Second Life Forums Archive - What would you do if someone gave you money for nothing?

Brenda Connolly

Un United Avatar

Join date: 10 Jan 2007

Posts: 25,000

07-22-2008 08:42

From: Zaphod Kotobide

Oddly enough, people do still occasionally practice genuine, random acts of kindness. Those who do would often rather do so anonymously. It isn't beyond fathomability that this is exactly what happened. What makes it shocking is that it's so rare.

Just an idea, in an age where kindness is met with suspicion.

I've received a few random acts of kindness, but never to the tune of 50K. What's that in real money, about $200?

_____________________

Don't you ever try to look behind my eyes. You don't want to know what they have seen.

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Zaphod Kotobide

zOMGWTFPME!

Join date: 19 Oct 2006

Posts: 2,087

07-22-2008 08:52

I guess I'm just having a hard time understanding how this could be anything else. Scamming and money laundering and the like would require the recipient to somehow be involved in the scheme, and continue to move the funds around. The whole thing is very strange indeed. Scandalous? I doubt it.

From: Brenda Connolly

I've received a few random acts of kindness, but never to the tune of 50K. What's that in real money, about $200?

_____________________

From: Albert Einstein

Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.

3Ring Binder

always smile

Join date: 8 Mar 2007

Posts: 15,028

07-22-2008 08:54

i have an alt you can forward to. i promise you the buck will stop there.

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it was fun while it lasted.
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Raudf Fox

(ra-ow-th)

Join date: 25 Feb 2005

Posts: 5,119

07-22-2008 09:20

From: Zaphod Kotobide

Just an idea, in an age where kindness is met with suspicion.

Well, given that LL has a bad habit of shooting first and then never asking questions, I think we're justified in our suspicions. Although I'd say it's more like we're encouraged by LL in our paranoia over something like this.

In this case, I couldn't even afford the fee if it had be found to be acquired illegally. I am not willing to pay for someone's desire to be 'kind.'

It is also my thought that someone who did steal the L$ would want to spread it around to as many innocent avatars as they can as well as their own alts. They could believe that will force LL into a retrieve the money, fine and then ban all or not do anything to receivers. Not to say LL will do this, I mean, they could do a simple IP check and find out who is whom, but this could be what the person is thinking.

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Viktoria Dovgal

…

Join date: 29 Jul 2007

Posts: 3,593

07-22-2008 09:20

From: Zaphod Kotobide

I guess I'm just having a hard time understanding how this could be anything else. Scamming and money laundering and the like would require the recipient to somehow be involved in the scheme, and continue to move the funds around. The whole thing is very strange indeed. Scandalous? I doubt it.

These are lame obfuscation attempts. The stolen money is sent to random strangers along with an alt or two, then the thief can try to blend in as one of the random recipients. They lose a chunk of the money, but it was ripped off anyway.

_____________________

Smoke Gordonstone

-------------------------

Join date: 13 Jan 2008

Posts: 371

07-22-2008 09:22

Maybe it's a bot or an account signed on one of those text only clients that is owned by someone who sells L on ebay or other sites. You have a pretty unique name, is there anyone in search who has a name similar to yours that it was possibly a mistake in selecting the wrong avatar name? And if its a bot your notecard offers and IM's might go unnoticed by the owner. When I first came into SL I went over my spending limits in the first week so I bought L from ebay (I know it's bad now), on one occasion I purchased 5000 and got sent 10000. My conscious got the best of me and I tried to contact the sender through SL to no avail. I ended up having to contact them through ebay. She said it was a mistake and had gotten auctions mixed up. So maybe someone purchased 50k in L from ebay and it got sent to the wrong avatar. Just a thought?

Chris Norse

Loud Arrogant Redneck

Join date: 1 Oct 2006

Posts: 5,735

07-22-2008 09:26

/me hears the the faint sound of a song.........

"I want my...........I want my MTV...."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACGUasFWVsI

Have you gotten any chicks for free?

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I'm going to pick a fight
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MoxZ Mokeev

Invisible Alpha Texture

Join date: 10 Jan 2008

Posts: 870

07-22-2008 09:38

From: Porky Gorky

Scam?

Solution?

So in reading peoples comments I have come up with an idea. I have sent this person L$50000 worth of product. I sent individual items so the name of each item would appear in my transaction history. The person was offline so I guess i'll wait and see if they accept my inventory offers and have anything to say about it. So no longer money for nothing as Dire Sraits would say....

