Star Wars Galaxies
GamingOpenMarket.com, the website that allows players of various MMORPGS to exchange in-game currency for actual money, has almost closed for business after a fraud managed to make off with $3000 worth of make-believe loot on Sunday. GOM has placed the blame entirely with PayPal, which has apparently failed to address insurance related problems in the delivery of 'intangible goods'.
The perpetrator had purchased the virtual goods, received them, and then immediately retracted his payment. This is a loop-hole that could be constantly exploited, and so games like Star Wars Galaxies, Horizons, EVE Online, and Project Entropia have withdrawn any support for Gaming Open Market. Second Life is now the only title that utilises GOM's exchange centre.
The notice on the GOM website reads as follows:
"It is with great frustration and anger that we announce that until further notice, Gaming Open Market will be closing its doors to all game currency trading except Second Life. Over the weekend, we had over $3000.00 USD worth of fraud perpetrated against us. The thief emailed us and explained that the goods he stole will be kept as "payment" for the lesson he taught us. PayPal's dated policy on the sale of "intangible goods" is well-known, and yet they refuse to accept any responsibility for the fraud that this policy actually encourages."
The perpetrator had purchased the virtual goods, received them, and then immediately retracted his payment. This is a loop-hole that could be constantly exploited, and so games like Star Wars Galaxies, Horizons, EVE Online, and Project Entropia have withdrawn any support for Gaming Open Market. Second Life is now the only title that utilises GOM's exchange centre.
The notice on the GOM website reads as follows:
"It is with great frustration and anger that we announce that until further notice, Gaming Open Market will be closing its doors to all game currency trading except Second Life. Over the weekend, we had over $3000.00 USD worth of fraud perpetrated against us. The thief emailed us and explained that the goods he stole will be kept as "payment" for the lesson he taught us. PayPal's dated policy on the sale of "intangible goods" is well-known, and yet they refuse to accept any responsibility for the fraud that this policy actually encourages."
Games:
Eve Online Horizons: Empire of Istaria Project Entropia Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
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Comments
mrnull 24 Jun 2004 17:08
1/4
Cool, the genius e-mailed them. I guess you can't really get in trouble for fake money though.
The whole idea of exchanging real money for fake seems like a joke anyway. It's amazing how into these games people get! A friend of mine bought an EQ character for an ungodly amount on Ebay. If anything, it just seems like cheating to me.
It's not really fair to purchase a character you didn't build. I guess money does help people become better gamers... For example, won't the person with the best PC and fastest connection have an advantage at online FPS type games?
The whole idea of exchanging real money for fake seems like a joke anyway. It's amazing how into these games people get! A friend of mine bought an EQ character for an ungodly amount on Ebay. If anything, it just seems like cheating to me.
It's not really fair to purchase a character you didn't build. I guess money does help people become better gamers... For example, won't the person with the best PC and fastest connection have an advantage at online FPS type games?
Pandaman 25 Jun 2004 01:09
2/4
So the guy got away with it because he was more tech savvy and too cool for school for the law?
Man, I miss the days when you actually had to get up and go to the bank to steal money.
Man, I miss the days when you actually had to get up and go to the bank to steal money.
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Kamiz 25 Jun 2004 11:07
3/4
PAYPAL arnt very secure like they BOAST about .This can happen from selling on EBAY too. Paypal are extremly dodgy would never sell/buy anything larger than £30.
Jammin 27 Jun 2004 20:20
4/4
Selling Things like this on the internet is great, means people like us who played and give up can make up for all those subs charges we paid along the way!
