#2 - March 21, 2009, 9:14 p.m.
It's important to begin by understanding what is and what is considered as a "scam." As noted within our Scam Policy (
http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=20459):
Q u o t e:
This category includes:
- Acquiring items or any other "possessions" from another player through misinformation, confusion, or fraud
To be more precise, a scam is most often defined as a situation wherein an equitable trade of virtual property is not adhered to in full. This equitable trade of virtual property must also be accompanied by an agreement which fully declares the parameters of the transaction prior to its occurrence.
Services rendered which do not include the exchange of virtual property will not be protected under our Scam Policy. Examples of such services rendered include instances run-throughs, provided portals, quest assistance, and loans.
To expand upon the latter category: as a loan does not involve the fair exchange of currency for items, they are viewed a bit like gifts. Thus, should another player simply renege on a promise to "pay another back," the Game Master department will not typically intervene, even if an agreement was established before any gold was traded.
Scam:
- Player A contacts Player B regarding a Mongoose enchant and the two agree on a time, place, and fee. Player A opens trade with player B, and hands over all the necessary materials and tip. Player B then logs off, without applying the enchant.
- Player C wants to have 20 Eternium ore smelted, but is not a miner. Player C proposes to player D that he/she pay 10g to have all the ore smooshed into bars. Player D agrees and obliges, and eventually hands over the bars. Player C then logs off without providing payment.
Not a scam:
- Player E wants to go to Shattrath, but is too low to cross the Dark Portal. He/she queries a warlock and agrees to pay 5g for the summon. Upon arrival, Player E neglects to pay the Warlock and instead immediately logs off.
- Player F agrees to run Player G through Deamines for 15g. After completing the run, Player G decides he doesn't have the money and instead gives Player F 3 stacks of Wool.
Because of these distinctions, we encourage players to only provide services and loans to those they trust completely. Those who wish to provide services or loans may also consider asking for collateral prior to any trading of currency.
With that said, should you truly feel as though you were scammed, you are welcome to open a petition. Within, try to include the following information:
- Name and realm of your character involved
- Name and realm of the second party (the player with whom you interacted)
- Materials or currency involved
- Whether or not some form of agreement took place prior to the trade
- If the above holds true, what the agreement entailed
- Approximate time of the transaction
If you've any further questions, Sonnyboy, please let me know! To more fully understand this policy, though, I encourage you to review our Scam Policy in full. :)