Scams

This is a list of cheats and scams commonly found in RuneScape. This is not meant to promote scamming, but to prevent players from being scammed. Please note that using these ideas will result in action taken against the players' account. All of these scams have been noted and acknowledged or submitted to Jagex. Also note most of these scams will happen on free worlds so always be cautious even if on a members world.

Cheats
Since RuneScape is a massively multi-player game, it would be unfair to have "cheat codes" in the game. Therefore, none exist in RuneScape. Players who offer "cheats" are usually either scammers, or just unfortunately misguided.

There are still three main ways to cheat, namely character sharing, macroing (using bots or other automated programs), and abusing bugs.

Bug abusing
Bug abusing means using programming errors to one's gain. This is rare, since bugs are usually quickly reported and patched. Jagex does not offer rewards for reporting bugs. The one exception was for the party hat duplication glitch, when Jagex offered a lifetime membership to the first player that described how to duplicate (no pun intended) the glitch.

Suggested action: Players who know about bugs should report them (and users who abuse them) to Jagex.

Character sharing
Character sharing means having two or more people controlling the same character. While the rule against character sharing was always there, it was rarely enforced in the early days.

Suggested action: It is difficult to tell if a player is character sharing, unless the player admits it. In this case, the player should be reported. Another way to tell is if the players give themselves different names, but theoretically, dissociative identity disorder cannot be ruled out.



Macroing
Macroing is the most common form of cheating. In the early days, macroing simply involved using a program that repeated certain clicks. As anti-macroing features were added, the cheats became advanced as well. Later, there were bots (involving modified clients) that would follow certain monsters, and they were eventually scriptable. However, Jagex has been constantly updating their macro-detection technology.

Suggested action: Possible bot users should be reported to Jagex under rule 7.

Scamming
Unfortunately, some players will decide to make their living by scamming other players. They may try to make the player lose money, or even their accounts.

Here are some possible scams, and ways to deal with such scammers. In addition to following the steps listed below, it may be kind to warn nearby players who may fall for the scam.

All usernames used in the examples are hypothetical, and any resemblance to a real username would be coincidental.

Free Lobby Scam
Players will go around saying "free lobbys show inventory", and then they when you show them inventory they automaticaly hit accept, trading all your inventory for a couple of lobbys. Report Them for item scamming because if they were doing it out of generosity they would have noted.

Jagex has changed the trade system, the trade screen will show how many free spaces someone else has, so anyone doing this, just say "check the trade window", and the scam will not work

Jagex staff impersonation scam
Players who do not have gold crowns in front of their names are not Jagex staff. Real Jagex will never ask for players' password. This is because they do not need it!

Note that the crowns do not show up on RuneScape Classic. Instead, Jagex mods are named "Mod _____."

Examples:

Suggested actions: Report the player immediately under rule 3. Nobody, not even player moderators, should be asking for your password.

Trust scam
Ironically, some players might attempt to trick other players into playing "trust games" and such. Despite the frequent scams, trust games are now beginning a popular method of giving away items, such as a drop party or an emote game.

Examples:

Suggested actions: Immediately after the host provides evidence that he is playing the trust game, you may report him/her for item scamming (rule 2). It is not recommended that you host these games, because if you are reported, you will be given black marks.

Password censoring scam
Previously, RuneScape did NOT censor players' passwords (this would give away passwords like "rune axe" for example). Some players would trick others into thinking otherwise, and then look for any text that may resemble a password. As of April 24, 2007, Jagex changed the system so that sentences contain a player's exact password would not show up. As such, the below example would no longer be scamming, as the person would not be lying.

Example:

However, Jagex only blocks exact passwords. The below examples would be considered scamming.

Examples:

Suggested action: As of April 24, 2007, the first example is no longer considered a scam. These players can just be ignored. However, the last two are still scams, and should be reported under password scamming (rule 3). Passwords are NOT blocked on RuneScape Classic, so the first example can still be reported there.

Password changing scam
Some players may try to convince another player to change their password. The scammer will then log into the account using the password they ask for.

Example:

Suggested action: Report the player for password scamming (rule 3).

Skull Team Scam
Sometimes a group of players in the Wilderness will ask if you want to join their team. They will take you out deeper into the Widerness and say that you need to be skulled in order to join, and will therefore ask you to attack one of them. If you do, they will then gang up on you and make you lose all of your items. If you don't, they will normally attack you.

Example:

Suggested action: Try to run to the ditch. Even if you die, you'll keep your 3 most valuable items.

Drop scam
Some players will trick other players into dropping their items for them.

Example:

or

Suggested action: Alt-F4 and Ctrl-W close your window, and you may not have enough time to log back in before the scammer picks up your items. Report the scammer for item scamming (rule 2).

