Anatomy of a scam, or how to talk to a goon about joining.

Anatomy of a scam, or how to talk to a goon about joining.

So, as some of you know. I'm actually shutting the IEEE down. It is taking its sweet time to figure out where to go. I was going to join the Honda Accord, due to some of you (you know who you are) actually reccomending them as they wouldn't fold over a revenge dec over my presence.

This has involved joining up with the accord as a defender. Flying out to Delve and VFK, and shooting at stuff that I think I can kill, and variously getting blown up due to bad decisions, good traps, or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

(Note, I hold no illusions that I'm actually making a difference. Except to possibly sharpen up some goons and to provide teachable moments to others. More or less, if you got killed by me, you did something incredibly stupid. If you killed me, I did something incredibly stupid.)

But during the weeks (and I've been at this for weeks) I've had many...er..interesting offers spewed in local:

mookkc > fuck me... I flew my branch archon here
Zedrik Cayne > Not even with Mittani's dick.

Bagu Oskold > Zedrik, you leaving soon?  I want to rat.
Zoinker Cadelanne > How long has he been camping the system today?
Zedrik Cayne > I just got in from groceries...it shas been 7 hours or so.
Zoinker Cadelanne > You should let us know when you're afk! It's the polite thing to do.
Zedrik Cayne > Ah, but then you could tell the difference between me afk and me just not replying in local so I can kill one of you.
Zoinker Cadelanne > Why do you hate us?
Zedrik Cayne > I don't hate you. But you are in the way of what I wanted to do.

Hotlips Va-jay-jay > Yah,  Zedrik Cayne is already infamous in highsec.  He like a long lost brother of the goons
Zedrik Cayne > I frame my activities in a different light. I'm not out to ruin *your* game. I'm out to teach you not to be dumb.

doyilooki > Zedrik Cayne could you link me your blog please?
Mara Tessidar > while you're at it can I have your babies
Syndicatecyborg > wtf ?
SmashTech > I, too, would enjoy siring your children
Aldric Sauveterre > ... he has a blog?
SmashTech > Everyone who's anyone has a blog, Aldric.
doyilooki > it is what i have heard, I am looking for it and i do not seem to be able to find it
Aldric Sauveterre > Having an EVE blog: http://imgur.com/DGnyR
Zedrik Cayne > http://lmgtfy.com/?q=zedrik+cayne&l=1
SmashTech > what is google
Mara Tessidar > I heard it was some kind of porn site
Aldric Sauveterre > Oh look he's clever too

But, then something comes across in one of the honda accord's public channels:

Scooter McCabe > well if you can sneak around and check out VFK and youd like to join up one day let me know
Zedrik Cayne > I  just left there...And what's up with everyone trying to recruit me?
Zedrik Cayne > Aside from the obvious 500 miil scams.
Scooter McCabe > Well Nal will tell you I was trying to set up an event where after checking us out honda accord members were welcome to join on an open recruitment day
Zedrik Cayne > I know..I was actually here when you were offering.
Zedrik Cayne > But that didn't actually answer the question.
Nalera > I'm curious about that, too. I've heard all kinds of people say they've had recruitment offers from Goonswarm
Psykotic Fox > Interesting, then again why would GSF event bother eh
Scooter McCabe > Yeah here is the deal
Scooter McCabe > Issler shot her mouth off about how Honda had a better culture one time and Mittens basically tapped me and a couple others to give open offers to you guys
Zedrik Cayne > I see.
Scooter McCabe > Honestly we knew you wouldnt go for it or Issler would just clamp down on you but it would serve to make a point and embarass her for making such a wild claim
Scooter McCabe > So the offer stands and Issler by my sources has not be exactly active
Scooter McCabe > at least with her main any way
Psykotic Fox > She's been busy in RL with some stuff is all
Zedrik Cayne > Okay, I'm probably going to regret this.. See you in about 24 hours Scooter :)
Scooter McCabe > Cool man
Zedrik Cayne > Might as well give this a shot.
Scooter McCabe > okay time to talk

