Scams

WARNING: These scamming methods are not for you to learn & scam other people. This is just to let you know of the methods so you will not get scammed. If you are caught scamming, your account could result in a temporary ban, duct-tape or curse.

Scams are illegal actions done by players, usually to earn rarer or more items without working for it. Most players scam either for the fun of it, or to obtain more items. Most scams can be avoided by exiting the world. Doing such things is illegal in Growtopia and WILL get you banned from Growtopia.

To prevent others from being scammed, you are encouraged to leave the world as soon as possible. Never try to counter-scam the scammer or in other words: Scam the scammer, chances are YOU will get scammed yourself.

Drop game

This is the most common scam (but you will get banned for broadcasting or hosting it). Players will have to drop their items on the ground; the rarest item will usually win the prize shown. BUT, the owner will kick you, ban you or pull you, or cover your items with a block so you can't take your items back. Most drop games are reported to moderators to stop the illegal activity. Everyone (who is in the world or are playing) will be sent to Hell (cursed), and the scammer will be banned by a moderator. NOTE: Report and LEAVE the world if you see a Drop game. You will be cursed to Hell for 1 hour if you reported the scam if you are still in the world.

World Sale Scam Type 1

This type is obvious, and not commonly used. The owner puts a checkpoint behind the dropped items in a world so that the checkpoint is not visible. The scammer will put other random items to cover the checkpoint and once you buy it, they will respawn and take it.

How to avoid: If there are too many items in one spot, just leave the world and don't buy it.

World Sale Scam Type 2

This world scam is tricky enough to trick other people but some know it, they will go into the world with a door leading the items, but the door is actually to another world, some can see on their chat (or can easily tell because its taking some time to travel worlds), so if they go back to the main world, and she/he bought the key, she/he would know that the other world, was actually not part of the world.

How to avoid: If you are travelling to another place via door, always check the chat to make sure it isn't fake.

World Sale Scam Type 3

This scam is rare to find, the owner would just hack the world locks from like six, to a higher price, but if you collect it, you would only see six in your inventory, so, if the owner sells it, then the buyer will get scammed.

World Sale Scam Type 4

This is also a rare scam. The owner will block out rare items with what looks like wood. In reality, it is Secret Passage. He/she will put it far enough so that when you press on Wrench, you can't see that its a door. They could also pull a random person, and he/she will pretend to not understand. This is a hard scam to avoid, but it is normally not done.

How to avoid: Sometimes Secret Passages can slightly different to normal ones. Just ask the owner to cover up the item. If he doesn't, its a scam. If he does, it isn't.

World Sale Scam Type 5

In this scam, there will be a door with items dropped on it. The scammer will be standing beside a door that may or may not lead to the items. When the victim buys the key, the victim may ban the scammer. However, the scammer's friends will then enter the item door from another world and take back the items.

How to avoid: If the items aren't covered, do /who to see if anyone is there. But always ask the owner to cover the items with dirt blocks, its always safer.

World Sale Scam Type 6

This is the most trickiest scam ever, the scammer's friend will be standing near the items and the scammer usually accept and move. Once you accepted and banned the scammer's friend, you will see a pathmaker... Which his other friends can use the ID to get the items. Some may include more friends.

How to avoid: REMEMBER ALWAYS ASK THE OWNER TO COVER ITEM UP, IT'S ALWAYS SAFER!!

World Sale Scam Type 7 (Similar to Type 6 and 1)

This is tricky and hard to avoid it. The scammer's friend will be standing near the items and the scammer usually accept and move. Once you accepted and banned the scammer's friend, you will see a checkpoint... Some people in the world could be his/her friends. They will respawn and get the items.

"Scammed" Victim Scam

A Player tries to tell other Players that he/she has been scammed. Players will then donate to the scammer, not knowing that the scammer is using a fake account.

How to avoid: First look at his level in Growtopia. Usually if its Level 1, its a fake. If you don't care about donating stuff you don't want, just donate it, it doesn't really matter.

Casino Scam (Luck Game)

These types of scams are getting more common and there is no trusted casino. It is where you are faced with another user, or commonly the owner and where you will bet items. You will then be sent up and no way to get your items back, and then the owner will ask you to spin the Roulette Wheel or something else. When you win, the owner may world bans you or will wait a few rounds to gain your trust. Be aware that not ALL casinos are scam. Remember, if you have to drop in a casino game, then it's still a drop game. According to @Jenuine's world (STOPDONTDROP), it violates Growtopia General Rules so msg a mod and leave immediately! Almost every casinos violate the Growtopia General Rules (involves dropping).

