Accepted Report: 76561197985645792 - ([TF2] Team Fortress 2 Items)

Scam Report

Report Type: [Money] PayPal scam or scam attempt
Virtual item type involved: [TF2] Team Fortress 2 Items

Accused profile: 76561197985645792

Victim profile: 76561198167237205

What happened? Description:

User contacted me about purchasing my backpack and after talking with them and agreeing to trade they unfriended me, blocked me, and got away with my items. I know I should have expected this to happen or at least been more cautious, but I'm done playing TF and I just wanted to get something out of the stuff I was done using.​

Provide Evidence:

Full chat log screenshots are listed below. A trade accepted screenshot along with an image showing how I've been blocked afterwards have been attached as well. Due to upload constraints I can't upload the rest of my images, but I also have the full trade log with all the items stolen listed as well.​

[7:55 AM]
croc0:
Hey there

[7:56 AM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Howdy, I saw your comment on my screenshot and I wanted to hear out your offer if you’re still interested in my backpack

[11:11 AM]
croc0:
Oh okay, yes I still am interested.
Sorry for the late response btw.

[11:22 AM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
No worries, I may be a little slow myself as I am at work rn
Your offer was $900 for everything correct?

[11:38 AM]
croc0:
That is correct.
I may be slow as well as I'm outside at the moment grocery shopping.
What payment method were you after?

[11:48 AM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Would PayPal work for you?

[11:54 AM]
croc0:
Yes PayPal would work, mind giving me around an hour or so to get home?

[11:57 AM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Sure no problem, just let me know when you’re ready

[11:58 AM]
croc0:
Thanks!

[1:08 PM]
croc0:
Alrighty I'm back. Let me know whenever you're here.

[1:31 PM]
croc0:
Still here?

[1:33 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Yeah, just at work for the next few hours sorry ^^;
I can still get the trade stuff set up though

[1:34 PM]
croc0:
I can prepare the offer, I feel like it will be easier since you're on your phone and it's a lot of items.
You can drop me either your Paypal email or http://paypal.me link here.
croc0 sent you a new trade offerView trade offer
And offer has been sent.

[1:53 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
My PayPal address is [email protected] if you don’t mind sending it there, I don’t think I have PayPal me enabled rn

[1:53 PM]
croc0:
Gotcha
And also whenever you're confirming the offer on the app just make sure that it says that I'm level 171 and a 16 year Steam member.

[2:00 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Will do
Trade offer looks good, just lmk when you’ve sent the payment

[2:03 PM]
croc0:
Oh I'm just waiting on the offer to go through
It might take a few for it to go through due to the quantity of items so just bear with me here until it does

[2:04 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
kk
I got the confirmation on my end I just haven’t yet

[2:07 PM]
croc0:
Ah okay gotcha, yeah I'm just waiting on it to go through. Nothing showed up on my end yet.

[2:15 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Dude I’ve been scammed before, I know how this goes :emofdr:

[2:16 PM]
croc0:
I mean I kinda expected that you've gone over my rep prior to adding me. Also been a member for 16 years, level 171, over 4000+ trades made, 6 unus owned, been awarded 180+ times, etc.
If you're really worried I can also provide a screenshot of my Paypal which would show my balance and cards I'm verified with for proof of funds & extra assurance if that's really necessary.

[2:32 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
My main concern is someone being such a longtime user and not knowing about the oldest trick in the book of trading before paying

[2:32 PM]
croc0:
Okay so you expected me to go first when your profile is fully private and you have 0 rep?

[2:32 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
I think you know as well as I do that steam support doesn’t rollback trades anymore so there’s no assurance or security there, thus why it’s done after payment

[2:33 PM]
croc0:
Of course they don't, why would they? You just gotta be cautious with whoever you're dealing with.
You're obviously not going to send anything first to somebody with a fresh account/private account with 0 rep correct? It is the internet after all.
Going first is based off rep, what's the point of having rep otherwise?
I'll try to save us both the time, I won't be going first under any circumstances without having seen any rep. That's just my rule of thumb. If that's a dealbreaker for you we don'tr have to proceed, no hard feelings at all.

[2:36 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Sorry for the delay, still at work but I made my profile public and I’m level 376 btw

[2:37 PM]
croc0:
That's fair, no problem at all. Level is great, 376 especially. I would still need to see rep if you would like me to go first however. Level can be bought after all.
For some reason it isn't showing on your profile, but I'll take your word for it.
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd....703/02E29A530286498C0C4DB8DDAB9429DC8F666525/

[3:17 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Are you using steamid? I’m pretty sure my rep should be neutral since I don’t ever trade
Sorry if we got off on the wrong foot btw, I’ve just had problems with trading in the past that I’d like to not repeat

[3:18 PM]
croc0:
Yea that’s fair I feel like everybody gets scammed at least once, me included.

[3:18 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
The reason I mentioned steam’s policy is because at least if you sent a PayPal transaction and I were a scammer you can at least file a dispute through them, which isn’t the case with steam trades at all

[3:19 PM]
croc0:
And no not steamid, it has nothing to do with trading.
Gotcha. I’ll send the screenshot in a couple mins. Let me get back on my PC.
Oh nvm I misread what you typed.