If you still feel curious about whether the trick truely does work, or you want to test it, then put all but one gp in the bank, and drop that one gp, when you log in, if you find you have 2 gp, report this as a bug, if you don't have 2 gp, you only lost a gp.

Prevention tips: Don't press strange key-combinations when asked. If the browser you are using has a tabbed view (you can have more than one page open without opening a new window), then keep another tab open at all times. Then when you try to close your browser, it will ask you if you want to close all of your tabs, Also have another window open anyway, to try the combination on quickly.

Drop trade scam
Other scammers will try to "trade" by dropping. Players should never trade using "unofficial" ways.

Example:

Suggested actions: In reality, Blue_Yeti_5 may drop only 500 gp, or even nothing at all: players could even telegrab one or both drops. Since offering 55,000 gp is very easy with the current trading system, players trying to trade with other methods are most likely scammers. Here, the player in question should be reported under rule 2.

Armour trimming and "upgrading"
Trimmed armour is obtained from treasure trails and normal armour cannot be trimmed by anyone. No player or NPC can trim armour.

Example:

Suggested action: Report the user for item scamming (rule 2).

Similarly, some players will offer to "upgrade" armour. Likewise, this is not possible.

Example:

Suggested actions: Again, report the player for item scamming (rule 2).

Trust trades
Some players will offer to turn raw products into finished products for those who cannot do so, such as smithing rune, cutting dragonstones, and enchanting amulets. These are not always scams.

Examples:

Suggested actions: Please note that you can not report someone for offering this. This is a tricky issue, but here are some ways to avoid getting scammed:


 * Check the hi-scores to see if the player really has the required skills (RuneScape Classic hi-scores no longer exist, so you'll have to use your judgement)
 * In general, high-leveled players are less likely to scam, as they would not risk their accounts banned for small amounts of gold. Players must still be careful as there are still enough high-leveled players who are willing to scam.
 * Try to ask the player to directly trade you the finished product for your raw materials.
 * Ask the player to let you hold on to some cash as insurance (collateral).

Account trades and transfers
Not only is transferring accounts against Jagex's rules, it is extremely risky. The player may take your money and never give you the password. Even if you receive the account and change the password, the original owner can take it back using the recovery questions.

Examples:

Additionally, some players may give you a high-level account, in hopes that you'll transfer your items to it. The scammer can then recover the account, and take any items that you may have placed on it.

Suggested actions: Report the player for account trading (rule 6). If you see accounts being sold on other web sites, send Jagex a link to that site via a Customer Support query. Accounts being sold on Ebay no longer need to be reported, as Jagex is now checking that regularly themselves.

Fake RuneScape websites
Some players will make sites that look similar to the real RuneScape site, and offer moderator applications or entry into contests. In reality, these sites would collect your password and may present you with a fake error message.

Suggested actions: You should never enter your RuneScape password into any site other than the official site, whose domain is runescape.com. Familiarise yourself with the ways domain names can be faked. You should avoid even visiting fake sites, as some may exploit vulnerabilities and may make your computer run a worm or trojan when as you visit the site. Finally, you should report the site to Jagex via customer support.

E-mail scam
This ususally happens on other websites, such as forums or blogs. The player will make an e-mail adress and claim that it is an e-mail adress that will send you another members password, make you a free member, give you 99 billion coins, etc.

Aside from membership receipts, Jagex no longer sends e-mail to players. In addition, such e-mails will never have any clickable links.

Suggested actions: Report the e-mail to Jagex via customer support and delete it. When reporting the e-mail to Jagex, try to include the header information. If possible, block the user from sending you any more e-mails. To prevent scammers from harvesting your e-mail address, try to set it to "hidden" on Internet forums.

Cheat program scam
Some scammers will offer programs that claim to make RuneScape easier, but they will actually steal your password. It is for this reason that Jagex discourages from using toolkits.

Suggested action: Do not use toolkits unless it is reputable. Also, be sure that your computer's anti-virus programs are up-to-date. Examples of anti-virus programs include Avast! AntiVirus, McAfee VirusScan, Norton AntiVirus, Sophos AntiVirus and ClamWin. Do not report other players for using these unless they openly admit it during chat.

Dungeon death scam (also known as luring)
Some players will lure others, especially new players, into dangerous places where they'll die so the scammer can take their items. Rules have recently been changed making this now a reportable offense.

Example:

This is now reportable, but here, the scammer might lure players into places such as the Varrock Sewers, where they'll be killed by monsters. They may also lure players into the Lumbridge Swamp Caves. There, the gas may cause players' light sources to extinguish. Without light, bugs will appear and attack the player until they die. Sometimes bug abuse is used with this, where the scammer finds a bug that forces them into the wilderness along with everyone following, where they are often killed by ice attacks and dragon daggers or run away.

