Glitch? Scammed?

[N8JB]

 

 

Hi all,

 

This is embarrassing, but I feel it needs to be said publicly hoping I can get some confirmation and/or assistance, though I feel in my gut I'm royally screwed (and that's incredibly depressing to admit).

 

I finally got enough packs to get an SR Ultra Ball yesterday and was looking to potentially trade for another so I was browsing public.

 

I found a offer for an SR Ultra Ball and Full Art N in exchange for a Call of Legends holo Lucario (14/95).

 

Curious what this card was valued at, I searched publicly for offers. To my surprise, there's a CoL Lucario for trade wanting an SR Ultra Ball (the other offers were wanting gem sleeves).

 

I checked several times, going back and fourth between both listings, even taking screenshots of both to make sure they were the same card.

 

Both holos, same collectors ID.. same set.. No visual differences.

 

So I got greedy and made the trade and went to go to the first trade offering that SR.. sweet, I was going to profit a Full Art N! I would be able to give a friend newer to the game some packs I trade for it!

 

Wrong. The trade isn't acceptable. WHAT?

 

So I search my collection (showing cards not owned) and there's TWO Lucario's that are the SAME card. WHAT?

 

It's the same holo, same collector's ID, same everything. It's just two separate cards.

 

Is this intentional? If so, why? And most importantly, why isn't there any way to differentiate the cards???

 

I'm assuming I was deliberately screwed because there's no way to visually tell the cards apart and I'm sure there's some technicality that was exploited.

 

Just figured I would ask, and at the very least, PSA about this issue. And rant. It's been a crappy enough day as it is.

 

Any idea what to do? This has upset me so much I might just walk away from the game at this point.. just too much of a bad taste in my mouth over this.... that someone would purposely do this to another person (if this is the case)

[SinistarRay0]

Hey Felidae_,

 

there is only one of those Lucario's with the foil effect in the picture (the so called holo-card) available in the game. The other was never released in the game as it only came with a never released theme deck from CoL.

As it is a bit short with 2 RS-packs I'll add another half-valued pack for this trade.

Edit: This trade was completed. Thank you for using Top Cut to get your wanted card.

 

Mefftu

i hope that the words from mefftu is enough to clarify your situation. I'm sorry for your situation . And yes, you are scammed

[N8JB]

i hope that the words from mefftu is enough to clarify your situation. I'm sorry for your situation . And yes, you are scammed

 

Yes, I was told this by another user privately as well. I don't even really know what to say anymore. I feel sick to my stomach

 

I hope at the very least, others come across this and keep this sort of scam in mind and can learn from it. 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Edit: It does beg the question... if this card doesn't exist online, why is it even programmed in and an option? It's just bound to cause problems like this

[Helshi]

 

Edit: It does beg the question... if this card doesn't exist online, why is it even programmed in and an option? It's just bound to cause problems like this

 

Totally agree. I was made suggestion about marks for these (unobtainable) cards.

Now we can see in game Fortree Gym League pack cards, but redeem code for this pack will be avaliable for redeem only in last days of July. I think it's only confusing players.

[maykwon]

I'm sorry this happened to you .___.

I can't imagine how you're feeling right now; I'm sure you put a lot of time and work into obtaining your SR UB. I hope you can somehow file a ticket explaining the situation and maybe someone (a moderator or administrator) working for the company will reverse that trade for you. Considering this couldn't have happened if PTCGO's database didn't have card(s) that are basically 'non-existent'. And it's not uncommon by any means to not know exactly which cards originate from where.. Zero tolerance with users who are purposely trying to take advantage of others/newer players for PTCGO would be god send.

 

Hopefully a moderator will see your thread and direct you in the right direction.

[vadimus21]

.______. 

[Felidae_]

Wow.

 

As you might have guessed I stumpled upon the same offer and naive as I was I thought to myself "maybe noone has noticed yet", until Mefftu gave me the info about the card.

Now everything falls into place......  I hope there is a way for you to get that SR UB back

[PrideNProbopass]

Ironically, there are some offers for that Lucario by Mefftu himself. If this "points too many fingers", feel free to mute this post, mods. I'm just stating he has some trades up that fit this

[matthew69]

Ironically, there are some offers for that Lucario by Mefftu himself. If this "points too many fingers", feel free to mute this post, mods. I'm just stating he has some trades up that fit this

 

Mefftu is only offering one way for the Lucario- ie. his cards/packs for Lucario, which he is doing as a Collector and in no way with the intention of scamming... as like all 100% collectors he no doubt seeks to obtain this card for his collection (as it is now revealed to be at least theoretically obtainable... though the card is so rare and its original location are still unknown).

