A Modest Proposal for SL: Security Firms

Not if you use existing tools and AR the culprits, I wouldn't think. It's not actionable for a perp if they get Ejected from land and banned, that's just the land controls. If the security people are using guns, however, then there's a problem. Not only would it create questions for LL, but it would make the store less welcoming and friendly.


The best solution to disenchantment is to take action, I think. I love your store, Neph, please know that there's people in support of whatever you need to do to keep your shop going.

Will someone create a new account for every 1000L$ scammed? Probably not.

Lets see:

1.) Make a number of newb accounts (lets say 5 for this example - and thats probably low). This takes little time to do.

2.) Write down the names of popular stores to scam. This takes minutes, tops, the Find function in game makes this amazingly easy. (Lets say for example they only picked 5 stores this time)

3.) Create a "Management" group for each of the stores. This costs 100L$ per store "group" ... and it only costs 100L$ ONCE to make it. As long as you keep at least 3 people in the group it won't vanish, right?

4.) Take the Scam-alt around to all the stores, and prey on as many people as you can in as short a time as possible. If you can con 1 person at each store thats 5kL$ in a run/night (and a low estimate frankly ... you could scam MANY more people before being noticed if you go back after the scammed person leaves and grab another rube.)

5.) If you get caught, transfer the cash, delete and log on one of the other 5 Scam-alts and repeat.

6.) ???

7.) Profit!


5 alts, 5 stores/5 people scammed per alt.

5x5 =25

25,000L$

Subtract the 500L$ it cost to make the "Management" groups ... and ... well ... looks worth it to ME for very little effort.

*Edit* Ok so my math skills suck today.*

Anyway ... just shows if you can con people for 500-1k and get away with it a few times before you're caught and have to delete and start it over it all adds up. It literally takes VERY little effort.

Oh yes. It'd be ARs aplenty if we don't watch what we do. We will also have to file multiple ARs for each incident where a name is blacklisted, and why. We will have to CYA every step of the way. And that doesn't guarantee LL won't ban us all outright without cause. But I'm getting fed up to the point that I'm will to stick my neck out.

Yes, Neph, I need some affordable uniforms with stylish undershirts featuring a fist holding a nightstick saying AR ME!. Will pay when I get some clients, hugkthx.

No Burke - you definitely wouldn't

Note: It's unlikely we'd be shooting at people. Kick/Ban, AR, if necessary, send them very far away, but not shooting.

Exactly who would be the oversight for something like this? Who would have the power to add names to this list?

I think something like this would be way to easy to abuse, not for the scammers, but for those running it. All it takes is a knee-jerk reaction or an itchy trigger finger on the gun of power and someone's account is blacklisted from most of the grid based on someone's opinion or bad day.

I agree, scammers must be dealt with, but any solution in the hands of the residents is open to abuse itself.

I'm not sure what, if anything, would convince me otherwise, nor do I have a solution other than leaving it in the hands of LL for now.

Delzo, that's one of the problems we need to consider.

Not sure I understand the need for all the "tools".

Why can't this be as simple as merchants banding together and doing volunteer check ups of various sights that subscribe to a neighborhood "watch".

Seems to me that the scam will go away once we have the notion cemented that we all watch out for another and make surprise drop - ins on each other's locations.

Burke,

powTECH makes a Land Protection tool that uses TP-Home and is 100% in line with the ToS. It does work with group owned land. Problem is that to use it, the security would need to be placed in that group as an officer. Some might not feel comfortable giving a security that much access to thier land. However, there are new group options in the works by LL. Depending on how they stratifisfy the officers and allowing the landowner to allow access, this may be a very viable option.

I worked security in-world for a time and the limitations to uphold the ToS made it near impossible under current conditions.

With new group controls and a good management of the security officers, I think we may be able to do something in the near future.

Best of luck whichever way you head.

~Jessy

Personnaly, too time consuming. Why have someone at every store when a script can do the same job? It's great to have people drop by, I would encourage it, however I don't think you can have someone at every store 24\7.

Just my 2 cents.

Maybe that's all we need. Let's see.

I agree Neph, I'd use them too - in a heartbeat. What's more, if they had a service that sought out and reported users who were re-selling my skins/textures I'd be in bliss.

SL has become a haven for crooks. LL has to step-up and give us a solution to counter this.

Well. What I'm looking for is a way to tie that into an HTTP global blacklist. And we'd give the devices to the land owners to set on their property. It'd be part of their service fee.

So basically your saying you dont feel the residents should be permitted to contract services from people that want to help better the world of SL by , as you put it, roleplay as a security person? I mean i understand you probably stay at your parcel, but there is people that play SL as a game and get tired of getting blasted around and dont have the land controls at the clubs like on there own property!!!!