[3:20 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd....597/0C99C0D30996745F9E527D0076E68F48BE8A5BF5/

[3:20 PM]
croc0:
Also, I wouldn’t be able to dispute anything as I send all payments as Friends/Family. Nobody is really willing to receive a payment with the option to dispute it ya feel?

[3:21 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
That’s fair

[3:21 PM]
croc0:
If you need time to think it over I’m in no rush whatsoever. You can let me know whenever you feel like it.

[3:28 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Would you be willing to possibly split the trade into multiple transactions? Maybe that way it’s a little more secure

[3:49 PM]
croc0:
I wouldn't be willing to split it into multiple segments as I own a business account and I pay a fixed fee on each transaction plus the regular fee on top. It also kills from the profit which isn't that big either considering the value of the backpack.

[5:33 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
That's fair enough, I'm just trying to think of ways to make things secure as possible on both ends
If you could, would you be willing to share a screenshot of your paypal like you offered earlier? I'm willing to accept your deal but before I do I just need to have something more to base some trust off of

[5:35 PM]
croc0:
Yeah no worries, give me a second here.
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd....273/BD868B8AE2D510041D1317A075904952ED15CDD4/

There ya go.
I've really got no reason to run on ya over $900, if that is what I was doing on here I'd be banned ages ago.

[5:40 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Thank you, we can go ahead and move forward with things now if you wanna resend the trade.

[5:40 PM]
croc0:
Sure thing, let me re-send it real quick.

[5:41 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
I just needed to be certain, there are people here that have scammed me out of less before so I'm always a little on edge

[5:41 PM]
croc0:
Of course don't worry I get where you're coming from, you aren't the only one and we are out here on the internet after all like I said so it's normal to be skeptical.
croc0 sent you a new trade offerView trade offer
There it is.

[5:43 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
oh ffs
just noticed you're getting the objectors and by extension the utterly repulsive sprays I have on them from ages ago

[5:44 PM]
croc0:
Loool
Yeah I've got a lot of objectors myself with all sorts of weird stuff because I've bought so many backpacks in the past
I'll have to re-send the trade again since you're removing the decals so just let me know once you're done doing that and I'll re-send it once more.

[5:46 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
aight I cleared them, it should be ready now

[5:46 PM]
croc0:
Sec
croc0 sent you a new trade offerView trade offer

[5:47 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
wanted to save you the trouble of having to remove my cringe sprays from when I started playing around 2016

[5:47 PM]
croc0:
Hahaha you're good

[5:50 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Just cleared the trade, it should be coming through somewhat soon assuming steam works

[5:50 PM]
croc0:
Gotcha, I will keep an eye on it and will let you know the moment it goes through.
Pretty sure you'll be doing the same haha

[5:58 PM]
croc0:
Okay seems good, sending the payment your way.
Would you like me to include any note?

[5:59 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
if you could just put your username in the note that would be great

[5:59 PM]
croc0:
Sure thing
And payment has been sent! Let me know the moment you get it please.

[6:02 PM]
ZEN9TH Selling TF2 Backpack:
Nothing yet, what is the address you sent it to?

None of my images are edited, and I followed the site's guidelines involving screenshots, so what exactly is wrong in them?

If you're wondering about the red markings in several of the images, that is a personal email address that I have censored. If it's necessary I can retake the screenshots without it. Unedited versions of the screenshots are below.

Okay, sorry for any of the confusion so far. I'm new to using this site so I'm not entirely familiar with how it functions, but I'll start over so things are clear.

This user, croc0 (now clock0) originally commented on one of my screenshots (now deleted) offering to buy out my backpack for $900 USD. Later I sent him a friend request and we discussed the trade as seen in the screenshots I have posted so far. After much skepticism I agreed to the trade, and upon doing so he immediately unfriended and blocked me, gaining my full backpack that is now no longer in his inventory (presumably the items have been traded/sold elsewhere already). Throughout the messages the agreed payment method was going to be through Paypal, and because I suspected he may be a scammer I tried to discuss alternative payment methods, all of which were declined.

Items of note that were in my inventory at the time were:
-Starstorm Slumber Well Rounded Rifleman
-Strange Miami Element Rocket Launcher (Battle Scarred)
-Various Jazzy (Minimal Wear) Painted weapons
-Various strange cosmetics (Veteran's Attire)

I mentioned this in my original post, but I understand that I should have seen this coming but it is what it is. I wanted to be done with TF2 and now I am, I'm just really disappointed it had to end with this dude getting away with it.

Here are the images of the trade history and my paypal history. I tried to get screenshots in my browser with the hyperlink like you said, but the trade is too big and I wasn't able to keep my cursor over the user's name in the same frame I was trying to capture.

Here is an additional photo of the entire trade zoomed out in my browser if necessary.

Here is the photo of my Paypal settings. Also I have compiled a set of screenshots showing the chat history in my browser with the user's profile link highlighted, please let me know if you could use them as well.

Hidden Content:

**Hidden Content: Content of this hidden block can only be seen by members of (usergroups: Administrative, Moderating).**

Just wanted to mention here that since the incident took place on Monday the user has been changing their name/username, clearing their alias history, changing profile pictures, editing summaries and info boxes, removing showcases, and clearing/hiding their inventory. I'm guessing you guys have already been monitoring his behavior as well but I wanted to mention it here just in case.