Middleman question (Trade Guardian)

[Sbane12]

How exactly does this feature protect me as a Buyer?

I see that the second step is the seller delivers the item to the MM, but which verification is provided by the MM to ensure that the account advertised was delivered as well as ALL information necessary to secure it (i.e. full email access, or photo ID)?



Thanks

 

[EpicNPC]

When the account is given to the MM, they will normally take screenshots for the buyer to confirm. However if the game is less popular, they might have to screenshare with the seller instead or download and install the game. We support 1000+ games, so it's not possible for MM to have every game installed.

Photo ID is not part of the process.

 

[Sbane12]

Thanks for the reply. I am just worried as the account I am considering purchasing is for a game that is VERY easy to recall accounts for. You can simply call EA support (SWTOR) or chat with them and some bare minimum knowledge of the account will get ownership transferred back (or forth). I obviously want to have all knowledge I can before progressing because all of the accounts I was considering purchasing are being sold by users with barely any rep. These users are also refusing to go first even with the massive difference in rep. I am not even confident the MM process protects the buyer in the transaction alone.

 

[EpicNPC]

There is no way to prevent account recoveries, that is just a part of the risk a buyer takes when deciding to buy an account.

Our system do not offer protection against recoveries.

If you're dealing with a scammer, it won't really matter if it's easy to recover the account or difficult. If their goal is to scam the buyer, they will recall it regardless.

If the account is recalled after the transaction, then you can open a dispute against the seller and we'll investigate.

 

[Sbane12]

There is no way to prevent account recoveries, that is just a part of the risk a buyer takes when deciding to buy an account.

Our system do not offer protect against recoveries.

If you're dealing with a scammer, it won't really matter if it's easy to recover the account or difficult. If their goal is to scam the buyer, they will recall it regardless.

If the account is recalled after the transaction, then you can open a dispute against the seller and we'll investigate.

The difference is that certain games do have the availability to make it increasingly to near impossible for the seller to recover. Some of these avenues include getting full access to the email used to create the game account, to the Photo ID, to legally changing the registered name on the account, etc.

Some games and their support simply are far more lax. SWTOR/Origin are good examples of this, as there is nothing u can really do so actually "secure" the account beyond changing the email and phone number. The support is only going to verify "ownership" with some very basic questions.

My questions were more directly related to the MM process as it currently appears that there is no real protection for the buyer there, and that is just the initial transaction... not counting the risk the buyer has later on. Unless the MM logs into the game to verify what was advertised is correct, and in cases where full email access is also included, logs into that email account as well... and accepts things like Photo ID... The seller could easily give a throw-a-way account for the MM to hold.

 

[EpicNPC]

If the MM does not have SWTOR installed, there are 2 options.

1. The MM can download and install the game to access it, then post screenshots for the buyer to confirm it's the correct accounts.
2. The MM will screenshare with the seller first and take screenshots for the buyer.

SWTOR also has it's own login, separate from Origin. Accessing the main account and securing it would be part of the process. Securing only the Origin account would not be enough. The main SWTOR portal would provide information on the account, name, character names, server, creation date, and other info that could be used to confirm the account in the screenshare is the same account the MM received.

 

[doomedtofail]

The difference is that certain games do have the availability to make it increasingly to near impossible for the seller to recover. Some of these avenues include getting full access to the email used to create the game account, to the Photo ID, to legally changing the registered name on the account, etc.

Some games and their support simply are far more lax. SWTOR/Origin are good examples of this, as there is nothing u can really do so actually "secure" the account beyond changing the email and phone number. The support is only going to verify "ownership" with some very basic questions.

My questions were more directly related to the MM process as it currently appears that there is no real protection for the buyer there, and that is just the initial transaction... not counting the risk the buyer has later on. Unless the MM logs into the game to verify what was advertised is correct, and in cases where full email access is also included, logs into that email account as well... and accepts things like Photo ID... The seller could easily give a throw-a-way account for the MM to hold.

You can have seller give you ID. But I do not accept ID in middleman transactions. Due to risks involving identity theft you want as few people seeing your id. And also prevents sellers claiming middleman recovered account to cover their tracks.
Honestly Securing an account is 100% impossible and the original owner can almost ALWAYS get it back, hence why we cannot provide a guarantee on account. Any site selling a warranty or giving a warranty after using their middleman services will not pay out this warranty its impossible, For instance PA
And legally changing name on account does not exist. A fraudulent document has to be provided to change a name as they require proof of name change. In most games this can get reversed to by original owner very easily

 

[Sbane12]

Thank You both for the detailed clarification. I obviously have experience with a lot of transactions on here (probably more than I care to admit haha), but I have never used Trade Guardian as I am used to the typically accepted notion that if there is a large difference in feedback... the user with lesser feedback will go first outright. I remember using PA around the time they first came around and they did end up paying out an insurance that I purchased but the next time I used their services and the account was recalled, they suddenly asked for impossible requests for evidence like direct statements from support personal clearly admitting that the account was recalled by a name matching the seller...