Yea there is a bunch of holes to fill but Burke has the right idea. If people will just open their mind tot he fact that some people in the game enjoy keepin the peace and not disrupting it . I for one think its a good idea. I have seen many groups of this nature come and go becasue it gets frustrating trying to keep the crap out and no controls other than the samething the nimbrods are using to defend!

As for the roleplaying, do you think your local police department is "roleplaying"? Becasue from what I am gathering from Burke's post he is proposing something more like a RL police department, not a bunch of posers.

So open your mind and think about this instead of jumpin to the stand of keep roleplaying in the combat zones. Because to me it seems odd that when people complain "blah blah LL needs to give us more control" but when somebody is trying to out until LL does this they say keep your "roleplaying" in the combat zones!!!!

Nah. Definetly not roleplaying. Stat's something I save for more personal collaborations.... in bed.

And it's not a police department, either, more like a Security Guard company or Asset Protection firm. A better comparison would be like security on the Las Vegas strip, people keep an eye for troublemakers, and as the offender tries to hit another casino, they already know about him and refuse him entry. Done.

And... no way I can do this for free. If there were people patrolling, even volunteer, they'd need gear and things that cost money. A global blacklist running over HTTPrequest will require development, and maintainence costs even if it was handled by someone 'for free'. One of the problems in groups I've joined in the past was a lack of funds, an people unwilling to put up things for free or discount.

Okay I posted before I read all the posts to this point... The blacklist through a main server is awesome, but I have to agree on the control of it needs to be done by trusted people. I know I would galdly spend some of my time going to different places helping businesses and homeowners out in the defense against griefer and scammers!!

The pow-Tech is great I use it along with psykes at my house. That sytem would be awesome if it had a global name list that once you get put in it is sent to all the other users!

And Burke I think you misunderstood my statement in the previous post. i was telling the people instead of being closed minded to open their minds and think. Because there is really some people that would like to help out!!!

I know. Some people might be willing to volunteer. I wasn't arguing that.

I am in talks with some people about a blacklist service. It'd have to be a good system to deal with a good volume of traffic and what would be an always expanding list. Datamining would have to be a part of it.

This is a binary question. Either LL takes care of it or the users do.

LL has not only NOT taken care of the problem, they've made it worse with their marketing policies and unlimited registration.

That leaves one option. Either users do it or it isn't going to get done.

"Its time we act like Americans act best .... Unilaterally!"


We could get gestapo together to drag anyone made after 6/6/06 out of stores (or throw them through the storefront windows into the street) and torture them.



Just reminds me of old western movies when the townspeople go all crazy because "The law t'aint fixin' our troubles ... so we gotsta' fix'um."

Nah. Not all of them are evil, it's just that there's a sudden upsurge in griefing, scamming, etc because it's so easy to make new accounts.

That couldnt be more from what is being said. LL isnt doing anything about it at the moment, it is plainly in their TOS that they do not police the grid. So it leaves the responsibility to the residents! Every town in RL has some sorta police force, sheriff, or some such. Why cant we do this in SL?? It should be something LL sorta backs, IE. if your dealt with and it is reported through the channels then your only recourse is to deal with it! And the people doing the "dirty" work have to be accountable also by reporting and keeping track of the reports so they can cover their behinds!!

i can do that too, even for free, as for the police force shit ideas, don't even dare to impose a single thing like this to me, i reserve myself the right to grief and/or be the queen of my own land.

Also keep in mind most of the reported so called griefing are just whinings (one of my friends got AR for griefing because he was critizing a building and when was asked to leave he simply moved 10 meters on the side over linden land -_-)

Well. Only land owners, authorized members of the land, and our own security group would be able to set names. Depending on the type of trouble they were causeing we would only issue temporary suspensions and evaluate from reports if they are to be 'banned from the castle' for all time, etc, etc.

It'd have to serious. In other words. Only land owners would be able to call us on things.

well only if it's you that administrate this idea

there are other persons on it, and since it's pretty trivial to code...

There are a few things we need to work out...

1. Who shall build/host/maintain the blacklist.
   
2. Who should be allowed to add to \ moderate it?
   
3. Should we have varying degrees of punishment?
   
4. Should there be a cost? Or associated fees?
   
5. Should blacklisted people be able to appeal?
   
6. Would the Lindens have any problems with this?
   
7. Should we only eject them if they wander onto our land? Or should there be options to 'kick' them if they are loitering just outside the property lines?
   
8. What other concerns does all of this bring up?