Alert: In-Game Mail Scams
Yeah, I got that mail as well where the sign off was: GM pandasinpajamas … Glad my hubby said to never click a link in mail of any kind….
Guys, I don’t mean to be rude or anything but for the picture I had provided above: If you do not see that red ANet logo on it and try to get Anet to make their trademark on their mail more pronounced, then… you’re probably not paying attention.
From day one, I have always seen that red logo, always.
I just met with Customer Support again on this issue. I thought you’d appreciate a little more insight into this situation:
- The account being used to send the scam mails is probably a stolen account
- Sometimes people come back to the game and report such a scam mail that’s weeks old. When that happens, the CS team needs to look at the whole history of the account to see if the account was stolen and if it was returned to the rightful owner. (This is to avoid terminating the account of a legitimate player who was an account theft victim.)
- Best Advice: If the in-game mails is recent — say less than 3 days old — please report it using the exclamation point in the mail itself.l If it is older, just delete.
Thanks for helping us with this!
Communications Manager
Guild & Fansite Relations; In-Game Events
ArenaNet
I just met with Customer Support again on this issue. I thought you’d appreciate a little more insight into this situation:
- The account being used to send the scam mails is probably a stolen account
- Sometimes people come back to the game and report such a scam mail that’s weeks old. When that happens, the CS team needs to look at the whole history of the account to see if the account was stolen and if it was returned to the rightful owner. (This is to avoid terminating the account of a legitimate player who was an account theft victim.)
- Best Advice: If the in-game mails is recent — say less than 3 days old — please report it using the exclamation point in the mail itself.l If it is older, just delete.
Thanks for helping us with this!
Communications Manager
Guild & Fansite Relations; In-Game Events
ArenaNet
Gaile, just a quick clarification. When we report these “Account Will Be Shut Down Inform” in-game mails, do you want us to report them as:
- Scamming
- Botting
- Gold Selling
Which would garner action the quickest?
" Warnings about your account being restricted, suspended, or closed. These phony messages ask you to click a link to “remove restrictions” or “validate your account” or some other nonsense that are simply sent to get access to your account by your providing the credentials. "
I just got this scam mail today.
Gaile, just a quick clarification. When we report these “Account Will Be Shut Down Inform” in-game mails, do you want us to report them as:
- Scamming
- Botting
- Gold SellingWhich would garner action the quickest?
Excellent question, and thanks for asking!
Report for “Gold Selling” and they will be given close attention. Ultimately, these phony mails are sent by RMT companies who are trying to steal accounts in order to strip them of gold and goods to sell, so gold sellers they are!
Communications Manager
Guild & Fansite Relations; In-Game Events
ArenaNet
Remember…most of these accounts are compromised, so the names you see are hapless victims of other nefarious individuals. Which is why it would be better not to display the names on the forums. I’m sure we all would rather not have our Display Names associated with breaking the ToS, if our account were to be compromised by someone using it in this way.
I received one of these such e-mails one hour ago, saying :
We are sorry to inform you that your login account KimmyLu.**** will be shut down or partially limited within 72 hours due to currency transactions or abnormal login. If you want to remove these restrictions, please click the following link to validate:
[Link edited]
Please keep in mind that Guild Wars 2 is a global game with thousands of players. This means that standards of behavior must be upheld
GM Littledan
There is the error message to warn that it was not sent by the guild wars team so I have not followed the link. So I have reported them to GW2
(edited by Moderator)
Just got one from someone called Greenpandoras. Deleted it before seeing this thread, so didn’t report it in-game. Posting this here in case the Greenpandoras account was actually a hacked account and Anet can do something to sort out the account for the real owner
I reported someone for scamming, he was asking for my account ID and it scared me i was thinking he was a gold farmer. However i was wrong he was going to send me items from the gem store. What do i do? i don’t want someone to get banned for nothing.
I reported someone for scamming, he was asking for my account ID and it scared me i was thinking he was a gold farmer. However i was wrong he was going to send me items from the gem store. What do i do? i don’t want someone to get banned for nothing.
Reporting someone does not automatically engender action on the account. The report is investigated, and if found baseless, disregarded. Don’t worry.
I’ve been getting these scam artists via my Email and almost fell for it once until I decided to check these forums and see if it was legit. Thanks for saving me.