How to avoid: Just don't play them. Usually if nobody is looking, its a scam. If there are at least 10+ people, its not usually a scam because otherwise everybody would leave the world because there is no point, its a scam. Also, famous casinos aren't usually scams. If you want to be on the safe side, don't play casinos.

"Quitting" Scam

File:Dropgame.png

Fake Quit Scam in progress

This scam is a type of drop game. A Player will Broadcast or Sb that he or the owner will be quitting, Then the owner/player will drop his items at a Big Box then places blocks on, Then the player/Owner will pull a stranger or friend to a smaller box, then the Owner asks the player to choose what item, after a few strangers or friends played, the victim will be pulled next. The owner asks the victim to choose an item then the owner asks for a rarer item then bans everyone from the world (similar to Drop Game Scams).

How to avoid: If you see anything like this, just leave the world to give it less attraction. If you think about it, Why do you need to drop?

Fake Parkour Scam

At least 90% of Growtopia's parkour maps are scams. The prize will be locked up in a room or the Player has to answer an impossible question. (e.g. Guess a random number from 1-100000) This prevents the player from obtaining the item.. Or they put as an example, a pinball under a spike, which is impossible. This enables the Owner to farm Growtokens from other players who enter the world. Another variety is a Quiz World.

How to avoid: Sometimes you can guess if it is a scam or not. For example if people say on Bulletin Board says something like "SCAM", you can tell it is a scam.

Trust Test Scam

This type of scam is very common between friends, Also dating with other Growtopians. They would pressure the victim to give access/an item/etc to prove their trust but the person would then take it.

File:Scam-1.png

Usually used drop game tactic in progress

File:Scam 3.png

Fake quit scam way 2 in progress -------------------------------------------> Owner will says to you that Example: You drop 30wls worth of items and then owner leave. If you are stupid you drop items, but someone else have to access to small lock and then will kick you. Owner will come back and then ban you.

Quiz/Dice Game Scam (Pay or Die also called P or D)

Just because you are in a quiz world, fashion show world, or dice game world doesn't 100% mean it is a scam. This is another scam where the scammer puts a prize and asks a question to the participants. (Rarity, Name, Theme, etc) or hits the dice to see the number. Then, the person who gets the answer right can choose a person to "P or D". P or D stands for Pay or Die. If you 'Pay', you get to stay and continue. Otherwise, choose 'Die', which will either ban or kick you out of the game or the person in the hole that is labelled (ex. 3) and the dice says 3, then the Owner will say to the person who is in hole 3, "P or D". Then the scammer will decide to make the game harder (Pays need to be rarer, Pays if wrong, etc) and when the scammer gets enough goods, he will ban all the participants and spectators and steal their items! However, if there are many people in the game it is not likely to be a scam.

How to avoid: If prize is too rare and doesn't seem legit, leave the world and don't bother.

Donate to Win Scam

People must donate the rarest item to receive the prize that was shown, alternates/puppets (owner's other account) are commonly used to lure people into the game, thinking that the alternate account is a normal player. Players will then get tricked into not knowing the alternate account is being controlled by the scammer itself. Some people say in Super Broadcasts, "DOING DARE VIDEO, BUY 1 WL FOR DIRT!!!" Some of these are true, like WickEr10's video, but it is most likely a scam for the owner to farm Growtokens.

How to avoid: Don't listen to them. Only donate if you feel like you want to donate to the owner.

Break for Prize Scam

A player broadcasts asking players to help him break and says there will be a prize at the end to lure others. They do this to earn Growtokens, or because they are too lazy to break themselves. They will either ban or give a lame prize at the end, or even ignore the player after helping him break. This does not mean that all people asking for help are scammers.

How to avoid: Only help break if you know them and you know you are going to get paid.

Did you know?: If the owner doesn't farm him or herself, they won't level up! :D

Password Door Game Scam

Dice Game in Progress.

Players place password doors and broadcasts that there is a password door game and he winner will get the prize. But the owner puts a different password from the guess area. (e.g. 0 as a password although the door caption is "10 ~ 1000") Also the prize placed will be very rare to attract players. This also works when the player misses the number. (e.g. 10 ~ 1000 the number is 735 but the player misses the number [he types from number 734 to 736 missing number 735]) The owner does this to earn Growtokens. It starts off easy at first( 1 -10) and is legit, but soon gets to insane things like 10,000 - 50,000, or something like " Owners 2nd world name" or "Owner's best friend" or "Owners real name". Usually the owner will make one legit one so everyone thinks that they are all real.