Now, I'm at least as smart as the next guy, and having done my research know this is probably a scam attempt. But hell, why not give it a shot? If it goes well...I'm in goonswarm. If not, no skin off my nose. And who knows? Maybe being in goons is as good as it is purported to be.
*Ding* Private Convo:

Zedrik Cayne > I'll be needing a reference code.
Zedrik Cayne > (Was digging around the wiki earlier today)
Scooter McCabe > Well here is the thing you are not Honda Accord, I just looked.
Zedrik Cayne > Well dur...I have been trying to join up with them but being unable to because of war etc.
Scooter McCabe > Second lets skip the silly shit if you give me your full api I can check it from there and get you in.
Zedrik Cayne > You want new or old style?
Scooter McCabe > Then you can hang out in Tada-o as living proof
Scooter McCabe > new style full api
Zedrik Cayne > No worries.
Zedrik Cayne > kk
Zedrik Cayne > 505749
Zedrik Cayne > EJXL3NFrAhv0sMIAaz7owOPPR5vEs1g7rdgOqsQU9mTufFdFcRgVcLzVz0bKew41
Scooter McCabe > okay give me a minute to check it out
Zedrik Cayne > *tapdance....*
Scooter McCabe > looking good so far
Scooter McCabe > yeah your clean
Scooter McCabe > Okay couple of things
Zedrik Cayne > Pfft...I'm clean as the driven slush.

I've actually got a relatively clean background. I go take a look at the api logs. Nothing terribly surprising, unless a full asset check is surprising for joining a corp. Red flag #2 (Red flag #1 is I'm talking to someone about joining goons..but the original story sounded relativley legit.)

Scooter McCabe > First you are going to need to apply to Sundering and you will need to register your api stuff for our forums and comms
Scooter McCabe > you also need to keep your full api full at all times
Scooter McCabe > otherwise you will get purged
Scooter McCabe > fair enough?
Zedrik Cayne > No problem.
Zedrik Cayne > I can apply now, but I've got about 22 hours of stasis left,.
Scooter McCabe > thats fine
Scooter McCabe > i can wait
Scooter McCabe > Okay Sundering does indy and pvp right now our big project is rolling up the Zydrine market

Right, here is where folks get lazy. Things seem to be going well, they say 'Hey, you look like good material' And then give you some 'inside information'. No real details, but you are now one of us so that we can let you in on this *great deal*. Like all good con-games, it is all about a good story.

Zedrik Cayne > Hm...24 hours of stasis..apparently doing the resign thing doesn't work while you're in space.
Scooter McCabe > do you have roles?
Zedrik Cayne > I was ceo.
Zedrik Cayne > Er..still am..
Scooter McCabe > Well wait
Zedrik Cayne > Hang on..docking.
Scooter McCabe > dont do anything
Scooter McCabe > Okay yeah you do need to dock and do this
Scooter McCabe > Right so about the Zydrine market if you want in its on your own dime and you sell when we sell so we can make the projected 400% profit

And again, dishing out the 'Hey, cool thing!'

Scooter McCabe > Next thing are you near Jita
Zedrik Cayne > With 3 bil, that's not making a dent in any market.
Scooter McCabe > no but when its alliance wide it does
Zedrik Cayne > And no...I'm about 13 jumps out.
Scooter McCabe > You near a trade hub
Scooter McCabe > because I dont think you want to jump all your stuff up here one thing at a time

Yeah, if you are near a market hub, we can haul all your stuff. Let's just shut that avenue down.

Zedrik Cayne > I'll be buying there.
Zedrik Cayne > Or flying it in.
Scooter McCabe > Cool
Scooter McCabe > If you need a jump freighter I got one you can use if you have the skills

See? Look, I'll trust you with a jump freighter! You're so damn cool.

Zedrik Cayne > I can fly all four.
Zedrik Cayne > But you should know this by now.

He never actually checked my skills.

