If you have a trade running on outpost - be careful with who you are trading with. They add you directly on steam and try to get your unusual/high priced item by offering you a very high value item as a bait. What exactly are they doing? They will offer you something a hell lot more worth than your hat. After you both put the items in the trade boxes, he will remind you that his hat is way more worth than yours. This is where he asks you to add weapons or hats to the trade. And here is the catch: While you are looking for some items to add to the trade, he will quickly swap his unusual (or genuine) with a normal version of the hat. This method is called Quickswap, more and more people are starting to do this. How can I protect myself against Quickswappers? Look more than twice at the trade. The trade chatlog will give you a notification if he removes and adds an item to the trade, so use your reading ability. Look at the colour of the item he is offering. Is it yellow or purple? If he removed and added the same unusual, look at the effect! He might give you nuts&bolts instead of vivid plasma. Cautious observation is the key to safety. How do I report them? <a class="postlink" href="http://steamrep.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://steamrep.com/</a> <a class="postlink" href="http://www.tf2outpost.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.tf2outpost.com/</a> Go to his profile on outpost, click on one of his trades and report. Make screenshots, without any evidence its going to be hard to proof and ban him! Happy and safe trading Scammer 1: <a class="postlink" href="http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198075875205/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198075875205/</a> (reported and banned) Scammer 2: <a class="postlink" href="http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198025738965/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198025738965/</a> (reported, also: steamrep topic about him) <a class="postlink" href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/34122766/Untitled.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/34122766/Untitled.png</a> <a class="postlink" href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/34122766/Untitled2 (2).png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/34122766/Untit ... 282%29.png</a> <a class="postlink" href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/34122766/Untitled (2).png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/34122766/Untit ... 282%29.png</a> Scammer 3 (cash scam): Ze Picture! Edit: Some typos
And here we come to the impersonators, they usually provide the link to a rep thread and also to SteamRep which shows their nice green status...so don't trust any links that you get unless you really know the guy that you are talking with and also make sure to check the other guy yourself on SteamRep! Here is a fresh example: SteamRep | Steam Profile Well if the guy is a scammer then don't trade with him no matter what he says, you can also get marked for trading with scammers and if you know that you are trading with a scammer then that only makes it worse for you. And in the old trade it didn't even show all quick swaps, for example the unusuals image stayed there even tho they had changed the item...but valve has fixed that little flaw [EDIT] P.S. Sorry for the jpegines on that pic Also I was going to troll that sucker but I fail, he removed me
Man, as if you guys don't play people like this... I know its wrong, but you could really have some fun xD
But it's really good that especially camper is good with those scammers. I hope in the future there will not come impersonators on LZ, but there is always a chance!
Well one reason for why I'm here is an impersonator...that was like ~10months ago I think...not sure anymore...