How to avoid: If it asks those sort of questions on password doors, its a scam. Just leave the world to attract the world less.

Account Password Scam

The scammer will sell the password of an different account which is a "noob account" (nothing in the inventory, level one, no clothes) to scam the people who are buying. Once they buy it, they will login with the password and realize that they have been scammed.

How to avoid: Never buy accounts. Make your own.

Phishing Scam Type 1

This scam is very simple. The scammer says he/she can hack Growtopia for the player but the player must send him/her the password. This type of scam is often done on YouTube videos.

How to avoid: Obviously its a scam. Never give your password to anyone no matter how legit it looks. Not even a famous YouTuber such www.YouTube.com/user/WizardSpooky (Spooky Wizard aka Nerdy).

Phishing Scam Type 2

This scam is similar to type #1 but far more advanced. This scam is an advanced application that sends the player's password to the scammer's mail. This application could possibly bring malware to player's PC. This scam is often done by advanced scammers.

Legendary Item Scam ( Growtoken Scam )

During the release of the Legendary Quests, and other new stuff, players will often fake the prescence of the new things such as the Legendary Wizard to 'lure' other Players into the broadcaster/owner's world; usually to farm Growtokens. No offence, but nobody sells a Legendary item for a World Lock because it isn't even tradeable! But to this day, many have learn't not to be tricked by these scams as only a few worlds have the Legendary Wizard placed in the world.

How to avoid: If something seems too good to be true, it IS too good to be true.

File:SB-Scam-1-.jpg

Mannequin Scam

The owner will stand on a Mannequin. There will be either a Punch Jammer in the world or the owner is surrounded by blocks. The owner will be blocking the Mannequin.Then the owner would give you access.He will then ask you to right click your cloth and touch him ( The cloth is going onto the Mannequin ). Then he would remove your access and ban you!. To avoid, just break the Mannequin.

UPDATE: @Seth and @Hamumu now made it so only the owner can use the Mannequin.

Expensive Buying Items or Cheap Selling Items Broadcast Scam (Sales Broadcast Scam)

You will always encounter this everyday. The scam works when the owner or admin broadcast that he/she is buying stuff for expensive stuffs(ex. World Lock, wings, etc.) or selling stuffs for cheap or free. Most common is to advertise parkour or quiz world. One of the example of spam broadcasting is "Buying 5 dirt seeds per wl!", "Buy Pickaxe for 3 wls" or "Selling angel wings for 4 wls!". When a buyer/selling is coming to the scammer's world, they found out they were tricked. Mostly, the victims shout to the visitors who heard the broadcast of the scammer's world to leave or complaining the owner of the world that he/she scams. The scammer usually world bans the victim who shout about the owner/admin scamming to keep the reputation of his/her world increasing or preventing the visitor to leave. The owner/admin do this to earn Growtokens and to lure many people to increase their fame and the world to be WOTD or to obtain World Honors. The punishment for this is duct-taped by a moderator.

How to avoid: If something seems too good to be true, it IS too good to be true.

The Counterfeit Scam

This is the same as a World Trade Scam but it's totally different. A scammer will drop a seed or block that is identical, or almost identical to a cheaper seed or block. One of the example is "Crystal Block Seed and Open Sign Seed", "Blackrock Wall Seed and Cave Background Seed" , "Pinball Bumper Seed and Yellow Block Seed", "Emerald Block Seed and Cash Register Seed" and "Birth Certificate and Secret of Growtopia". It is very rare to find two different seeds with the same or similiar colour and pattern. Then the scammer cover it with a block and broadcast that he is selling it for cheap. After you buy the world key, break the block and get the items, you are realized that you got scammed by the identical block or seed. Don't do it because the punishment is duct-taped and be cursed in HELL for a long time.

How to avoid: If it can be sold via trade then why would they sell it via world trade?

Trade Scam

You may think that trading is impossible to scam but finally it came. This scam is totally different from any other scam. The scammer will make the player pay attention to somewhere else while the scammer is changing items quickly. It is quick that the player cannot press "Accept Trade" button. When the scammer stopped, the player without realizing that the trade has changed like 10 World Lock to 1World Lock will accept trade without realizing the trade has already changed! Ex. Someone came to you and buy your Dragon Hand for 189 World Lock. The scammer will put and remove world locks from the trade window quickly and loop so the player cannot accept trade. The player will not concentrate on the trade window but will keep looking at the accept button. When the loop stopped, the player will accept trade quickly because he/she doesn't want to miss it. Without realizing that 189 World Lock has changed to 1 World Lock, the player will do the trade without checking what he/she is ACTUALLY trading with the scammer.