ROFLMFAO OMG you rock!

_____________________

Luk Wilber

Away

Join date: 24 Nov 2006

Posts: 62

07-22-2008 09:40

Why so much panic for nothing?

We live in a paranoic world...

Tabliopa Underwood

Registered User

Join date: 6 Aug 2007

Posts: 719

07-22-2008 21:13

Don't give them the money. Sounds awfully like a variation on the negative balance exploit.

Alt1 gives Alt2 50,000L and incurrs a negative balance.
Alt2 gives it to you.
You give it back.
Alt2 gives it to Alt3.
Alt3 cashes it out. Thankyou very much for the $US200.

Why include you ??? In an accounting exercise are they the same payment (the same dollars) ??? Probably not strictly speaking.

Alt1 could also be a million L in arrears and you're just one of any number of people they're trying it on with.

Checking it out with LL would be prudent I think.

Day Oh

Registered User

Join date: 3 Feb 2007

Posts: 1,257

07-22-2008 21:20

Maybe they stole some of your stuff and then felt bad

_____________________

Dante Tucker

Purple

Join date: 8 Aug 2006

Posts: 806

07-22-2008 22:15

This is the current laundering scam:

Steal a credit card, Buy L with it.

Send the $L to someone reputable, someone you know will give it back if asked.

Wait a month or so, then ask for it back.

They get it back and the cash is clean from belonging to someone else for awhile.

Rebecca Proudhon

(TM)

Join date: 3 May 2006

Posts: 1,686

07-22-2008 22:32

Complain if you don't get a payment next month.

But shame on you for saying you'd keep money in RL if you found a wallet or purse in the street.

It no different and you are just worried you'll get in trouble...

The odds are: this person ignores IMs and notecard and the payment was an error----or a counterfeitor testing viability.

Sending it back without talking to LL, may be a bad choice.

Rhaorth Antonelli

Registered User

Join date: 15 Apr 2006

Posts: 7,425

07-23-2008 02:51

I would contact SL, let them know the situation and if they tell you it is clean, then decide keep it or not

now.. if the money is clean, and I had tried contacting the person a few times with no response, well, then I would keep it, after all, you did try to give it back right?

who is to say why ppl do what they do...

(but yes first I would get the lindens involved, explain to them what happened, maybe they could contact this person on your behalf, worth a try)

I would definitely not just send it back, that could get you in trouble if it is some weird money switching thing...

_____________________

From: someone

Morpheus Linden: But then I change avs pretty often too, so often, I look nothing like my avatar.

They are taking away the forums... it could be worse, they could be taking away the forums AND Second Life...

Tegg Bode

FrootLoop Roo Overlord

Join date: 12 Jan 2007

Posts: 5,707

07-23-2008 05:34

Bot transaction gone wrong perhaps?
Yeah, welcome to the money laundering racket

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Conan Godwin

In ur base kilin ur d00ds

Join date: 2 Aug 2006

Posts: 3,676

07-23-2008 05:59

You'd be perfectly justified in keeping it. You have done everything that one could reasonably expect a person to do and still not recived a response. They've had their chance, now the money is yours.

Cash it out, cancel your payment info with LL, setup an alt and transfer all your stuff to the alt and start a new life with a new identity. Your shady past will then never catch up with you.

Oh, and if you are in a sharing sort of mood - I bought a 42" yacht from Jeanneau Yachts, but then saw they have a bigger sailable live-abord brigantine for about L$5000. Just saying is all.

_____________________

From: Raindrop Cooperstone

hateful much? dude, that was low. die.

.

Luk Wilber

Away

Join date: 24 Nov 2006

Posts: 62

07-23-2008 06:44

From: Conan Godwin

You'd be perfectly justified in keeping it. You have done everything that one could reasonably expect a person to do and still not recived a response. They've had their chance, now the money is yours.

Cash it out, cancel your payment info with LL, setup an alt and transfer all your stuff to the alt and start a new life with a new identity. Your shady past will then never catch up with you.

Oh, and if you are in a sharing sort of mood - I bought a 42" yacht from Jeanneau Yachts, but then saw they have a bigger sailable live-abord brigantine for about L$5000. Just saying is all.

Ha haheehaha... The best answer !!!

Shana Moger

Registered User

Join date: 24 Apr 2008

Posts: 14

07-23-2008 06:52

somthing like this happened to me. i am a dancer and a stranger started talking to me and tipped me 45000 told me to have fun because he has plenty .