Suggested actions: Before going to places you aren't familiar with, bring the following items:


 * Light source
 * Tinderbox
 * Food
 * One-click teleport
 * Friends

These scammers are hard to report, since it will be difficult for Jagex to find evidence of rule-breaking. If, however, they enter the wilderness or a dangerous dungeon such as Lumbridge Caves it is enough proof. However, you should still report the player via customer support, so at least Jagex has a record.

Item-switching scam
Another common trick that scammers use is to switch items at the last minute in a trade, and hope that the other player doesn't notice. Scammers may also remove items before accepting. However, Jagex changed the way trading works, allowing any change in the trade to be instantly seen, this type of scam is almost impossible to pull off now.

Examples of such scams include:


 * Herb notes (example: avantoe to guam)
 * Rune to mithril items
 * Steel to iron
 * Dragon (and big) bones to normal bones
 * Noted items in general (example: noted dragon medium helm to noted ruby)
 * Easter egg to normal egg
 * Pure essence to normal essence
 * 1000k gp to 10004 gp ×
 * 100k coins to 1004 coins ×
 * Mature to regular beer
 * Mage book to mage arena book
 * Rare seeds to common seeds
 * Black chainbody to iron chainbody
 * Dragon arrows to steel arrows

The following scams no longer work in any circumstance:


 * Guthan's warspear to leaf-bladed spear (the latter is no longer tradable)
 * Uncut diamonds and silver ore on RuneScape Classic (these looked exactly alike when silver was released, but was changed shortly after).

Changes that reduce the effectiveness of this scam:


 * Magic logs now no longer look like any other logs, they are blue/green with sparkles.


 * The Money reduce scam will no longer work because Jagex has added a system for certain stackable items, like coins, So certain areas of that amount are colored. 1-99,999 coins are yellow, 100k-9,999,999 coins are now white, and 10M+ is green. So if a scammer tries to switch 100k with 1,004 coins, the player selling the item will notice a color change.


 * Jagex has made an new trade system, where a player will take out an item, right before accepting you will see a "!" mark where the item was, and you will be able to notice if the player has taken out anything.

Suggested actions: Check the second screen carefully. If the other player is trying to scam, cancel the trade and immediately report the player under Rule 2.

"Rare" items
Some players may try to sell items and trick the buyer into paying far more than what the item is actually worth by claiming the item is "rare". Certain players will pick uncommon items to use in an attempt to attain a large sum of cash. This often happens if members items are accidentally made available to free users.

Some cheap but less common items include:


 * Water-filled vials on free worlds
 * Muddy keys (dropped by chaos dwarfs, these are worth about 5,000 gp and are used to get low-level treasure in the lava maze)
 * Cooking apples (can be found in cooking guild or farmed)
 * Charcoal (used in some member quests)
 * Sliced banana (heals 1 HP, made by using knife with banana)
 * Spinach rolls (heals 2 HP, given by random events and dropped by moss giants and rock crabs)
 * Burnt bones (found in the Wilderness, gives same prayer XP as normal bones)
 * Locust meat (member quest item)
 * Polished buttons (obtained from polishing buttons from H.A.M. members)
 * Hollow reeds (item from Legends Quest; it is no longer tradeable along with leaf-bladed spears)
 * Newspapers (can be bought from Benny in Varrock and are only worth 50 coins)
 * Ancient mace, not wieldable until completion of "Another slice of H.A.M." and only worth 1000gp. Often passed off as a "Ancient weapon" like ancient staff, but for warriors.
 * Anti-Dragon Shields are semi-rare but can be gotten for free by any player in the Champion's Guild. These are usually sold for 1000+ coins.
 * Shade robes for sale for around 5k, when they are worth almost nothing and are occasionally dropped by shades

There are many items that are passed off as rare, even though they are not. The rule of thumb is to check the price on a reliable source before buying.

Suggested actions: Claming an item is rare (when it is not) is against the rules and is reportable. If a player is merely overcharging for an item you may want to inform the trader and/or any potential buyers.

Advert scams
Some RuneScape fan sites, even the most reputable ones, may display ads that encourage cheating or real-world trading. Often, the administrators of fan sites do not have control over the ads, which are served by an advertising company. Some other ads may offer money-making "guides" that are no different from the ones offered for free on forums.

Example:

Suggested actions: Report the ads to the administrators anyway. The administrator may, in turn, send complaints to the advertising company.

Arbitrage scam
Sometimes, two scammers will work together to scam players, often using the "rare" item scam.

Example:

Here, players may be tempted to buy the spinach roll from Ultra_Pker and make a 400,000 coin profit by selling it to Ooo_Xxx_Ooo. In reality, the scammers will probably log out right after someone buys from Ultra_Pker and switch worlds to scam other players.

Suggested actions: As of now, only player moderators have the means of properly reporting these players, so unless you are a player moderator, there is nothing you can do.

