A Letter to UT - please stop protecting scammers and do something about them

[I_am_da_bawss]

It seems lately there are a lot of incidents of scammers scamming community users of their hard earned cash.

The most notorious being Puya3D/josh_sg1. Who is now threatening civil lawsuit against Unity Technologies, Visual3d.NET.
and “deadfrontier.com”
DEVShed

But it has come to my attention to this thread :

http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/111260-Beware-of-scammer-what-should-a-client-expect-from-an-Art-service-provider?p=738664&viewfull=1#post738664

“Last edited by dendrophile; 05-15-2012 at 12:51 AM. Reason: DarqueLord hiding”

This was edited by Dendrophile / Graham Dunnett - an admin of this forum. He edited and removed information in my original post and closed the thread.

Well, ANOTHER Unity forum member had just reported he got scammed by this “Darqlord” out of $80 of his hard earned cash.
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/143183-We-were-deceived.

By editing and removing information about him in our original posts - UT is essentially protecting this scammer and making it difficult for other forum members to find prior experience of others who had contact with him. I find it BIZARRE (and unethical) UT admin would choose the sides.

Another one :
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/142861-Harassing-Emails-from-Me

The thread was closed for no reason. Even though the user had his account hacked by a scammer (the notorious Puya 3D). I can’t understand why such thread would be locked and close when the community should be made aware of these scammers and their attacks on people who expose them.

Another one :
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/142815-New-ultimate-game-design-package!!!
This is obviously another scammer (and quite possibly the same Puya3D guy) trying to con the community at large.
Does he get banned? NO. There is absolutely no action from the UT.

I am very disappointed at UT’s action in regard to protect the average user. Had UT being more active, the community would not be suffering at the mercy of these scammers.

Currently it seems UT is NOT doing anything but actually actively protecting these scammers. In the interest of the community, I urge UT to have more proactive role in this matter before the trust that exist in this community be completely destroy by these despicable scammers.

[DavidB]

I would like to see something done about Darquelord as well… his name comes up every couple of months and always regarding him stealing money from people who didn’t know better than to look him up.

I understand UT’s hesitance to go after every possible cry-wolf scammer accusation, but this guy has a pretty long track record (as Baws laid out pretty well), and definitely uses this forum as a victim-hunting ground.

Not sure what can be done though tbh, an IP ban yes… but he could proxy in, avoid using his real name and make another cruddy free-site with some new work on it. Ah, le internete sigh

[Eric5h5]

@I am da bawss

Another one :
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/142815-New-ultimate-game-design-package!!!
This is obviously another scammer (and quite possibly the same Puya3D guy) trying to con the community at large.
Does he get banned? NO. There is absolutely no action from the UT.

No, I banned him because it’s a previously-banned user registered with (yet) another account. (And it’s not the Puya3D guy.) That’s as far as I go though; I’m just a volunteer mod not employed by UT, so I only ban obvious spammers and people who are clearly and demonstrably (same IP address) trying to circumvent a ban. The rest of the stuff I don’t get involved with because it’s above my pay grade ($0). Accusing UT of protecting scammers is really poor form though. I suggest you contact an admin privately instead of posting conspiracy theories.

–Eric

[CharlieSamways]

We are unitiezz, we let scamuurz get your munies on purpus!

Bad thread title

There are ways around for the banned users to get back on, Unity do their best.

[nipoco]

This is something I never understand here.
I also remember the complain threads/posts about Smiljan66 who traceable downloaded and shared packages from the AssetStore on a notorious pirate forum. All that got deleted by a moderator upon his request. If you ask me they should banned his ass. But nothing.

[I_am_da_bawss]

@Eric5h5

No, I banned him because it’s a previously-banned user registered with (yet) another account. (And it’s not the Puya3D guy.) That’s as far as I go though; I’m just a volunteer mod not employed by UT, so I only ban obvious spammers and people who are clearly and demonstrably (same IP address) trying to circumvent a ban. The rest of the stuff I don’t get involved with because it’s above my pay grade ($0). Accusing UT of protecting scammers is really poor form though. I suggest you contact an admin privately instead of posting conspiracy theories.

–Eric

I certainly did private message the admins. But I think it is in the interest of the community to be made aware of this issue. By hiding the issue, it is detrimental and harms the community at large.