JeanGenie Jewell

Registered User

Join date: 2 Apr 2007

Posts: 380

07-23-2008 07:37

mhm..yum..50k? i wish it could happen to me lol...maybe a mysterious stalker?

OMG Shana I am going to follow you all a round lol..maybe i can be tipped like this myself oO

Lin Ochs

Registered User

Join date: 4 Dec 2006

Posts: 58

07-23-2008 07:38

From: Porky Gorky

LOL

So maybe after 3 months of anguished sleepless nights I will be compelled to pass on this L$50K to the next unsuspecting victim. Hands up who wants to be cursed next?

Wouldn't it be better to pay 5 people 10K and drive them crazy with worry? Spread the wealth I say.

Sexy Partridge

Registered User

Join date: 5 Feb 2005

Posts: 208

07-23-2008 07:41

What would you do at this point if you were me?[/QUOTE]

Porky, darn that must of been from my alt acting all foolish, please return ASAP. I just can't seem to keep her under control.

LOL j/k hey hun go shopping. Maybe someone feeling generous.

Sexy Partridge

Kyllie Wylie

J-Rocker

Join date: 7 Mar 2008

Posts: 489

07-23-2008 07:49

From: Dante Tucker

This is the current laundering scam:

Steal a credit card, Buy L with it.

Send the $L to someone reputable, someone you know will give it back if asked.

Wait a month or so, then ask for it back.

They get it back and the cash is clean from belonging to someone else for awhile.

Or even better, they log on and say "Oh i'm the person who accidently gave you 50K, could you give it to my alt Bob? just a sec and i'll log him in...

Then its passed through the hands of a "reputable" Store owner who often deals with large amounts of Lindens so would not trigger any alarms.....

50,000 is more than likely a test... see if you will give it back when asked... and if you do dont be suprised if you accidently get paid 500,000 or more Lindens next time...

Cherry Czervik

Came To Her Senses

Join date: 18 Feb 2006

Posts: 3,680

07-23-2008 09:02

/me notes Ciaran has not objected to footing the bill for loads of shoes ...

5pm

YAY

/me logs off and goes home

_____________________

To exchange power is sublime. To steal from another ... well, what goes around comes around.

