Archived Report: 76561198321565746 - ([TF2] Team Fortress 2 Items)

Scam Report

Report Type: [Rep Fraud] Impersonation with intent to defraud
Virtual item type involved: [TF2] Team Fortress 2 Items

Accused profile: 76561198321565746

Victim profile: 76561198108596120

What happened? Description:

This user added me, I'm not sure where from, saying they were interested in my The Cat's Pajamas (~1.8 keys) and Non-Craftable Ap-Sap (~1.1 keys).
After checking the values of the items they were interested in, I told them I was interested in doing the trade.
I also checked their backpack.tf profile and saw they had a private inventory.

They linked me to the backpack.tf profile of the real OutStrider, who they were impersonating[1]
I immediately recognised this did not fit the one I had checked, so at this point I knew they were attempting to scam me.
I continued with the offer to see where it would go, and so that I could gather additional evidence as impersonation alone would not be enough for a report.

We agreed on 3 keys pure for the deal. They then asked me where the items came from, saying they wanted to make sure they weren't affected by "the fraud and dupe".
They said they'd ask for help from steam support to 'validate' the items to know they are 'secure'.
This was an obvious item verification scam.

I was told to add a user named Programmer Joe, claiming to be a Valve employee, but missing the badge. [2]
After adding them, they added me to a group chat with OutStrider.

Unfortunately, I was not able to collect screenshots from the group chat, as I was kicked prematurely after saying "that's not how a database works".
In short, they said they would have to use an "item database" to verify the source of the items, and that I would have to send a trade offer with the items for verification.
They supplied me with a trade offer URL [3] to send the items to a user named "Item Database". [4]

This is the point where I was removed from the chat as well as being removed and blocked by both users.
I sent the user a trade offer with just a giftapult to see what they would do, however they went offline.​

Provide Evidence:

[1] https://backpack.tf/profiles/76561197980491139
[2] https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198905819732/
[3] https://steamcommunity.com/tradeoffer/new/?partner=909167764&token=PpjSm0qQ
[4] https://steamcommunity.com/id/78823405595115

OutStrider's profile:
View attachment 702107
Chat with OutStrider:
View attachment 702108

View attachment 702110

View attachment 702109

Programmer Joe's profile:
View attachment 702111
Chat with Programmer Joe:
View attachment 702112

I screenshotted part of the group chat to show to a friend, however it is cropped. I will still provide it as evidence to show roughly what happened in the group chat.
View attachment 702113 ​

---OutStrider---

[19:28]
bubmet:
hi, do you need something?

[19:29]
OutStrider:
hello there
good afternoon

[19:30]
bubmet:
hey

[19:30]
OutStrider:
anyways
do you trade some of your tf2 items?

[19:30]
bubmet:
a few, yeah. are there any you're interested in?

[19:31]
OutStrider:
i am really interested of your The Cat's Pajamas and Non-Craftable Ap-Sap

[19:32]
bubmet:
cool, what are your offers?

[19:33]
OutStrider:
btw
feel free to check my backpack if you are not busy..
Here:
OutStrider's TF2 Backpack
OutStrider has about items in their TF2
backpack, with an estimated value of 356,688.09 ref, 8,096.43 keys, $14267.52.
View OutStrider's backpack on backpack.tf.

https://backpack.tf/profiles/76561197980491139

and tell me what do you want to trade for your items okay?

[19:35]
bubmet:
I'm not particularly sure what you're willing to trade for it. I would prefer pure, personally.

[19:36]
OutStrider:
i can do 3 keys for those items
so
?

[19:38]
bubmet:
I'm interested

[19:38]
OutStrider:
ok
i will send the offer okay?

[19:38]
bubmet:
sure

[19:40]
OutStrider:
alright
before i confirm this trade offer on my phone
can i ask youa question?

[19:40]
bubmet:
ok

[19:41]
OutStrider:
where did you get your The Cat's Pajamas and Non-Craftable Ap-Sa?

[19:41]
bubmet:
The Cat's Pajamas was unboxed from a Winter 2017 Cosmetic Case, the Ap-Sap was gifted to me from a guy I was playing MvM with

[19:42]
OutStrider:
oh okay, i just wanted to know that your items is not affected by the fraud and dupe
due to my recent trade i received a fraud and dupe items and i lost my $820 worth of tf2 items because of that..

[19:43]
bubmet:
ouch, that sucks

[19:43]
OutStrider:
well, is it okay to ask help from steam support? to check and validate both our items that we are trading to know and secure that we are really trading safe and clean items?
i hope that you wont mislead my concern...

[19:44]
bubmet:
uh, sure?

[19:45]
OutStrider:
ok hold on while im filing a ticket on steam support okay?

[19:45]
bubmet:
take your time

[19:45]
OutStrider:
opk
okay*
alright
i already filed a ticket on steam support..
can you help me to add the official?
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198905819732/

and if the official accepted you, tell him that we need to check and validate both of our items and to do a trade assurance on our trade okay?
the official already accepeted me..
accepted*
reply and focus on the private room bro..

[20:02]
bubmet:
wow I can't believe he banned me I guess the trade's not going through
you there dude?
I assume you're trying to get this sorted out because this is a really good trade but I guess Joe doesn't like me

---Programmer Joe---

[19:48]
Programmer Joe:
Greetings!
How can i help and assist you, Mr.Bubmet?

[19:50]
bubmet:
OutStrider told me to add you for help verifying items.

[19:51]
Programmer Joe:
Okay. I will going to invite both of you on a private room to discuss the process. Understood?

[19:51]
bubmet:
ok

[20:00]
bubmet:
hey dude I just wanted to check the source of an item I was wondering where it came from
what's goin' on with the trade Joe?

Hi, assuming you mean the friend activity shown at steamcommunity.com/id//home, I'm unable to find anything recording now-defunct friend requests.

Sorry about the butchering of the formatting there. I'm not sure how to fix it.

I'm not trying to give you anything? I just said I wasn't able to find anything based on what I could see with 'Friend Activity'.