Runescape Scams

Don't read this guide expecting to get millions of Runescape gp from scamming other players' items and accounts, because this guide is how to stop scammers from scamming you.

These are the different kinds of scams you will come across:

The Item Switch

This is the most common scam in Runescape and in this scam the scammer will be saying that they are selling an item for a cheap price, for example rune scimmys for 25k.

Once they get a trade, they will offer up there item and you offer up your money then the scammer will quickly take away the item or swap it for an item of less value that looks similar, then accept.

It is hard to tell the difference between rune scimmys and iron or mith when they are noted. To avoid this scam always check the second trade window.

Trimming Armor

When people say “trimming armor” or something like that, they are claiming to be able to trim your armor e.g. turn normal rune plate into rune plate (t) or (g). They want you to give them your armor so they can have it not trim it!

To avoid being scammed remember, it is impossible to trim armor, trimmed and god armor is obtained from treasure trails (members) and cannot be made by player no matter what your smiting level or if you are a member.

Team Scamming

Team scamming uses two people to scam people into buying an item for much more than it is worth.

One of the scammers will be in a bank saying that they are selling an item that isn't seen very often, like polished buttons, for a price much bigger then what they are worth, e.g. “selling polished buttons 200k”. The other scammer will be in the other side of the bank saying “buying polished buttons 1M” (or something like that).

Somebody in the bank will see these offers and think well if I buy the polished buttons for 200k and sell for 1M that is 800k profit.

What happens is they buy the polished buttons for 200k and then when they trade the second scammer he just doesn't buy them. Be warned that this type of scamming cannot be reported because both the scammer and the buyer both agreed on the price of 200k and the second scammer is not obliged to buy the buttons for 1M.

Free Membership

The scammer will claim that his father, friend or himself work for jagex and are giving free Runescape membership (or members' trial) because you are a dedicated player and you will tell your friends how good it is. These scams can sometimes be very convincing and often the scammer will talk to you in private chat so that other players won't tell you it is a scam.

They will type formally not using any abbreviations, e.g. instead of saying “I'm a worker from jagex” they will say, “I am a worker from jagex”. After asking you a few questions like “would you like to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity,” they will ask you for your password.

To stop this scam simply report them (for jagex staff impersonation or password scamming) and add them to your ignore list, don't under any circumstances give them your password if they were working for jagex they would know your password already!

Gem Cutting

Player will claim that if you give them your uncut gems they will cut them and give them back.

Often this is not a scam but be aware of the ones that are scamming, check the high scores, any half decent crafter will be ranked.

To avoid scamming Just don't Trade people who are cutting gems, and if you do want your gems cut there will be people saying “trading cuts for uncut”. But really you can sell uncut gems to players for more than cut ones.

Over All Tips

If you follow these tips you can avoid item and account loss:

• Never type your password, not even for a mod.
• Always check the second trade window.
• Don't download any programs that claim to be an autoing program because usually the contain key loggers that steal your password.
• never type you password on any other site other than Runescape.com.
• Never attempt to scam other players because it only takes one report to be banned, and if you are not banned you might be muted (not fun?).