How to avoid: Always look at what you are trading but you dont have to worry about this with Thunder7100.

"Friend" Scam Type 1

A random player adds you as a friend on Growtopia, for example, someone you completely do not know tells you to "add friend". After you add him as a friend, he may pretend to be your good friend, example, by donating stuff to you. After sometime when he gains your trust as a friend, he will tell you to visit his world to play games, like "casino". But after you drop, he will immediately world ban you, and remove you as a friend.

How to avoid: Unless you trust him, then its ok. But some people would rather be more richer than have a good friend like you probably are.

"Friend" Scam Type 2

This a more complex version of the "Friend" Scam. A random player adds you as a friend on Growtopia, for example, someone you completely do not know tells you to "add friend". The scammer creates a new "casino" world with another different account, and log out of the world. Then, after sometime, he will try to introduce you to his world where you will play "casino" with him. He will then proceed to play casino with you. You will think that the owner of the casino world is not online, so you will think that the casino is real and is not a scam. After you drop your items, he will log on to the world with his other account and ban his original account, before banning you. This will make you think that the owner the casino has scammed both of you, and the scammer using his original account will continue being your friend.

"Friend" Scam Type 3

This is a longer process of "Friend Scam". A random player will add you as friend on Growtopia. After a few days he/she will pretend to be a "Helpful Friend". Then he/she will give you access to his world and will ask if you can add him/her into your world. In a few days he/she will pretend to be friendly so you will think he is a real "Friend" and then when he/she asked you to get one of his valuable items (ex. Zombie Jammer) he/she will pretend you stole it and recorded in the Security Camera. And when he/she knows you are offline he/she will remove your access to the world and steal your items and grief your world. When you see your world he/she will come and tell that you stole his/her (ex. Zombie Jammer) and will remove you as a friend and ignore you.

Bat Wings Scam

It is like the world trade scam but different.The owner places a mannequin with a gargoyle behind it,looking like bat wings.Then the owner broadcasts that he sells the world with the "Bat Wings" for a cheap/expensive price.After a player buys the world,he tries to get the "Bat Wings" but failed.He breaks the mannequin,realizing the he got scammed.

How to avoid: Bat wings aren't obtainable. So it's a scam.

Shop Scam

Another Growtoken scam. Common these days in Growtopia. Owner would bc,cb, or sb saying that he/she is quitting and the items are for sale. They would place their valuables and on a sign, they'll write something like "Angels for 10 wls" or some price that is way cheaper than it is. The owner basically never answers to a buyer, never does anything except stand, world bans them when they have the actual world locks or leave the world for a long time. People fall for this scam easily and the owner just farms Growtokens while people are wasting their time.

Famous People Scam

Same as Expensive Buying Items or Cheap Selling Items Broadcast Scam (Sales Broadcast Scam) but it's slightly different. The owner or admin broadcast or super broadcast that a famous people (Ex. pcats, EasyE, MartinMan007, etc.) is present in his/her world. Most people came due to this broadcast but they fall with this scam. The owner/admin did this to farm Growtokens and the visitors to waste their time in his/her world. They had learnt not to be scammed by /msg a famous person or use /mod for locating a moderator.

How to avoid: You can check as sometimes it is real. If it isn't just leave the world.

Super Broadcast Scam a.k.a Growtoken Scam

This scam was found in trading/minigames world. An owner broadcast or super broadcast that he/she buys super broadcast for rares or wls. After the victim spend their gems to super broadcast, the owner world bans him/her, ignore him/her or give a lame prize to you. You will instead waste your gems and the owner will get Growtokens However, on the other side, the world owner could get scammed too. For now, "pay for sb first" is still debatable.

Phone Booth Scam (now impossible.)