Same email got today
I have been around the block enough times to understand that 99.999% of the time someone asks you for account information, it is a scam. The remaining .001% are legitimate companies that you should also not respond to as they are to careless about safeguarding information for you to be doing business with them. It is not so much a case of “when in doubt” as it is one of never, ever, ever give any account information to anyone. That said, I appreciate the fact that you bring things like this to our attention, and would suggest you run some in game notices as well since the majority of players in any game do not read that games forums.
A far larger threat in my opinion is the potential for scamming that takes place in-game. I have been on a forced hiatus from GW2 for the better part of a year now. When I logged in to relearn the mechanics I was bombarded with 4 hours of non stop spam advertising of one type or another in game chat. I do not expect a game official to state when someone has been muted or suspended for advertising in game, but when I see the same person spamming the same ad for the better part of an hour, it makes me wonder how many officials are actually in game at any given moment. It is not only a possible danger to some players, but an extreme annoyance to all players.
I have been around the block enough times to understand that 99.999% of the time someone asks you for account information, it is a scam. The remaining .001% are legitimate companies that you should also not respond to as they are to careless about safeguarding information for you to be doing business with them. It is not so much a case of “when in doubt” as it is one of never, ever, ever give any account information to anyone. That said, I appreciate the fact that you bring things like this to our attention, and would suggest you run some in game notices as well since the majority of players in any game do not read that games forums.
A far larger threat in my opinion is the potential for scamming that takes place in-game. I have been on a forced hiatus from GW2 for the better part of a year now. When I logged in to relearn the mechanics I was bombarded with 4 hours of non stop spam advertising of one type or another in game chat. I do not expect a game official to state when someone has been muted or suspended for advertising in game, but when I see the same person spamming the same ad for the better part of an hour, it makes me wonder how many officials are actually in game at any given moment. It is not only a possible danger to some players, but an extreme annoyance to all players.
If a company needs to verify your information it will NEVER be in game. so you can assume that anything is fake.
the only game that comes close is wows in game gm support, but even then i never had to provide anything
These people who make these mail aren’t really …. the brightest when it comes to these types of mails. And it makes me sad for the poor people who fall for it.
(edited by Franklin Fhenrir.4962)
This is what i got today!
Just got the same in-game mail earlier today, only it was from a Daniel Farrell. Not sure what to make of it, did you notice anything weird with your account after getting it. I just want to know if there is anything else I need to keep an eye out for.
This is what i got today!
Just got the same in-game mail earlier today, only it was from a Daniel Farrell. Not sure what to make of it, did you notice anything weird with your account after getting it. I just want to know if there is anything else I need to keep an eye out for.
These mails often come from stolen/hacked accounts and will be from different names. Report the mail by clicking the exclamation mark icon then delete the mail. That is all you need to do. Of course if you followed the link in the mail you might have bigger problems.
Also note that at the bottom of the mail it states the mail is from a player and not Anet.
(edited by JustTrogdor.7892)
This thread should probably be stickied. Thanks for the heads up!
I concur. I was a recent victim of such an ingame mail. Luckily I had friends who told me to quickly change my email and game passwords.
Please sticky this thread.
-Fuzz
This thread should probably be stickied. Thanks for the heads up!
I concur. I was a recent victim of such an ingame mail. Luckily I had friends who told me to quickly change my email and game passwords.
Please sticky this thread.
-Fuzz
You posted in the Stickied thread. o.O
Here is another mail I received this morning. People remember at the bottom it states that, " this mail was not send by Arena-net.
The reporting menu doesn’t have an option for reporting these types of phishing mails.
Here is another mail I received this morning. People remember at the bottom it states that, " this mail was not send by Arena-net.
The reporting menu doesn’t have an option for reporting these types of phishing mails.
Actually, the mail itself has a report option. Just click the exclamation mark at the bottom of the mail.
Good luck.
Hello there, was thinking if perhaps someone else has experienced the same message as me per below?
= = = = =
“Account Will Be Shut Down”
“We are sorry to inform you that your login account _ will be shut down or partially limited within 72 hours due to currency transations or abnormal login. If you want to remove restrictions, please click the following link to validate:
(link) – as requested I have removed it :o
Please keep in mind that Guild Wars 2 is a global game with hundreds of thousands of players. This means that standards of behavior must be upheld
GM Schumacher Kerstin
Also, down the bottom of the screen it says:
“Note: This message was sent by another player. It was not sent by the Guild Wars 2 Team.”
