Scammers Killed my Friend

[HolyJames]

I am outraged against Arena Net and their game which is called "Guild Wars". Guild Wars is an ok game but the evil behind it is apaulling. My friend killed himself over it. He was scammed out of the in-game currency by a few scammers. He trusted them and I guess he got taken advantage of. I believe the names of the scammers that lead to his suicide of sleeping pills were named "Be Easy", "High Chuntaya" and "Diomedes Thegod".

I looked at his computer a few days ago and found out why. There were images on the computer that he took as evidence to try to get the scammers banned. He told the scammer that he would end his life if he didnt get his stuff that was scammed from him back. They just ignored him or laughed.

I went to hotmail.com and checked if he had an account there and thankfully to the cookies there he was not logged out. I read the emails and saw that he tried reporting it to the developers of ANET and they did nothing to ban or punish the scammers.

I am outraged by the game. They did nothing to stop his death and the scammers are not punished at all.

 

[Sketcher]

The scammers should be punished, and his suicide is a terrible thing, but isn't that sort of action a bit rash? If you have nothing to live for than an RPG you've got some serious underlying problems. This was probably just the straw that broke the camel's back.

Also, they did not kill him. They only stole from him. He killed himself. I'm sorry that I can't offer much in the way of comforting words. But I will pray for you and his family.

 

[Dark_Lite]

I am outraged against Arena Net and their game which is called "Guild Wars". Guild Wars is an ok game but the evil behind it is apaulling. My friend killed himself over it. He was scammed out of the in-game currency by a few scammers. He trusted them and I guess he got taken advantage of. I believe the names of the scammers that lead to his suicide of sleeping pills were named "Be Easy", "High Chuntaya" and "Diomedes Thegod".

I looked at his computer a few days ago and found out why. There were images on the computer that he took as evidence to try to get the scammers banned. He told the scammer that he would end his life if he didnt get his stuff that was scammed from him back. They just ignored him or laughed.

I went to hotmail.com and checked if he had an account there and thankfully to the cookies there he was not logged out. I read the emails and saw that he tried reporting it to the developers of ANET and they did nothing to ban or punish the scammers.

I am outraged by the game. They did nothing to stop his death and the scammers are not punished at all.

To be honest, I think he had more problems than just Guild Wars.

 

[DaveS]

Also, they did not kill him. They only stole from him. He killed himself

Evil begets evil. Lying to stealing to killing/suicide. See Satan at work.

 

[bethdinsmore]

Hi there -
I am so sorry for the pain both you and your friend have suffered. I know it can be incredibly painful to lose a good friend to suicide.

Here's what God feels about you and your grief:

Isa 63:9 In all their distress he too was distressed....(NIV)

Isa 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. ....(NIV)

I will pray for you, that you would be comforted more each day, and that your pain would make you stronger. God bless you, friend. Aloha (love) in Jesus

 

[DaveS]

Well said Beth. I also know the pains of losing someone.

Will be praying for you and for the soul of your friend.

 

[funnyguy1]

video games do not make people commit suicide. it was his decision to do so.



please stop blaming media on peoples decisions.

 

[Victory of the Cross]

I am sorry for him, and i imagine he was about your age correct? so much of his life left to live

 

[heron]

That is so sad. We're sorry that you lost a friend! What a shock that must be to everyone around you.

There are ways of reporting scams, higher than the site's help desk--very few sites are able to keep up with support, so here are some government agencies that are trying to improve online accountability. You don't need to talk to anyone, just fill out a quick report form.

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/reporting.htm
http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/law3a.htm
http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp

You should also keep records of everything you found this week, for police investigations.

We don't know much about the scam itself, or the implications--when you talk to people, help them understand how this connected with your friends' actions.

Stay in touch here; maybe people will continue to have ideas to help.

 

[HolyJames]

I have the evidence here. I dont know why the game makers wont ban his account. This kind of thing tells you that some people are evil and will hurt others even in a game.