Zedrik Cayne > I tend to spread stuff around the universe a lot.
Scooter McCabe > fair enough
Scooter McCabe > after you get up here and fly around a bit we are doing an optional Titan Fund so we can start elevatoring people around and if you want we can set you up with a production pos
Scooter McCabe > Now I think since you are CEO you can just straight up quit and avoid the 24 hours of fun
Zedrik Cayne > Er...no. The corporation is meant to live. I'm parking it on an alt.
Scooter McCabe > Ah
Zedrik Cayne > Otherwise I'd have torn it down weeks ago :P
Scooter McCabe > no it makes sense
Zedrik Cayne > At any rate. Where do you want/need me?
Scooter McCabe > Okay get your stuff taken care of hang out in Jita
Scooter McCabe > In 24 hours time contact me back and I will place you within Goons
Scooter McCabe > welcome
Zedrik Cayne > Thanks..I think.
Scooter McCabe > No worries
Scooter McCabe > no one is going to ask you to give money or ships so you are cool
Scooter McCabe > It may be a little disorienting because of all the wonderful stories you hear about us but this is part of the project
Scooter McCabe > plus I fully expect you to share with the rest of the people over at Honda Accord that this is bona fide after you are in
Zedrik Cayne > Good lord. I've been logged into game over 2 years total time.

I'm busy poking my own api stuff so I can segment out the queries he has made vs mine or vs battleclinic or eve-kill.

Zedrik Cayne > Nah, I think I get it actually.
Zedrik Cayne > Me and some goons have long chats about it.
Zedrik Cayne > Goons don't trust the 'other'
Zedrik Cayne > Other being, anyone not a goon.
Scooter McCabe > you definately get it then
Scooter McCabe > i think you will fit in good
Zedrik Cayne > Everyone else is...'Ramen'
Zedrik Cayne > 'definitely' by the way...pet peeve.
Scooter McCabe > sorry
Zedrik Cayne > No worries, you didn't know,
Scooter McCabe > well i will keep it mind for the future
Zedrik Cayne > Did you read the blog by the way?
Scooter McCabe > which one
Scooter McCabe > Mittens blog, EVE 24 News or the Dev blogs?
Zedrik Cayne > Heh..you're not remembering our previous conversation where you said I needed to write something to join up.
Zedrik Cayne > And I pointed you at my blog.
Zedrik Cayne > At any rate, we should probably get the other bits and pieces re: authentication forums etc done.
Scooter McCabe > Yeah i assume you know which site to go to
Zedrik Cayne > Yes, but I'm going to need...oh damnit I was just looking at it earlier. A reccomendation code.
Zedrik Cayne > Ah, a 'sponsorship' code.
Zedrik Cayne > That's the ticket.
Scooter McCabe > You looking on Remedial's wiki or the new one
Zedrik Cayne > https://wiki.goonfleet.com/Joining_GoonWaffe_101
Zedrik Cayne > Linked off the main page. :)
Scooter McCabe > Good the other one just links off to a dead page
Scooter McCabe > 8bcd446a0b16227
Scooter McCabe > Thats will work
Zedrik Cayne > Thank you.
Zedrik Cayne > And the wiki says I should be clicking the top one. But I'm not applying to goonwaffe. Is that just a bad muff on the page or are the other bits just broken to hell.
Scooter McCabe > And Dont Forget its for SUNDERING or very bad things...
Scooter McCabe > yeah that
Zedrik Cayne > As I know by reading all this junk it is probably duct tape and bailing wire php on the back end and I don't wanna break it.
Zedrik Cayne > So click on the second [  I DO NOT have an account I am registering under a Member Corp or I am an Ally  ]
Scooter McCabe > http://www.goonfleet.net/?action=apply

And zzzt. Notice I've been linking off of goonfleet.com...and our friend here has linked goonfleet.net. goonfleet.net is a honeypot. Made to look good, like you've been really accepted and things are cool.

We eventually run into the wall with respect to goonfleet.com. It won't let anything go any further until I get into an allied corporation. And we shoot the shit for another hour or two. Always banking back to the offers. No real details about any of them.

And that is a 'scam' conversation from a goon in a nutshell. Good luck trying to join goonfleet if that is what you are trying to do. But follow https://wiki.goonfleet.com/Joining_GoonWaffe_101

If you are not, you're probably being lied to. But that is okay. That is part of the game.