 

It wasn't until Pokemonbrandon revealed that this card was theoretically obtainable that we found this out, as previously we had never known of such a card being available (after all, as far as I am aware the Col theme deck this card was supposed to be from has never been released online in an obtainable way that we know of).

 

This is the main reason why we see this card now being offered for. However no doubt some players are unfortunately seeking to take advantage of this.

 

If you would like some help/ guidance about how to differentiate between things, here is how . As stated on the top cut thread, when no filters are in place and the card 'Lucario' is searched, this card which is the rare one appears as the 2nd Art or the three arts (as stated in the unobtainable section of the top cut thread).

 

If you then mark this card as 'For want' or 'For review'... you are able then to be able to differentiate between the two in the trading zone. Unfortunately my friend in the OP this is too late for you but I hope it may help other players avoid being scammed .

[BossJunioR]

That "account" is a well known scammer..

 

I still wonder why none of his trades, for example..his 1 SR UB for your junk + 2 SR UB, never get removed from public trade, even tho it got reported many times?

Why is there even a report button than?!!

Why hasn't this account been suspended when this kind of trades has been around for weeks..

 

THIS IS LACK OF PTCGO STAFF, and even tho it's this topic's starter own greedy fault, THE SCAMMING ACCOUNT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GONE FOR WEEKS!!

[graywh]

Ironically, there are some offers for that Lucario by Mefftu himself. If this "points too many fingers", feel free to mute this post, mods. I'm just stating he has some trades up that fit this

 

Mefftu's offers are for the foil, not the theme deck exclusive non-foil.

[PrideNProbopass]

That "account" is a well known scammer..

 

I still wonder why none of his trades, for example..his 1 SR UB for your junk + 2 SR UB, never get removed from public trade, even tho it got reported many times?

Why is there even a report button than?!!

Why hasn't this account been suspended when this kind of trades has been around for weeks..

 

THIS IS LACK OF PTCGO STAFF, and even tho it's this topic's starter own greedy fault, THE SCAMMING ACCOUNT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GONE FOR WEEKS!!

Hold off boss, I was just stating that he had trades up at all, that match the op's issue. Now you're distracting the direction of the thread in general as well as unnecessarily pointing fingers and putting someone on the spot, which is not allowed

[rafuchs]

Wow, this is just sad. 

Can you OP post the names of the traders? 

I will send you one pack to try to "crowdfund" your stolen packs back. I hope that whoever can make the same, do it. 

[N8JB]

Wow, this is just sad. 

 

Can you OP post the names of the traders? 

 

I will send you one pack to try to "crowdfund" your stolen packs back. I hope that whoever can make the same, do it. 

 

I don't think I can post their usernames, no.

 

I do want to address something since Mefftu's name was brought up. 

I was not making any implication that he is involved, nor do I think he, nor anyone from any trading company for that matter, is involved with this.

 

The accounts involved are very specific and can easily be found and they are not anyone reputable/from a trading company (as far as I can tell).

 

I just wanted to make sure I made that clear, as I like Mefftu and many of the other traders here, and I know they're better people than that, nor would they need to even really resort to those sort of tactics.

 

I'm feeling better about the loss today (I will admit I was VERY upset last night), and even if the card is gone forever (which is likely) I'm happy that at least this has drawn some attention to some degree and may potentially help other people avoid this stuff.

[BossJunioR]

Hold off boss, I was just stating that he had trades up at all, that match the op's issue. Now you're distracting the direction of the thread in general as well as unnecessarily pointing fingers and putting someone on the spot, which is not allowed

Who am I pointing on spot?

It's you who is name calling, right?!

I don't mean nor talk about Mefftu..

 

 

There is another account which actually only put deceptive offers for weeks now..

And I'm sure it's the same account which scammed OP.

 

If I say it starts with a B..

How many will go , aaaaah now?