This scam is using one of the item from the superhero pack, called Phone Booth. First, the scammer will broadcast that he/she will do a giveaway. Then,The scammer will give you the access on the Phone Booth. The scammer will ask you to punch the phone booth while you are standing in front of it. Then, he will ask you to press the "yes" button. Finally, your clothes will be in the Phone Booth, the scammer will remove your acsess and then kick you/ ban you. Sometimes, the scammer will ask you to pay if you want to have the giveaway prize (when the player doesn't know that he/she is going to be scammed)(Game Developers had already fixed this scam)

• UPDATE

This Phone Booth Scam is now impossible. According to the news, Phone Booth are only accessible by its original owner (The one who really owns the Locks - Small, Big, Huge and World Lock).

Phone Booth Scam 2

This scam is different from the 1st Phone Booth Scam. Someone will have a Phone Booth intheir world, and they would wear rare clothing. Then they'd put those items in the Phone Booth, and after hat, quickly use their wrench to take those items out without putting them on. Then, the person would sell the world, and when its bought, the buyer will soon notice, that thay have been scammed. This scam is getting more known each day. To prevent being scammed by this kind of scam, do not buy worlds, which have a Phone Booth "That has items in it".

Fake Players In Link Portal Worlds (New Growtoken Scam)

This scam is when the main player/owner makes a world-locked world with a portal (Ex. Orange Portal) near the white door. He/she will then use a couple fake accounts (5-10 or more) to stay in that world. What happens is that, The world will appear in your world list. The Scammer may put a rare name or a "luring name" to lure the player into the world. Then the player will be forced to go into the portal or be punched by a fake account, While the other accounts are hiding somewhere in the world. The Scammer uses that advantage to get honors for both worlds, And get alot of Growtokens. A example world of this scam is called "GIVEAWAY12" Sometimes, You can see this world in your world list and it will show many players with the same name. (Ex. Dongs1, dongs2, dongs3, dongs4... etc.

How to avoid: If you get punched into a portal and end up in another world, instantly leave it.

Random Pull Scam

This scam is usually done by players who wants to earn some growtokens. The owner will broadcast or tell someone that she/he is hosting a giveaway. Then when there are already plenty of players in the world, the owner will drop their item and say that they will pull random players. Then the owner will pull either their trusted friends or fake accounts and give the item to them so the fake account/friend can return the item to the owner after the giveaway. Then the owner will do it again and again to other fake accounts/friends until it's done. So, since there were huge amounts of players that entered the world the owner will have plenty of growtokens.

Spleef Scam

This scam is commonly used (be careful!) and it's easy. The owner puts a rare prize (e.g. World Lock) and hosts the spleef. The owner will ask people to pay when they died. At the end, EVERYONE REALIZES THAT IT'S A SCAM!

How to avoid: If you get asked to pay for a spleef game, never pay. It is safer not to pay.

Glitch Seed Scam

The glitch seed scam is used by players to trick other players that the seed is a glitch so the scammer will sell it in a high price. The scammer will place the seed (which is not really a glitch seed) in a world and sell the world in a high price. Then the scammer will tell others that it is a glitch seed, so players will be interested in buying it. So when the player who bought the world will receive a seed that isn't really a glitch.

How to avoid: Now Glitch Clothing Seeds aren't glitch, many are being added because of the Clothing Compacter. Otherwise, ask the owner to buy it from trade. If he says no, its a scam.

Glitch Seed Scam Type 2

This is the new scam that rare to find but be advanced scam type. Owner will drop any same (or almost) color (layer and main colour) and then drop glass pane seed in treasure chest and cover it with water. And owner will bc that it was a glitch seed. When other ask owner to show in treasure chest , owner will quickly open and close the chest. So it may look like a new seed. When a player bought that world will receive 2 seed (1 glass pane and other depend on owner to drop).

How to avoid: If there is a Treasure Chest, water over it and items in it, its a scam no matter what.

Treasure Chest Scam

This is a scam that is rarely used. The scammer will put the rare item in the edge of the treasure chest which is sticking out and broadcast she/he is selling the world and then pull some random people that to prove everyone that the treasure chest is not public. He will later punch the treasure chest showing everyone the item inside. Once trading with the victim the trade menu that warns you about getting scammed will block the treasure chest and that makes the victim distracted. And the scammer will be REALLY close to the edge of the treasure chest which the item is sticking out of (It's closed) and quickly punch it to get the item and close it quickly. The victim won't notice and he will accept the trade while the owner quickly leaves or stay. When the player bought the scam world he will get nothing in the chest.

Fake Item Quantity Scam

This scam is uncommon . The scammer sells a world with a World Lock. Then he places a random item behind it (e.g.: Grass, Glass Pane, etc.). There is only one World Lock. The player buys the world and gets it and gets only 1 of it.