And there is no conspiracy theory about this either. Multiple users got scammed, but UT is not doing anything. The scammers still have account and are actively hunting for next victim.

And then the action of UT admins who actually edited and deleted information from posts of other users who found information about the scammer. If that’s not “protection”, I don’t know what that is.

[I_am_da_bawss]

@CharlieSamways

We are unitiezz, we let scamuurz get your munies on purpus!

Bad thread title

There are ways around for the banned users to get back on, Unity do their best.

Very mature Charlie. Someone just got scammed out of hard earned money and this is your response?
For a future volunteer forum moderator wannabe, I think your behavior is a bit immature.
The very issue here is trust, and how these scammers with HISTORY OF TRACK RECORDS are hurting the community. I would think that you would take this issue more seriously.

[Eric5h5]

@I am da bawss

I certainly did private message the admins.

Then you should wait for a response instead of posting this and accusing UT of engaging in behavior which I seriously doubt they are actually engaged in.

–Eric

[CharlieSamways]

@I am da bawss

Very mature Charlie. Someone just got scammed out of hard earned money and this is your response?
For a future volunteer forum moderator wannabe, I think your behavior is a bit immature.
The very issue here is trust, and how these scammers with HISTORY OF TRACK RECORDS are hurting the community. I would think that you would take this issue more seriously.

I think practically.

1. The Unity staff will try and filter out the scammers if they have firm evidence that they are scamming, No doubt that shortly Steven will be taken care of. No doubt some of the staff with appropriate powers are asleep at this moment in time. I have notified Little Angel about your thread to see if he can come help you out.

2. I think the being scammed is something you learn from, and not something you moan about. I have lost a few 100$ in personal mistakes but it is certainly not something I come here and tell people not to do business with them, For all I know the person who I am assuming scammed me could have been in a serious accident and sadly lost their life, you never know.

3. If a user is banned, such as Steven, as mentioned he could easily just proxy his way back in under a new alias.

My previous post was just a little joke at the fact you think unity is protecting scammers, Sorry if I have offended.

Id like to end saying that creating numerous threads (not just you posting) about scammers is just ruining the community image for passerbys, and such problems should be sorted through PM.

For a future volunteer forum moderator wannabe

I’m hoping to process collaboration threads in the future yes, As thread construction and presentation is something I tend to take pride in. The handling of users and other user issues is not something I would dream of dabbling in. a) because I don’t have the necessary experience to even attempt to handle scam reports and b)I dis-agree with the confrontation of it.

Then you should wait for a response instead of posting this.

+1

If you were making personally identifiable information public then that’s pretty poor form too. If someone scammed you and you have that kind of information then you should be taking it and your complaint to the appropriate authorities, not posting it on the Internet.

+1

-Charlie

[angrypenguin]

Just to put this in context, bawss, exactly what kind of information had you posted about this Darqlord person?

If you were making personally identifiable information public then that’s pretty poor form too. If someone scammed you and you have that kind of information then you should be taking it and your complaint to the appropriate authorities, not posting it on the Internet.

@CharlieSamways

Id like to end saying that creating numerous threads (not just you posting) about scammers is just ruining the community image for passerbys, and such problems should be sorted through PM.

This is an important point, too. Posting a warning (with speculation kept to a minimum) about what happened for the sake of future users is fair enough, but past that it’s best left to the admins. Ongoing whinging and the posting of several threads at once only makes the community look dodgy to potential newcomers.

[I_am_da_bawss]

@Eric5h5

Then you should wait for a response instead of posting this and accusing UT of engaging in behavior which I seriously doubt they are actually engaged in.

–Eric

Perhaps I didn’t make it clear.

http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/111260-Beware-of-scammer-what-should-a-client-expect-from-an-Art-service-provider?p=738664&viewfull=1#post738664

“Last edited by dendrophile; 05-15-2012 at 12:51 AM. Reason: DarqueLord hiding”

This was edited by Dendrophile / Graham Dunnett - an admin of this forum. He edited and removed information in my original post and closed the thread.

Well, ANOTHER Unity forum member had just reported he got scammed by this “Darqlord” out of $80 of his hard earned cash.
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/143183-We-were-deceived.

Again, let me ask you again, why would admin be actively editing and removing information while keeping him in the community thus protecting him from being detected?