[Rolci]

Interesting to read this thread. Even more interesting that the SIMPLE solution, or way, to avoid things like this from happening hasn't been posted. All you do is, when you see the trade for srub+N that wants a certain card (in this case a lucario card), what you do is right click the card in the trade they want for the srub, and tag it, either for want, or for review. Then come out and check the other trade where they offer a luca for a srub, right click luca, and see if it has the tag. If not, obviously it's NOT the card you just tagged in the other trade. There are MANY such cards than look similar, sometimes with 4-5 identical-looking copies, in the game (mamoswine and all the rest), sometimes with minor differences, sometimes with no visible differences at all.

Another thing, "that" luca is worth around 10x srubs, if anyone does the research. The new owner has already been offered 7x srubs for it, which he kindly declined. Plus, it has been in Brandon's binder forever, there for anyone to view, I offered him a FA N about 6 months ago for it, before all this hype began, and he wasn't even the only owner, there are multiple copies of it. Always puzzled me topcut listed it (and others) as unobtainable. Especially since hgss theme decks keep being rotated, and anyone with a "friend with a" canadian account can buy unlimited copies of these cards, which many are already doing, to sell for great profits. Which is why all the gem business, which has been being "trialled" in only 1 country for ages, is unfair, discriminative, not to mention that it's a tool for the increase of the gap between the rich (ones in the know) and the poor.

Finally, not to defend the "scammer", but just as traders offering a measly srub+N for it (when they are fully aware it's worth 5-10 times more) can say any reason for their unfair offer waiting for an unsuspecting owner to jump, similarly the "scammer" can say he thought it was the same copy, and didn't see a better offer for it already posted, or that he wasn't aware of the value of his card, he thought it was similar, etc. etc.

Indeed there is a report button, but my opinion, in spite of the existence of trading companies, there is no authority on card prices, there is no such thing as official price, (look how fa lando came down from 30 to 15 in just a couple weeks), supply and demand always change, and NO ONE can be expected to be aware of price trends, if there is such a thing, before they post a trade. Anyone may post anything they want, it's the job of prospective buyers to use the tools provided (like tagging system) to make sure they're getting what they want. Finally, we're all human - we can be greedy, or can make mistakes. (Sometimes I accept a silly trade because in my mind I switch up the 2 sides and think I'm getting what I'm actually giving, big deal.)

As a last word, cards like that luca will probably come out in shop eventually, same as gem sleeves (just like pika gameplay came back) or even on the wheel, like full are cheren, etc. So keep some spare coins, or get a "canadian friend". ;-l (PTCGO should just make gems equally available in all countries now - we've had enough of this mess of unfairness on every conceivable level.) Amen

[N8JB]

it's the job of prospective buyers to use the tools provided (like tagging system) to make sure they're getting what they want. Finally, we're all human - we can be greedy, or can make mistakes. (Sometimes I accept a silly trade because in my mind I switch up the 2 sides and think I'm getting what I'm actually giving, big deal.)

 

Yeah, since then I've learned about it, but it would be nice if there was a card ID or something displayed. I'm not blaming the devs, it was my mistake, I just think there should be ways to easily differentiate if there really IS so many cards that look exactly the same like that. Without needing to know little "tricks" like this (you can make it more obvious but newer people won't think to use it that way).

 

This is actually a suggestion I've posted in the respective forum here, and I think it could potentially save other people from getting burned too. The way it sits, it's a huge potential exploit to scam people, plain and simple.

 

This isn't really a matter of me "spacing" and mixing up sides or anything like that. Just a newer player that didn't know about this tagging functionality working the way it does. Nor did I even know there was two Lucario cards that are literally the same artwork/collector's number, but for some strange reason considered separate cards just because it comes from a theme deck. A very odd way to do it, and I can only assume that's why they use the same card IDs and just lock cards that come with theme decks (at least bought with coins) these days...

 

Second off, I don't use the word "scammer" lightly. The guy had a lot of other sketchy trades and the whole thing looked thoroughly planned to me. But again, only support doing an investigation will ever really know

 

If this trader that took my SR UB is innocent and honest, and didn't intend to tag that version (multiple times) then it should be easy to get my UB back. But I doubt that'll happen and that they'll get back to me! 

 

Lastly, I can hardly call someone innocent when they were offering a pack or two for this said Lucario, then turning around and offering it for SR Ultra Ball's. You catch my drift? They were, at the very least, piggybacking off legit offers, using innocent traders as mules per-say, which is a shame.

[Mod_Poplar]

Hey there!
 

As a support ticket has been filed for this issue, I'll be closing out this thread.

 

Thanks for playing, and sorry for your frustration!