The title has the URL to the evidence. It was found on his computer. I put it together and uploaded it.

 

[HolyJames]

The title has the url to the evidence.

Shouldnt this guy at the very least be banned but the game company doesnt care? Any chance of suing the guy or the company you think?

 

[Dark_Lite]

Personally I don't think you should sue the makers of this game. If you do somehow manage to, I don't think you should win the suit either.

It is NOT the game maker's fault that your friend was too entrenched in it and then commited suicide because he lost something IN A GAME.

This happened in Everquest quite often...

You may be able to get away with suing the scammers though.... Maybe.

However, they're not banning them because GMs take forever to look into those kind of things... Especially on WoW.

 

[HolyJames]

I dont know if I have the power to sue cause i am his friend and not related to him. I hope he gets banned at the very least or understands what he did.

 

[heron]

What a dramatic conversation to run across. Have you shown his parents?

Suing is complicated, drawn out and costly--especially if you lose. Imagine if you had started that company, out of a love for gaming, and didn't have the resources to hire someone to screen every conversation. A lawsuit would not only stop the game, but put everyone involved into lifelong debt.

There are channels in which this information could be used, especially for those trying to understand his decision, or confirm the suicide.

You can also ask permission from his parents to use it in ways that might protect others from making the same mistake. (Do not use it publicly without their permission.) You can get very creative in this area, but might want to let things settle first.

Use the force for good, James.

 

[DaveS]

That is a very good point heron! If possible, try to work for good and not for bad. Sueing someone will only make them bitter and put them in (probably) money troubles or just general troubles thmselves. They may even commit suicide themselves. This is not the right way to go. Afterall the Bible does say that if you forgive it will be 'like throwing hot coals on his head'. But it also says, 'an eye for an eye'. I interpret this as justice then forgiveness. You can have justice in a way but do not take it too far, then forgive.

 

[HolyJames]

No the guy probablly has hurt others since my friend. It doenst look like he even cares. I have a little more stuff in my email that I sent myself with a little more screens. I think I found one screenshot of him telling him encouraging him to kill himself or soemthing.

 

[heron]

The scamming is definitely something the site should monitor. Maybe by including the part about the suicide, it complicated issues for the support staff. Try starting fresh with a simple report of the scams.

 

[TriNck]

Sorry, but :roflbow:
It wasn't the scammers fault he decided to kill himself. He obviously had deeper issues.

He never tried to help himself and from the sounds of things no one around him ever noticed something was wrong either. Chances are he would've /himself because of the next thing to go wrong in his life anways if he unstable enough to /himself over a pixels in a game.

It sucks that he died and all but laying the blame on a scammers or Arenanet is downright pathetic :ugh:

And on a side note: Trying to sue anyone over this would result in the case getting thrown out.
And Arenanet hands out bans depending on severity. Sounds like the scam wasn't a big enough deal for them to take action.

 

[heron]

TriNck,
a first post! Welcome here.

I think you're on target about losing the lawsuit. Injustice was carried out, but the tangible loss/damage would not connect to the suicide in their eyes.

It's a terrible thing to lose a friend, especially while wondering if there's something you could have done to prevent his death. There's no way of getting him back, and that's something that takes several weeks to adjust to...and much longer for simply missing him.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Suing is complicated, drawn out and costly--especially if you lose. Imagine if you had started that company, out of a love for gaming, and didn't have the resources to hire someone to screen every conversation. A lawsuit would not only stop the game, but put everyone involved into lifelong debt.

It would affect them at all.

If you play Guild Wars, you agree to a contract that pretty much states, trade at your own risk. Like everyone said, it's a game. Sure, he was a friend, but he had more problems then losing game currency. I played UO for a while, a game where you could kill others for scamming, and unless you have evidence of the actual scam, they wouldn't get any punishment.

Same goes here. I play Guild Wars when I have time, but I didn't even know it was possible to scam.