Are scammers becoming more common?

[anthony31]

Is it just me or does anyone else think there are becoming more and more scammers in the FS world.

The latest one is discussed and debunked at airdailyx (I don't want to name the company as that may give them more publicity that they don't deserve).

http://www.airdailyx.net/fsnewsbreaker/2014/8/16/flightreal-or-flightjoke#commenting=

This "product" was able to generate a number of threads over at AVSIM as well which all ended up locked.

In this case the cost was only $13 which may not be enough for most people to worry about but if a thousand people are willing to gamble $13 on some miracle in the hope it does work then the scammer has just made themselves a handy little $13,000.

If you fell for this scam lodge a complaint with paypal. Scammers shouldn't be encouraged otherwise they will just continue doing it and if you don't lodge a complaint then you are encouraging them.

I am posting this here as it is good for us all to know who these scammers are so we can avoid them.

[Roger]

Thanks Ant. I've read the threads over at Avsim and it does look that way.

[StormILM]

I recall the Airbus A380 scam which was lifting screenshots from the legitimate A380 project. I know we've seen plenty of examples of people stealing work and reposting it as their own but this kind of thing is very troubling. The entire community needs to be aware of it and help keep an eye out for such things and get the word out when/if any more pop up. For those who get ripped off, be prepared to take action to recover your loss by placing the charge in dispute but also beware that any scammer who gets a hold of for payment info may just as likely use that info or sell the info to card fraudsters. the latter might mean deactivating the compromised card and replacing it.
Beware!!!

[wombat666]

Not unexpected really, one wonders what has taken this form of Internet Lowlife so long to get up and scamming.
11457

[Bjoern]

The scam isn't the worst thing, but the people falling for it without blinking.

Google is three seconds away, people! Thoroughly inform yourselves before you spend your money on the internet!

[dhazelgrove]

If it seems too good to be true - it usually is.

Dave

[txnetcop]

not unexpected really, one wonders what has taken this form of internet lowlife so long to get up and scamming.
11457 yup!!! A big hammer

[Dumonceau]

I think this is more of an evolution. In the beginning of FS, piracy was all about sharing. Not necessarily making money of it. And it was small considered to what it became later on.

Then we saw the emerging sites like Wings of Silence, FSWC, Simparadise and some others that did make money of FS addons. Supposedly for hosting and other costs, but people like Fergusson ("The Boss" of WoS) did make money out of it. This is not right, but it is borderline criminality. Very difficult if not impossible to have people like that brought to justice. I know for a fact that judges in Europe won't even consider piracy cases about FS addons because it is too small, a niche market in what the consider to be gaming. Their focus is on Music, Films and big gaming names like Creed, The Sims and so forth. FS simply isn't on their list.

Apparently the pirates moved on to a whole new business model whereby they adopt supposedly legit company identities and offer stuff of other developpers at a charge. This is IMHO really criminal and should be persecuted.

The only thing we as simmers can do is point out the scams and make people aware of these horrid actions and goings on. We're not the police, not the courts or judges, but we can help them in finding out the culprits.

This is of course just my humble opinion and not worth more than two €cents or even a farthing.

take care,

Dumonceau

[TREETOP]

Unfortunately things seem to be going paranoid over at AVSIM.
I have been registered on the forum for a few years. Don't post very often but usually look at the FSX forum every day.
I was on the forum on Saturday, but when I tried to get on Sunday got a message that either I had cancelled by account, I was a spammer etc etc.
The biggest problem is that it won't let me contact anyone, or get to a place to register again.
I guess they could have problems, but would suggest they need to do some work on their screening methods.
It does seem strange that the other major players seem to be able to handle the situation without alienating people.
Mac

[n4gix]

I was on the forum on Saturday, but when I tried to get on Sunday got a message that either I had cancelled by account, I was a spammer etc etc.
The biggest problem is that it won't let me contact anyone, or get to a place to register again.
Well Mac, you have my attention at least. PM me your account name at AVSIM and I'll be happy to check to see what's going on with your account. :encouragement:

Nota bene: I am one of the moderator/admins at AVSIM.

[MCDesigns]

The scam isn't the worst thing, but the people falling for it without blinking.

Google is three seconds away, people! Thoroughly inform yourselves before you spend your money on the internet!

Couldn't agree more.