MindArk's Scamming Policy

[Buzzi]

MindArk's anti-scamming policy is actually non-existant. The only thing they do about scamming is telling us that we should purchase Gold Cards to secure our accounts and that we should not give out anything based on trust. Thats about it.

Within Entropia Universe I can see 2 types of scamming:

A. Small-time scamming. Namely noob avatars that try to "upgrade" armors in PA, disciples that try to get as much out of their mentors before kicking them, etc.
This type of scamming should not be a problem. Basic knowledge of the game should pretty much make anyone aware to avoid such simple schemes. It's also common sense not to lend stuff to people you don't know for more than a couple of days.

B. High-stakes scamming. This is the real issue I think. When people get scammed out of thousands of US Dollars and MindArk just keeps raising their shoulders saying its not their problem.

How can this happen? There are only 2 ways I know of.

One is hacking. Every user should be responsible enough to protect himself from trojans, keyloggers and other malicious software.
There was also a security hole in MindArk's system: the password recovery feature. Basically all a hacker has to do is hack your email account, then write your email addy in the recovery password form and wait while they get the mail from MindArk that allows them to change the password to your account and then freely access your account ingame as well as on the website, doing absolutely anything they please.
Technically a hacker doesn't even have to hack your mail account, simply sniffing the email containing the activation link is enough. However this procedure isn't at all simple.

The other one is TRUST. How many times have we seen threads of people getting scammed by people they trusted.
There have been so many cases of people's stuff getting stolen, stuff worth thousands of dollars at a time.

Some of you might remember the case of Rexel's stolen imp fap. At first we thought that Lucian's account (the guy who lended the fap from Rexel) was hacked. We later found out that this member stole the fap for himself. Meanwhile MindArk denied at point blank to give any kind of assistance in this case, saying "you lend your item, thats your problem.. you should be more careful next time".
This time around my emails sent to Marco, our community rep went completely ignored. Support answered Rexel in 2-3 weeks time just to tell him "you lend your item, thats your problem.. you should be more careful next time".


What I am trying to point out is that EU is a virtual universe, a place where people from all over the world interact, work and have fun together. Different types of relationships develop. Since we humans are social beings we are bound to put trust in others, we are bound to socialize, befriend and help others. MindArk is basically saying we shouldn't do that if we prize our possesions.

MindArk's attitude and policy (lack of policy actually) GREATLY encourages scammers. People now know that if you lend something and then run away with it, nobody can do a thing about it. That if you somehow steal an item, proprety or even an account, you can get away with it and make a great deal of money. Sure you will lose rep and such but you run away with a great deal of money and its not even illegal!!!

In Rexel's case we have even contacted local authorities, both in the US and Romania, the FBI wouldn't get involved in this, while the police in Romania did not take this matter seriously, saying that this is not a matter of their competence and that MindArk should deal with it.

The result of all this is that everybody that follows this game will learn that MindArk does not do anything about scammers, that once you have managed to steal even significant amounts like 10-50,000$ you can get away with it as MindArk won't even look into the matter. Law enforcement won't get involved, MAYBE UNLESS MindArk asks them.

Because you see...according to the Conditions of Use:

6. Ownership and Transactions
The participant deposits funds in advance and have the right to withdraw funds on the avatar that are not spent.
Virtual items will often have names similar or identical to corresponding physical categories such as "people," "real estate," "possessions," and the names of specific items in those categories such as "house," "rifle," "tools," "armor," etc. Despite the similar names, all virtual items are part of the System and MindArk retains all rights, title, and interest in all parts including, but not limited to Avatars and Virtual items; these retained rights include, without limitation, patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and other proprietary rights throughout the world.
As part of your interactions with the System, you may acquire, create, design, or modify Virtual items, but you agree that you will not gain any ownership interest whatsoever in any Virtual item, and you hereby assign to MindArk all of your rights, title and interest in any such Virtual item.
All and any trade with Virtual items, virtual funds, as well as real fund transactions, must be done through MindArk approved procedures. Any such transactions carried out using any non-approved procedure is a violation and can result in a lockdown of any involved account. If you are unsure if a certain transaction is approved or not, you must contact the Entropia Universe support for confirmation.