[CharlieSamways]

Again, let me ask you again, why would admin be actively editing and removing information about a known scammer while keeping him in the community thus protecting him from being detected?

in response:

If you were making personally identifiable information public then that’s pretty poor form too.

Its wrong in my opinion to disclose information about anyone, even scammers.

[Eric5h5]

@I am da bawss

Again, let me ask you again, why would admin be actively editing and removing information about a known scammer while keeping him in the community thus protecting him from being detected?

Why would you assume that’s what the admin is doing? I hope you don’t seriously think someone would write “DarqueLord hiding” as a reason for editing if he was trying to hide what he was doing. He would have just left the reason blank, and there would be no evidence as to who edited the post. Again, you should really wait for an answer before posting accusations like this.

–Eric

[Sir-Tiddlesworth]

I do agree that it is wrong disclose information about other people.
However, if someone is actively scamming people time and time again, others should be made aware.

[I_am_da_bawss]

@CharlieSamways

2. I think the being scammed is something you learn from, and not something you moan about. I have lost a few 100$ in personal mistakes but it is certainly not something I come here and tell people not to do business with them, For all I know the person who I am assuming scammed me could have been in a serious accident and sadly lost their life, you never know.

First, I would like to state that I have not being scammed (yet!). So this is not me moaning about being scammed. I just felt the community here needs to be made aware of this serious issue.

And to be scammed and not talk about it - means the scammer would continue his behavior - which would certainly be detrimental to this forum.

3. If a user is banned, such as Steven, as mentioned he could easily just proxy his way back in under a new alias.

He could, but not doing anything about the issue is just head in the sand.

I think practically.

Id like to end saying that creating numerous threads (not just you posting) about scammers is just ruining the community image for passerbys, and such problems should be sorted through PM.

I don’t think very serious issues such as these should be hidden away or swept under the carpet. That is just like ostrich burying head in the sand. It will only make the matter worse as MORE forum users (and I am pretty sure newcomers) get scammed. The issue needs to be made aware of, publically, so other users and newcomers will not be fallen victims to them.

[CharlieSamways]

I think I can speak on behalf of most of the people commenting here when I say, Its not about ignoring them, its about just contacting the admins with proof and leaving it at that. The admins will determine the outcome.

-Charlie

[I_am_da_bawss]

@angrypenguin

Just to put this in context, bawss, exactly what kind of information had you posted about this Darqlord person?

If you were making personally identifiable information public then that’s pretty poor form too. If someone scammed you and you have that kind of information then you should be taking it and your complaint to the appropriate authorities, not posting it on the Internet.

This is an important point, too. Posting a warning (with speculation kept to a minimum) about what happened for the sake of future users is fair enough, but past that it’s best left to the admins. Ongoing whinging and the posting of several threads at once only makes the community look dodgy to potential newcomers.

Actually, if I recalled, all I did was posting his website - which is in the PUBLIC, the website he used to show his “work”.

[Code_Of_Honour]

@CharlieSamways

I think I can speak on behalf of most of the people commenting here when I say, Its not about ignoring them, its about just contacting the admins with proof and leaving it at that. The admins will determine the outcome.

-Charlie

+1

Gotta agree with this. The admins are there for a reason…and they do/do not do things for a reason. One thing they have constantly said about scammers was to contact them first and not make a huge ruckus in the forums; it gives them a bad rep. Last thing you want is to drive users away from Unity.

[Sir-Tiddlesworth]

@CharlieSamways

I think I can speak on behalf of most of the people commenting here when I say, Its not about ignoring them, its about just contacting the admins with proof and leaving it at that. The admins will determine the outcome.

-Charlie

Yes, the moderators should be contacted.
But that still leaves a majority of the community unaware.
Even if that user is banned, people would still stumble across one of their old threads or website.
Then as there is no information specifying that they have a history of scamming people, another customer / victim will end up handing over money for work that will never get done.

[I_am_da_bawss]

@Sir.Tiddlesworth

Yes, the moderators should be contacted.
But that still leaves a majority of the community unaware.

That is exactly my whole point. It seems history continue to repeat itself, every few weeks/months would see another person getting scammed. The community here are largely unaware of the issue and are continue to be the victims of it. This is not good enough.