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Idea to stop scammers |
WelshTom
Joined: May 20, 2004
Posts: 364
From: Costa del Cardiff Phone: K610i
PM |
Well i first suggested this back in may 2004:
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=100377&start=0
I have decided to bring this idea back to life in light of comments made by masseur in this thread in the market section:
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=122285&start=0
Basically i think that there should be a restriction introduced so that members cannot create a thread in any of the market sections before they have either made a stipulated number of posts or have been a member for s stipulated memebr of time. They will still be able to post replies to threads in the market section and start threads on all other areas of the board - the restriction would be for the market area of the forum only! I have seen this on other sites and it really does seem to work even if you set the post count limit as low as 25 as scammers can't be bothered to make 25 posts. It would not even require any extra policing on behalf of the moderators as the restrictions can be impossed using scripts. The other benefit of this is that it encourages new users to join esato to contribute to the community and not just use it as a 'free' marketplace. I think it is important that esato maintains it's community and technical knowledge and doesnt just become more and more dominated by the market sections.
So what does everyone think about this? I think it is a small thing that laffen could introduce that would protect a lot of people.
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
PM |
I raised a thread in the moderator forum on this topic a couple of weeks back with the points you have mentioned.
Indeed it would be an extension of the recently advertised rules about non mobile sales and who can advertise.
My thoughts were minimum 3 months membership and 30 counting posts (i.e. not posts in non mobile,garbage or regional forums) but perhaps 1 month membership + the posts is enough
In this way they are actually participating in Esato and not just using the Esato membership as a ready made customer base, and existing members can get a feel for the new seller from their posts.
The restrictions to creating new threads in the market forums will discourage all but the most determined scammer though care will still need to be taken by old sellers when new members sign up and post on their threads wishing to buy or trade.
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laffen
Joined: Aug 07, 2001
Posts: > 500
From: Oslo, Norway
PM |
I have done as masseur and others have suggested for some time. The requirement for starting a thread in one of the market forums is a minimum of 25 posts. For now, this is the only requirement. If someone try to work around this obstacle I will have to add a couple of more restrictions. This could be a 30 days membership history, only a selection of forum will count etc.
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haynesycop
Joined: Mar 10, 2004
Posts: > 500
PM |
Great idea!
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
PM |
thanks!
thats a very good start and will certainly help alot
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BobaFett
Joined: Jan 06, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Kamino (wish it would be Lund)
PM, WWW
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i would "force" the sellers to fill the profile with email and/or icq/msn, location ( city, country )
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
PM |
they could enter anything they like since it would be hard to verify those details as real
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WelshTom
Joined: May 20, 2004
Posts: 364
From: Costa del Cardiff Phone: K610i
PM |
thank you laffen! I think this is a great idea and should really help to deter scammers - although obviously people still need to keep their wits about them
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deluded
Joined: Sep 14, 2005
Posts: > 500
PM |
That's true, but still, it would make it harder for scammers since when it comes to collection/delivery of the transaction, they'd have to explain why their location's different from what they have in their profile, etc...
This message was posted from a Nokia |
alexho
Joined: Dec 17, 2004
Posts: 453
From: Bristol
PM |
That's great idea cause I am fed up with the scammers in here! |
BobaFett
Joined: Jan 06, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Kamino (wish it would be Lund)
PM, WWW
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what if there would be no trades on esato? just a thought.
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
PM |
thats not a good, or serious solution!
there is no reason to stop the market forums completely
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BobaFett
Joined: Jan 06, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Kamino (wish it would be Lund)
PM, WWW
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hm... maybe some respected and well known members could "take care" of the trader forum, manage and oragnize it, give advices to newcomers according rules, a kind of "mod-traders", but without any special features ( no chance to lock, move etc threads )...
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
PM |
members already do most of that!
for example suggesting sellers post a pic of the item with their username etc
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BobaFett
Joined: Jan 06, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Kamino (wish it would be Lund)
PM, WWW
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thats right, but imo the trader forum would be worth to be"hosted" by some one(s). its actually a total different world on esato, the real mission here is to share infos and help to each other. sell and buy is a great and useful feature, but not the reason ( actually for me ) to visit esato.
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Posted: 2006-05-24 14:23