You do not own anything in Entropia Universe. Even if you pay 12,000$ for your improved mk2 or 15,000$ for your Land area, technically you don't own it. MindArk owns everything ingame legally... so if your stuff gets stolen you can't even report it (even if the authorities would take you seriously) because the legal owner of all items, estates, peds and even avatars ingame is MindArk.


To sum my whole thread up: If anything happens to your possesions or account, MindArk will not care less and this attitude sends a clear signal to all those with questionable character that they can steal, cheat, abuse off honest depositing players without the risk of getting punished. And all of us honest paying customers when we come up with such a complaint and ask for MindArk's help in stopping this kind of people that steal more than 10,000$ at a time we get from MindArk "It's not our problem" or even NO ANSWER AT ALL.

How to fix this

There are 2 things MindArk can do about this:

A. Implement the lending system. The community has asked for such a system to be implemented for ages. But clearly MindArk doesn't give a flying duck about our needs and wants, instead they focused their efforts at introducing completely useless features that instead drain our pockets for no good reason: Taming. A Lending system is something very useful to us participants but MA would not stand to profit from it so why not scrap it alltogether.
B. Take action and get involved at least in the high-profile scamming scandals. When you see a scandal involving 20-30,000$ you should also see MindArk getting involved solving the matter, setting an example and sending a clear message that theft and cheating is NOT ENDORSED within EU.

As always, when facing serious issues MindArk through Marco Behrman will treat this matter with complete and uter ignorance. There have been 4 months since Rexel was scammed out of 10,000$ and MindArk has not helped one little bit, the scammer is still at large hapily spending his hoard thinking of doing it again.
If even now MindArk choses to ignore such a GRAVE issue then I personally consider that this company I used to be a huge fan for over 5 Years, has greatly dissapointed me and has lost my trust and support for good.

[Buzzi]

The following is an answer we got from a lawyer we contacted about our issue with the stolen imp fap.

The short version is that you have rights that cannot be excluded by
contract, no matter what the EULA says. The rights that you have are
complicated by the fact that there are at least 2 countries involved
(Sweden and your home country, which I take to the States) and so there
is a potential of conflict. But the biggest problem is getting
authorities involved in the activities which are problematic in PE,
since law enforcement doesn't really understand these property rights
are real, and it all seems too hard. In time the area will mature and
we will have some answers to these questions. But for the moment all I
can say is that it's kinda nebulous and it's hard to attract the
interest of regulators.

[Samantha Carter]

Scamming and Hacking are 2 very different things. People should have common sense against a scam. Some noobs get taken becuase other MMO's aren't so drawn to this scamming (becuase they are not Real Economy based like EU is)

Hacking can also be prevented to an extent. Check my Signature for some helpful tips.

[Buzzi]

well yes just like with your IRL proprety you can protect it and insure it.
i am talking about when something goes wrong and a criminal steals your Entropia Universe assets.
Is it normal that the God Almighty of this Universe tells you its not his problem?

One of the reasons scamming is becoming more and more popular is because MindArk is pasively encouraging it by not taking any kind of action against scammers.

[Amanita]

I've tried to bring up this property issue before, when people get all excited about "their" property and start making up laws about it.

+rep for bringing it up, with references.

Is MA encouraging scamming by their methods? Maybe...I hadn't thought about it.

However, I am wary of MA taking actions based on the viscious jealousy and unfounded rumors that are prevelant in EU & EF.

However, if MA could be even a little transparent, it would go a long way to preventing scammer culture. Imagine if they were to publicly site evidence and take action....

[KUBINY]

Every time i play EU, i click off the EULA window, agreeing with the statements it includes. If you disagree click on the other button. It aint so much of a fun but give it a try.

scamming is too hard to prevent i am afraid... not even mentioning hacking

for ex.: You get hacked and somebody trades your hangar to his own avatar, you write a support and then get fckd when MA says they cant help-

MA view: Some guy says that his hangar lot was stolen, all we can prove it that it went to another guy. If we give it to him, players could start making a living by doing this.

see?