The community needs to send out the message that we're not easy pickins

I think it's critical that we send out a loud and vocal message to anyone coming into SL that we're not simply easy pickins for any two bit hood that wants to walk away with the wealth that is generated for the L$.

A lot of people invest a lot of time in developing islands and content and to see all that hard work and investment vanish because some con artists think we're just a bunch of naive geeks who will pay into any scheme that comes our would be awful.

sure we are. we're as easy as it gets.

if 'anonymous avatar a' chooses to give money or trust, for that matter, to 'anonymous avatar b' for any reason, them's the risks.

what would you like to change?

Geeze man, shut the hell up already.I don't have a clue what your agender is here in these forums,but you're an annoying twat.

Let people make their own decisions. Advice is great,but no need to push *your* opinion on others.

Well, I think there should be a culture of skepticism.

I think we can do that as individuals and as a community to encourage one another about the risks involved with various schemes.

right. so your solution is to badmouth people without any proof but a heavy dose of opinion? So no change then?

No real reason to make a big deal out of it. We just all need to be smart enough not to fall for scams in SL any more than you would a scam in RL.

Nigerian wire transfer, anyone?

P2

Ooh, please! I can't resist a way to make a fast buck and help some poor Nigerian out of a personal dilemma at the same time.

Blaze, were all big girls and boys here ok. I think we can make up our own minds without having someone, or a select group of people, hold our hands and attempt to influence our decisions, one way or another, in everything we do.

You have to understand that the nature of ponzi schemes rely purely on good worth of mouth.

People say things like "got my interest paid on time!" like it was some powerful statement of recommendation.

But the ponzi scheme is 100% based on that good word of mouth.

Everything about the ponzi scheme revolves around the fact of someone not asking questions and people saying good things about it.

It's seductive and very powerful and only made more powerful when people get tired of hearing the warnings.

Basically, when Lord Wishbringer made his post, even if he's not an investor, he is helping extend the sales pitch of the Ponzi scheme.

It's also important to understand that unlike in RL, where we have regulation and laws protecting the ignorant from these things, we do not have them in SL.

So, in some ways you're thinking it's not a big deal.. because it's not a big deal in RL.

However, the only reason it's not a big deal in RL is because there are laws against this.

Similarly, with spam.

Spam works because it works. Eventually, however, laws had to be made against it. The community had to organize to protect each other from spam, simply because there was always the few individuals who actual bought things when they got spammed.

And?

Once again, were all adults here.

How am i *helping*?

You have a warped way of thinking my freind.

I asked you to shut up with the "my way or the highway" preaching.

The problem is that if undermine the culture of trust that exists in SL, we undermine business for everyone.

I generally know that a scam will not really be able to exist in SL, because the community would complain very vocally.

However.. people here are stating that the community should just shut up.

Btw, I'm just giving Blaze the opportunity to say what he's itching to say. Though why he has to trickle it out as responses I don't know.

People never read the long posts. Gotta break it up!

Right. So you don't give them credit for knowing a con when they see one, but you do realise they'll never read your posts? Hrm.

Now I'm confused as to exactly how stupid we are on the blaze scale? Perhaps you could illustrate?

Seriously now - does this pay well?

If you're refering to me Blaze,i'm not asking the whole comunity to shut up, just you. You have hidden agenda,and seem to take great pride in talking complete shat.

Don't you understand we as human beings each have our own brain? We don't think like you.

Like i said,advice is great,but not when you're preached to.

Well crap, my browser crashes and the forums bork and I MISS ALL TEH FUN!!!

yes. and the opportunity to invest in a

PONZI!

blaze, If you ruin this Ponzi deal before I can take advantage of the Awesomest Interest Rate in SL, I will be beside myself with anger.

And the three of us (me, myself and anger) are gonna find you and belly rub you into submission.

I really think this trollish reply to Blaze's post (and the other "troll" replies here) uncalled for. These forums are designed for folks to voice their opinions, valid or not. I found your disrespectful post far more "annoying" than the original. Take your own advice "Lord".

I agree. At the same time... I do also think there should be some kind of LL policy in place to take scammers to task. I have heard numerous complaints on this system about people intentionally scamming and conning others... because there is no "legal" or "punitive" system here to deter such things. There is no "contract" system for conducting business, and no Linden-enforced response to those who would break such a contract, even if such existed.

Despite the negative replies to this post, scamming is a valid problem that's been brought up before. But you're 100% right... the best way to avoid most scams is the old "If it sounds too good to be true... it probably is" method.