What would you do if someone gave you money for nothing?
Brenda Connolly Un United Avatar Join date: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 25,000	07-22-2008 08:42 From: Zaphod Kotobide Oddly enough, people do still occasionally practice genuine, random acts of kindness. Those who do would often rather do so anonymously. It isn't beyond fathomability that this is exactly what happened. What makes it shocking is that it's so rare. Just an idea, in an age where kindness is met with suspicion. I've received a few random acts of kindness, but never to the tune of 50K. What's that in real money, about $200? _____________________ Don't you ever try to look behind my eyes. You don't want to know what they have seen. http://brenda-connolly.blogspot.com
Zaphod Kotobide zOMGWTFPME! Join date: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 2,087	07-22-2008 08:52 I guess I'm just having a hard time understanding how this could be anything else. Scamming and money laundering and the like would require the recipient to somehow be involved in the scheme, and continue to move the funds around. The whole thing is very strange indeed. Scandalous? I doubt it. From: Brenda Connolly I've received a few random acts of kindness, but never to the tune of 50K. What's that in real money, about $200? _____________________ From: Albert Einstein Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.
3Ring Binder always smile Join date: 8 Mar 2007 Posts: 15,028	07-22-2008 08:54 i have an alt you can forward to. i promise you the buck will stop there. _____________________ it was fun while it lasted. http://2lf.informe.com/
Raudf Fox (ra-ow-th) Join date: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 5,119	07-22-2008 09:20 From: Zaphod Kotobide Just an idea, in an age where kindness is met with suspicion. Well, given that LL has a bad habit of shooting first and then never asking questions, I think we're justified in our suspicions. Although I'd say it's more like we're encouraged by LL in our paranoia over something like this. In this case, I couldn't even afford the fee if it had be found to be acquired illegally. I am not willing to pay for someone's desire to be 'kind.' It is also my thought that someone who did steal the L$ would want to spread it around to as many innocent avatars as they can as well as their own alts. They could believe that will force LL into a retrieve the money, fine and then ban all or not do anything to receivers. Not to say LL will do this, I mean, they could do a simple IP check and find out who is whom, but this could be what the person is thinking. _____________________ DiamonX Studios, the place of the Victorian Times series of gowns and dresses - Located at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fushida/224/176 Want more attachment points for your avatar's wearing pleasure? Then please vote for https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/VWR-1065?
Viktoria Dovgal … Join date: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 3,593	07-22-2008 09:20 From: Zaphod Kotobide I guess I'm just having a hard time understanding how this could be anything else. Scamming and money laundering and the like would require the recipient to somehow be involved in the scheme, and continue to move the funds around. The whole thing is very strange indeed. Scandalous? I doubt it. These are lame obfuscation attempts. The stolen money is sent to random strangers along with an alt or two, then the thief can try to blend in as one of the random recipients. They lose a chunk of the money, but it was ripped off anyway. _____________________
Smoke Gordonstone ------------------------- Join date: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 371	07-22-2008 09:22 Maybe it's a bot or an account signed on one of those text only clients that is owned by someone who sells L on ebay or other sites. You have a pretty unique name, is there anyone in search who has a name similar to yours that it was possibly a mistake in selecting the wrong avatar name? And if its a bot your notecard offers and IM's might go unnoticed by the owner. When I first came into SL I went over my spending limits in the first week so I bought L from ebay (I know it's bad now), on one occasion I purchased 5000 and got sent 10000. My conscious got the best of me and I tried to contact the sender through SL to no avail. I ended up having to contact them through ebay. She said it was a mistake and had gotten auctions mixed up. So maybe someone purchased 50k in L from ebay and it got sent to the wrong avatar. Just a thought?
Chris Norse Loud Arrogant Redneck Join date: 1 Oct 2006 Posts: 5,735	07-22-2008 09:26 /me hears the the faint sound of a song......... "I want my...........I want my MTV...." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACGUasFWVsI Have you gotten any chicks for free? _____________________ I'm going to pick a fight William Wallace, Braveheart “Rules are mostly made to be broken and are too often for the lazy to hide behind” Douglas MacArthur FULL
MoxZ Mokeev Invisible Alpha Texture Join date: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 870	07-22-2008 09:38 From: Porky Gorky Scam? Solution? So in reading peoples comments I have come up with an idea. I have sent this person L$50000 worth of product. I sent individual items so the name of each item would appear in my transaction history. The person was offline so I guess i'll wait and see if they accept my inventory offers and have anything to say about it. So no longer money for nothing as Dire Sraits would say.... ROFLMFAO OMG you rock! _____________________
Luk Wilber Away Join date: 24 Nov 2006 Posts: 62	07-22-2008 09:40 Why so much panic for nothing? We live in a paranoic world...
Tabliopa Underwood Registered User Join date: 6 Aug 2007 Posts: 719	07-22-2008 21:13 Don't give them the money. Sounds awfully like a variation on the negative balance exploit. Alt1 gives Alt2 50,000L and incurrs a negative balance. Alt2 gives it to you. You give it back. Alt2 gives it to Alt3. Alt3 cashes it out. Thankyou very much for the $US200. Why include you ??? In an accounting exercise are they the same payment (the same dollars) ??? Probably not strictly speaking. Alt1 could also be a million L in arrears and you're just one of any number of people they're trying it on with. Checking it out with LL would be prudent I think.
