Changin SL surnames.

If they're selling freebies then they acquired the "scam stock" with full rights, or created it themselves, so they can transfer it to an alt. Their stores are also transferrable, because land is transferrable and rent is transferrable. Switching alts will also allow them to shed the old UUID.

Which is the real reason that changing a name isn't a useful way to shed reputation, because if your UUID stays the same (and it has to, because that's what the account IS) you can still be located and identified by someone who has a reason to keep track of you.

Not only can you still track them in scripts, but every object they created, such as the box that freebie you bought from them came in, will have their new name in the creator field.
If someone owes you money, and you don't have anything on them but their in-game name, you might as well kiss that money goodbye whether or not the old name is in their new profile. I really can't figure out why you think this would help, because you can't search profiles by content... so having their old name in the new profile won't give you any better chance at finding them than having "This person owes me L$5000" in their profile notes.
And if someone wants to put that information in their profile, what's to stop them?
Putting the old name in the profile won't help you get away from "everything that was attached to it", because you're carrying all that other stuff along with you, in your UUID. Anyone who has an object you created will see the new name in that object's creator field. People on your friends list will see your new name there. Scripts that stored your UUID will still see it. UUID-name databases on the net will provide all the investigative tools you need.
I'm against having stuff in my profile that I don't control.
If you're still stuck with the embarassing old name in your profile for three months, then your only options are to start a new account or avoid doing things in SL that would lead to meeting new people. Either of those are too high a cost to pay to change one's name simply because one has come to dislike it, and yet they're too low a cost to keep anyone from changing their name for nefarious reasons.

Keeping the name in the profile doesn't provide you the protection from fraud that you say you want. All it does is add another hoop to jump through.

What wouldn't cause this problem, and would help, would be having a search for the old name or the new one both bring up the new profile. That would keep your "reputation" (good or bad) intact, without branding people in their profile.

If they had changed their name, you wouldn't be any better off if the new account name (which you wouldn't automatically know) had the old account name in its profile for three weeks, or even forever.
I think you're mistaking the map for the territory.

This is not a debate about the easiest way for a griefer or con-artist to work the system; of course an alt is the way to go for these individuals. This is about reducing confusion, and maintaining as close a consequence-free environment as we can for main accounts of the average SLer.

You can go on and on about tracking individuals via scripts, UUID's, but that means nothing to 90% of SL. This is not about playing James Bond, it's about making it easy for your average Joe to identify someone. It's not about tracking someone, it's about making people aware.

Correct, even if the avatar had the same owner I could kiss my money goodbye. But the consequences of building a bad reputation is a deterrent for this kind of asshat behaviour for most. That's what it's all about.

What's to stop anyone claiming to be an ex-avatar that they were not, it's hardly reliable is it? I'm sure you will point out that James 'scriptor' Bond will match the UUID's, but not everyone is 007, nor will they feel the need to be if there is nothing obviously amiss.

Again, I am not concerned that someone could not be tracked down. My suggestions are about making it easy for someone to make the link between the new and the old name.

You best call LL and ask them to remove your 'D.O.B'

But seriously, it's totally in your control. You picked the name first time. You decide if you want your name changed. For three months, two names will be displayed, both of which you picked!!

If it's that embarassing, it must be sheer hell to have to use it at the moment. I'm sure that if someone has managed to pick themselves an 'embarassing name', are still using it without throwing up and having sleepless nights, they're not going to be too pissed that they have that name listed for a period of three months. If they are, maybe they'll think twice next time before naming their avatar 'Ivonna Cumalot' or 'Master Bates'.

I suspect, however, that most people do not fit into this category. I'm sure that most who would consider changing names is not because they're 'embarassed', but simply because they would prefer a different name.

You can't ever prevent fraud. You can provide an environment where people are more concious of the consequences of their actions. You're making the hoop.

This seems to be your main peeve. For some bizarre reason, you seem to believe that those who change their names will be viewed as some third-rate lesser being? WTF is that all about? First 'name-changing scum', and now it's branding!!

How about we use the name history suggestions, and in cases like this, have an option to contact LL Support and have the name history erased? In my opinion, stalking cases should be the exception, not the rule.