*Preface for poal: This post was deleted by a mod of the Steam subreddit commentless on the grounds of "Rule 9.1: Accusations" and "Rule 9.2: Witch Hunts" without an option to talk about it (thread locked). It's funny, because I didn't link any profiles but mine and the guide page as a proof. Without the proof link, the hypothesis would be 100% "accusations", with it it's now "witch hunts"? Journalism? No, I probably lack authority (lol)*
Lastly, now that there's virtual items and currency on the Steam platform, some criminal groups made it their income source to trick people and steal their accoumts/expensive virtual items for reselling. This is who the post is about. I have been observing them for over 2 years now, with me it began after a lucky (non-gambling) item drop which now has value of 800€. So you can ask me for more proof and verification of the claims.*
I'm reposting this piece for it to be a place. A big hurdle for these criminal networks is to get legitimately looking (for the system and the people) accounts on the platform, this is what it is about:
Post:
Not to mention that these bots are annoying when they go spamming in profile comments, they now are doing this.
Take a look at a guide I'm co-authoring: , it lacks a quest to comment in a forum/on a guide.
In the past I've tried to take down phishing websites related to all this, but the success-rate was miserable compared to the time involved. Moderators too seem to do very little against obvious phishing lures that profile comments are now infested with, direct quote (I have DOZENS of them on my watchlist):
Hеy man, I have playеd CS against you rеcеntly and I'd like to invitе you in our tеam. We are willing to pay weekly. We are planning to compete in some tourney, I think we have good chances with you especially :)If you are interested - Hеrе's my main account, add mе plеasе <Steam profile URL>
Honestly, Valve, is all this user disappointment and, as a KPI, increased support tickets not enough reason to act?
Like make me a mod then, because the last time I tried to chat with anyone from the moderator group - no one accepted the friend requests or paid attention to my attempts to contact them. And those reported comments, like the one above, only get removed in ~1:50 cases.
***Preface for poal**: This post was deleted by a mod of the Steam subreddit commentless on the grounds of "Rule 9.1: Accusations" and "Rule 9.2: Witch Hunts" without an option to talk about it (thread locked). It's funny, because I didn't link any profiles but mine and the guide page as a proof. Without the proof link, the hypothesis would be 100% "accusations", with it it's now "witch hunts"? Journalism? No, I probably lack authority (lol)*
*Lastly, now that there's virtual items and currency on the Steam platform, some criminal groups made it their income source to trick people and steal their accoumts/expensive virtual items for reselling. This is who the post is about. I have been observing them for over 2 years now, with me it began after a lucky (non-gambling) item drop which now has value of 800€.* So you can ask me for more proof and verification of the claims.*
*I'm reposting this piece for it to be a place. A big hurdle for these criminal networks is to get legitimately looking (for the system and the people) accounts on the platform, this is what it is about:*
**Post:**
Not to mention that these bots are annoying when they go spamming in profile comments, they now are doing this.
Take a look at a guide I'm co-authoring: [screenshot](https://i.redd.it/7inv56btefx41.png) [Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=666483447]
Most of these people didn't play the game (Warframe), why would they comment here? [* or have <5h, this is too early to use this guide's content - notice for poal]
Let's take the "cordisDie" as an example:
1. Guide comment on 29th April: "top"
2. Random game (Barro) screenshot: " 29 Apr @ 10:49am "
3. Review of the game "Barro" (same game as screenshot): *Posted 29 April.*
By the amount of time it took him between 1) and 2) it's probably a human operator at this point. These guys really are low-tech.
Still, this is kind of a proof that Steam changed something with regards to profile "reputation" hence forced these bot-networks to adapt -- they flood everywhere now. And it started only 1-2 months ago. [Looking at the comments, it goes as far back as Dec/Nov 2019 - note for poal post]
It doesn't seem to be the [Community Badge](https://steamcommunity.com/id/VADemon/badges/2), it lacks a quest to comment in a forum/on a guide.
​
In the past I've tried to take down phishing websites related to all this, but the success-rate was miserable compared to the time involved. Moderators too seem to do very little against obvious phishing lures that profile comments are now infested with, direct quote (I have DOZENS of them on my watchlist):
>*Hеy man, I have playеd CS against you rеcеntly and I'd like to invitе you in our tеam. We are willing to pay weekly. We are planning to compete in some tourney, I think we have good chances with you especially :)If you are interested - Hеrе's my main account, add mе plеasе <Steam profile URL>*
Honestly, Valve, is all this user disappointment and, as a KPI, increased support tickets not enough reason to act?
Like make me a mod then, because the last time I tried to chat with anyone from the moderator group - no one accepted the friend requests or paid attention to my attempts to contact them. And those reported comments, like the one above, only get removed in \~1:50 cases.
(post is archived)