Unidentified herb scam
Some scammers will offer to sell a certain type of unidentified herbs, but change it to another type. For example, a scammer may offer to sell 100 "unidentified" ranarr but give 100 "unidentified" guam instead. Since a player cannot identify an herb by merely using the "examine" option, this may seem hard to avoid.

Suggested action: There is a clever method for avoiding this scam, as follows:


 * 1) Get at least two unidentified copies of each herb you plan to buy.
 * 2) Ask to do the trade in notes.
 * 3) Put an unidentified (noted) copy of the herb you plan to buy into your inventory, and fill the rest of it with other items.
 * 4) If the scammer offers you something else, it won't fit, and you'll know that it's a scam.

Dangerous action scam (also known as luring)
Some players may try to trick others into doing dangerous things, such as attacking an ogre shaman or fighting a dragon without an anti-dragon shield.They also can trick players into attacking a monster that poisons so they will die. The main method of tricking them is offering a rare item such as an obsidian cape.

One trick is the Zamorak wine scam. When players trick new players into trying to pick up the Zamorak wine in the Chaos altar North West of the Goblin Village. They will say they are buying the wine for 10k each. If the player tries to take the wine, the Zamorak monks will attack you, and there is good chance you can die. Jagex had the door removed so that this scam no longer worked and the player could now run away and escape.

Another trick is that scammers may give the player a guam leaf, some jangerberries, and bat bones, and ask them to make a potion. If the potion is not mixed in the right order (guam, jangerberries, bat bones), it will explode. Some players have died this way and lost valuable items.

Furthermore it could happen that a scammer gives someone a piece of limestone and demands that the limestone shall be smelted in a furnace. Doing this will deal some damage but would only kill one if he is wounded or has a low hp level. Sometimes bug abuse is used with this, where the scammer finds a bug that forces them into the wilderness along with everyone following, where they are often killed by ice attacks and dragon daggers or run away.

Suggested action: It may be difficult for Jagex to monitor this scam, so report the scammer via the customer support forms.

Wilderness luring
Luring in the Wilderness is a commonplace scam where a player tries to get another player to trade something in low level Wilderness. A team of players will the attempt to kill the victim, usually involving one with Ancient Magicks, one with Teleblock, and one with the dragon dagger (p++) special attack.

Suggested action: Report the player under rule 2, item scamming.

RuneScape Classic needle scam
In RuneScape Classic, some scammers have been known to offer 10 million coins for items. Upon trading, the scammer will actually offer 1 million coins and a needle. On the RuneScape Classic trading screen, this would look like 10,000,001 coins.

Suggested action: Report the player for item scamming.

Item drop telekinetic grab scam
Sometimes players will ask the victim to drop an item across a fence or other obstacle, saying that the player can pick it up if the scammer makes a move to take it. Do not drop your item for any reason; they will use Telekinetic Grab on it.

Example:

Suggested action: Report the player for item scamming (rule 2).

Player house item drop scam
Scammers will talk the player into dropping an item, because (s)he can pick it up again before it appears to other players. Before the player takes it, they will expel the player from their house, and will take the item once it appears to them.

Suggested action: Report the player for item scamming (rule 2).

Semi-cooked karambwan scam (also called house luring)
Semi-cooked karambwan is poisonous when eaten. Some scammers will ask the victim to duel in their house and get them to low HP. Afterwards, they will expel the victim and then offer the victim the semi-cooked karambwan. If the victim eats it, they will get poisoned and die. Another scam involves the scammer giving you limestone to smelt in Lumbridge.

Suggested action: Report the player for item scamming. Do not eat the karambwan unless you can cook it fully. Or, If you own a house, go into it so that you will not lose your items. Do not smelt the limestone. It will inflict 8 points of damage on you.

Player impersonation scam
Some scammers will impersonate high-level players (crafters, smiths, and such) to scam players.

Example:

Here, the player is impersonating Ltangel, a top crafter.

Example:

Normally, the combat level gives it away. However, skill pures, such as Miner_I, are more easily impersonated. Players with spaces in their names are also easier to impersonate.

Suggested action: Make sure that you are trading with the real player, you could check on the RuneScape hiscores list to make sure if they have the skill they said they had. If the player is an impersonator, report them for item scamming (rule 2).

Recovery question scams
Scammers may also try to trick players into unknowingly giving their recovery answers. While players are prohibited from asking the default recovery questions in the forums, it is a forum only rule.

Example:

Suggested actions: Report the player for requesting personal details (rule 13).

Trade password for item scam
Some players will claim to give away their password for a certain item they want.

Example:

Suggested actions: Simply ignore them and report the player for item scamming (rule 2).

Money scams
Scammers will try to steal free-players' money by telling them about a coin that allows them to access a members world. This will steal their money and give them one coin in return

Example:

Suggested actions: Report the player for item scamming (rule 2).