Day Oh Registered User Join date: 3 Feb 2007 Posts: 1,257	07-22-2008 21:20 Maybe they stole some of your stuff and then felt bad _____________________
Dante Tucker Purple Join date: 8 Aug 2006 Posts: 806	07-22-2008 22:15 This is the current laundering scam: Steal a credit card, Buy L with it. Send the $L to someone reputable, someone you know will give it back if asked. Wait a month or so, then ask for it back. They get it back and the cash is clean from belonging to someone else for awhile.
Rebecca Proudhon (TM) Join date: 3 May 2006 Posts: 1,686	07-22-2008 22:32 Complain if you don't get a payment next month. But shame on you for saying you'd keep money in RL if you found a wallet or purse in the street. It no different and you are just worried you'll get in trouble... The odds are: this person ignores IMs and notecard and the payment was an error----or a counterfeitor testing viability. Sending it back without talking to LL, may be a bad choice.
Rhaorth Antonelli Registered User Join date: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 7,425	07-23-2008 02:51 I would contact SL, let them know the situation and if they tell you it is clean, then decide keep it or not now.. if the money is clean, and I had tried contacting the person a few times with no response, well, then I would keep it, after all, you did try to give it back right? who is to say why ppl do what they do... (but yes first I would get the lindens involved, explain to them what happened, maybe they could contact this person on your behalf, worth a try) I would definitely not just send it back, that could get you in trouble if it is some weird money switching thing... _____________________ From: someone Morpheus Linden: But then I change avs pretty often too, so often, I look nothing like my avatar. They are taking away the forums... it could be worse, they could be taking away the forums AND Second Life...
Tegg Bode FrootLoop Roo Overlord Join date: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 5,707	07-23-2008 05:34 Bot transaction gone wrong perhaps? Yeah, welcome to the money laundering racket _____________________ Level 38 Builder [Roo Clan] Free Waterside & Roadside Vehicle Rez Platform, Desire (88, 17, 107) Avatars & Roadside Seaview shops and vendorspace for rent, $2.00/prim/week, Desire (175,48,107)
Conan Godwin In ur base kilin ur d00ds Join date: 2 Aug 2006 Posts: 3,676	07-23-2008 05:59 You'd be perfectly justified in keeping it. You have done everything that one could reasonably expect a person to do and still not recived a response. They've had their chance, now the money is yours. Cash it out, cancel your payment info with LL, setup an alt and transfer all your stuff to the alt and start a new life with a new identity. Your shady past will then never catch up with you. Oh, and if you are in a sharing sort of mood - I bought a 42" yacht from Jeanneau Yachts, but then saw they have a bigger sailable live-abord brigantine for about L$5000. Just saying is all. _____________________ From: Raindrop Cooperstone hateful much? dude, that was low. die. .
Luk Wilber Away Join date: 24 Nov 2006 Posts: 62	07-23-2008 06:44 From: Conan Godwin You'd be perfectly justified in keeping it. You have done everything that one could reasonably expect a person to do and still not recived a response. They've had their chance, now the money is yours. Cash it out, cancel your payment info with LL, setup an alt and transfer all your stuff to the alt and start a new life with a new identity. Your shady past will then never catch up with you. Oh, and if you are in a sharing sort of mood - I bought a 42" yacht from Jeanneau Yachts, but then saw they have a bigger sailable live-abord brigantine for about L$5000. Just saying is all. Ha haheehaha... The best answer !!!
Shana Moger Registered User Join date: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 14	07-23-2008 06:52 somthing like this happened to me. i am a dancer and a stranger started talking to me and tipped me 45000 told me to have fun because he has plenty .
JeanGenie Jewell Registered User Join date: 2 Apr 2007 Posts: 380	07-23-2008 07:37 mhm..yum..50k? i wish it could happen to me lol...maybe a mysterious stalker? OMG Shana I am going to follow you all a round lol..maybe i can be tipped like this myself oO
Lin Ochs Registered User Join date: 4 Dec 2006 Posts: 58	07-23-2008 07:38 From: Porky Gorky LOL So maybe after 3 months of anguished sleepless nights I will be compelled to pass on this L$50K to the next unsuspecting victim. Hands up who wants to be cursed next? Wouldn't it be better to pay 5 people 10K and drive them crazy with worry? Spread the wealth I say.
Sexy Partridge Registered User Join date: 5 Feb 2005 Posts: 208	07-23-2008 07:41 What would you do at this point if you were me?[/QUOTE] Porky, darn that must of been from my alt acting all foolish, please return ASAP. I just can't seem to keep her under control. LOL j/k hey hun go shopping. Maybe someone feeling generous. Sexy Partridge
Kyllie Wylie J-Rocker Join date: 7 Mar 2008 Posts: 489	07-23-2008 07:49 From: Dante Tucker This is the current laundering scam: Steal a credit card, Buy L with it. Send the $L to someone reputable, someone you know will give it back if asked. Wait a month or so, then ask for it back. They get it back and the cash is clean from belonging to someone else for awhile. Or even better, they log on and say "Oh i'm the person who accidently gave you 50K, could you give it to my alt Bob? just a sec and i'll log him in... Then its passed through the hands of a "reputable" Store owner who often deals with large amounts of Lindens so would not trigger any alarms..... 50,000 is more than likely a test... see if you will give it back when asked... and if you do dont be suprised if you accidently get paid 500,000 or more Lindens next time...
Cherry Czervik Came To Her Senses Join date: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 3,680	07-23-2008 09:02 /me notes Ciaran has not objected to footing the bill for loads of shoes ... 5pm YAY /me logs off and goes home _____________________ To exchange power is sublime. To steal from another ... well, what goes around comes around.

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What would you do if someone gave you money for nothing?