So partly out of boredom, partly out of my own curiosity, I dug into this just a little bit further..
I've been reading up on several of the scams that have been reported / disputed in the appropriate forum. I'm sure Coinstop, Xoxo etc are also tracking the patterns here. So to add to my 2 cents of findings, here it goes..
I've noticed a trend of (the very few) verified with positive feedback sellers that have been reported for scamming. They all seem to be similar in a few aspects. I've also noticed a trend in scams being reported which could have easily been resolved before-hand. This is a random list of thoughts, take the good, throw-away the bad, etc..
I'm sure this list won't be too informative for our Admins / Staff Members here, but if you're a new buyer or seller maybe you'll gain something by it.. These are random findings.
- Verified sellers who "commit scams" often have similar track records as far as positive feedback goes. They get 5 - 10 positive feedback by selling cheap items, such as Krono, or Plat, or various Items. They then put up one "large" item such as a $500 account or something similar.
- I think the only way this could be potentially prevented is during the feedback process REQUIRE a link to the thread / items / price that the buyer, specifically is leaving feedback for. Therefore future buyers can easily designate the differences between a reputable account seller, or just a guy whose sold $60 worth of Krono to rack up his 5 - 6 positive feedbacks.
- I also feel that there should be some sort of way to distinguish the two and require MM service if certain conditions have not been met. IE; Positive feedback / Verified seller has 5 - 6 feedback, however since none of those are large items or accounts, buyers have the ability to easily begin the MM service via a button or link, until conditions are met by Admins, the transaction won't be able to go through.
- Could also form some sort of "Reveal" button for both parties to automatically link to each others Facebook. (I haven't had anyone ask, apart from Admins, but if a buyer was feeling uncomfortable sending cash to just a "bractos45", I'd have no issues being transparent and linking my Facebook to them, so long as they did the same.) You're sending a stranger on the internet your paypal email address and real name. Why not send an email address to get a feel for the person before-hand?
- Make a warning / thread banner or something similar reminding people to not conduct any business-talk outside of this forum. I've had a couple of deals cancelled by buyers because they preferred to talk over a 3rd party email, or chat service that would require screenshots which I disagreed with.
- I've seen a trend within the Report a Scam forum that several "too-good-to-be-true" deals are often negotiated outside of the forum last second. I luckily received a funny feeling from this and declined.
Again, that's it for now. Cheers.