= = = = =
Just wondering if anyone has encountered this :o, haven’t been doing anything really these days other than doing the dailies :o, perhaps the link isn’t from gw2? haven’t touched it yet.
I’m guessing someone is having a go at me? :o
(edited by XiaoX.8273)
dont touch it!
“Note: This message was sent by another player. It was not sent by the Guild Wars 2 Team.”
makes it obvious its a scam
report and delete
remove the link in your post too maybe…
not that someone clicks on it^^
and on your question
yes i have encountered the exact same message
the scammers use that one pretty often…
26x lvl 80 Characters
Most fabulous Character: http://i.imgur.com/5JtcBI1.jpg?1
(edited by Orangensaft.7139)
Someone is having a go at you. Make sure you report it.
Report it as it is a scam. DO NOT click on any links. Right up there with the guy who calls your home saying Microsoft is getting alerts that your account is hacked and to give the caller your personal info so they can fix it…
Sticky above:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/Alert-In-Game-Mail-Scams/page/2#post4952403
Also, do you think it is a good idea to post a dangerous link? /smh
Phishing is phishing.
Remove your link, OP. You’re just giving a link to the phishing website on GW2 website. That is very, VERY bad. Remove it NOW! It is a fake scam that is a redirect to another, unofficial site that steals your account information. Ignore it!
Also, down the bottom of the screen it says:
“Note: This message was sent by another player. It was not sent by the Guild Wars 2 Team.”
And that is a DEAD GIVEAWAY THAT IT IS FAKE! Hello? It clearly says it is sent by another player and NOT by ArenaNet staff. Why come to the forums and ask when the mail answers it directly? This is sent by another non-staff person who is trying to fake you out and steal your information. Sheesh.
(edited by Siphaed.9235)
Silly bhooka.
///////
Lol are you posting that link on purpose? Well played
Can you remove the hyperlink or are do you purposely have it there for click bait?
50/50 GWAMM x3
I quit how I want
Yeah I got that one yesterday. Was good for a quick laugh at the kind of things people fall for.
This thread needs to be shut down, OP is clearly a goldseller/phisher, look at the name. Cleverly posting the link in the thread for forum users to click.
Hi all,
Wow thanks for the quick reply, just removed the link, sorry to cause a drama.
Thought it was phishing, but just wanted to double check.
Cheers
I have gotten one today but edited to help others:
Points to remember:
- Anet will never send you a message like this in game
- The link .. always look from the end first to see the REAL domain this scam is hosted on
- The bottom of such mails say in a box that it is sent from a normal player
- There is an exclamation mark that is the report button. Use it on every one of these scams you get.
HOT is NOT for the Casual (My Sentiments exactly)
So I got this mail today
(this is the first time I’ve had anything like this)
Someone claiming to be a GM saying my account will be terminated if I fail to visit a disclosed website
I instantly assumed it was Scam since the notification clearly said this was from a player and not Anet staff
I reported the player but I wanted to make a forum post to let other people know that this is a scam and not to visit any disclosed websites and hand over account information
If you get mail like this report it and do not visit any websites and hand over your account information..
this is whats known as fishing mail designed to get you to willingly hand over your account information so they can raid your account
There’s a sticky just above your post already warning, it’s a very well known issue at the moment
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/Alert-In-Game-Mail-Scams/first
Yes, those type of emails been around awhile. They are why the the emails now have that comment about other players. They didn’t used to. Please take care with in game mails
ANet may give it to you.
Ahh I’ve not checked the forums lately so I missed that
Sorry
I just wanted to raise awareness
Ahh I’ve not checked the forums lately so I missed that
Sorry
I just wanted to raise awareness
Np. I’m sure there plenty of people who don’t know.
ANet may give it to you.
I logged into my guild wars account today to find a mail “requested change e-mail address associated with my guild wars account”. I didn’t look at the link which was sent in the mail, but I assume it is a fake webpage, designed to get your account details. I reported this person. I know that there were some “scam” mails sent a few months ago but has anyone else had an in-game mail from scammers or is it only me?
Could Arena Net maybe send a mail to all guild wars players so people don’t get scammed by these idiots?
Thank you.
Post it here please: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/Alert-In-Game-Mail-Scams
Your screenshot cuts off the part of the mail that says it came from another player. It’s really easy to tell it’s a scam, thanks to that alone, never mind the grammar errors or the ridiculously non-GW2 “GM” name.