Close New Registration - Implement Invite System

[JJDAHM]

I think that registration for the site should be closed off due to the amount of scammers joining, then multi-accounting and ban evading.
Bans are at an all time high.
To make up for registrations being closed, an invite system could be put in place (similar to the one I'd suggested for MC-Admin), to allow friends of current members to join.

Who should be able to make invites?
I think everyone should be able to make an invite as long as their account is 6 months old, but the amounts should be restricted on a per rank basis.
Regular: 1-3 Invites
Premium: 5-10 Invites
Supreme: 10-15 Invites

What about legitimate new users who just found the site?
There could be an application they need to fill out, which would include an E-Mail, a Minecraft Account (Verified with the current MCM System), A Skype Name, and Other Info (Ex: Spigot Profile, HackForums, etc.)

What about people who would like to file a scam report and they're banned?
Possibly implement a system where you can e-mail a staff member, or fill out a form that would allow you to have access to a temporary generated account that only has permission to post in the scam reports section?

Unban Appeal?
I think banned users can open support tickets.

General Staff Inquiry?
Make a Contact Button that would open up a support request that can be replied to via e-mail? Or, even simpler, a General Inquiry E-Mail?

I make this suggestion so the community can refrain from dealing with more scammers. Not saying this will eliminate scamming totally, but it would cut it down significantly. If you decide to do something like exit scam, it would be very hard to get back into the community to scam again.

I believe this will help clean up the community and will save lots of stress for users in the future, as well as create less work for moderation staff, but also create a bit more (reviewing applications). This is a good long term solution to fixing ban evading and scamming, and I can't see a reason why it shouldn't be implemented, other than it creates a bit more work for staff. It also has it's advantages though, which I think outweigh the disadvantages.

I'm interested to see what other people think, as I haven't discussed this with anyone yet.

 

[Ekouh]

This is horrible idea. If we start this then that means there could potentially be an end of users joining the forums. Secondly, Most people we would recommend are people already on this site.[DOUBLEPOST=1470816399][/DOUBLEPOST]

Alot of users would abuse this system, so there should only be 2 accounts per ip & block vpns aswell

I do agree to the blocking of vpns to an extent.

 

[Ivain]

And how many people do you think would just invite their scamming buddy's alt?
As for VPN's being blocked, a lot of them already are. Not all, unfortunately, but quite a bunch

Apart from that, this would kill the flow of business. If no new users can join, it does not keep out the scammers, who'll simply make sure they are invited in, while it keeps out the new customers. Doing this would pretty much end the site.

 

[JJDAHM]

And how many people do you think would just invite their scamming buddy's alt?
As for VPN's being blocked, a lot of them already are. Not all, unfortunately, but quite a bunch

Apart from that, this would kill the flow of business. If no new users can join, it does not keep out the scammers, who'll simply make sure they are invited in, while it keeps out the new customers. Doing this would pretty much end the site.

The invite system is tracible, so if someone's dishing out invites to people who get banned, that's on them.


There was a point about a year ago where registration was closed.
The community was better.

Apart from that, this would kill the flow of business. If no new users can join

I don't think you read this section:

What about legitimate new users who just found the site?
There could be an application they need to fill out, which would include an E-Mail, a Minecraft Account (Verified with the current MCM System), A Skype Name, and Other Info (Ex: Spigot Profile, HackForums, etc.)

This is horrible idea. If we start this then that means there could potentially be an end of users joining the forums.

Once again, read the whole thread:

What about legitimate new users who just found the site?
There could be an application they need to fill out, which would include an E-Mail, a Minecraft Account (Verified with the current MCM System), A Skype Name, and Other Info (Ex: Spigot Profile, HackForums, etc.)

Alot of users would abuse this system

The invites? They are traceable, so if someone is inviting people and all of them are getting banned for scamming, it's on them.

 

[Ivain]

So you want people to fill out a complete form? and how would this keep the scammers out, exactly?
emails can be generated, the minecraft account verification would work except for the fact that not everyone on here even plays minecraft still, and verifying an acount is still somewhat buggy, skype names again can be generated by making random accounts as well, other info would not mean a thing if they dont have an account anywhere else, and again accounts can be generated.

What you're basically suggesting is to heap so many requirements on new members that maybe it'll discourage some of the scammers.
In the meantime it's such a hassle for new members that they won't even really be bothered.
not even spigot has measures like this. They simply require you to have a certain account age and a number of posts.
The simple truth is, any marketplace can be targeted by scammers easily. The reason there's so many here is because people keep falling for scams.

Even if we implemented all of this, it would only discourage the laziest of scammers. Those that make a strong profit will simply find a way around it.
The best way to fight scammers is to educate people in the ways that scammers operate, and to teach them how to counter it.

Let's compare a scam on MCM to phishing emails, or those online 'free GTAV coins" links. You can't really stop them from spreading without seriously limiting the freedom of normal people's communication. However, you can teach people not to click them, and take action if you find them.[DOUBLEPOST=1470840333][/DOUBLEPOST]The sections which where the most common locations for scams, and the most difficult to prevent being scammed, already have entry requirements. In most other sections, it's perfectly possible to prevent yourself being scammed.

 

[Primal Power]

A bit off topic but this totally sounds like something a politician would say... http://prntscr.com/c3ztzf

 

[JJDAHM]

not even spigot has measures like this

Spigot has a clean community though, how many scams do you see going on there?
As for the form, Skype has an API, which I believe you can use to see how many contacts people have.
If they have under 10, it's obviously disposable.
As for the minecraft accounts, yeah, not everyone has one. But I'm willing to bet 99 out of every hundred people on here have one.
I couldn't see that being too big of a problem, after all, it is a minecraft based forum.
If they wanted to sell CSGO Stuff, possibly have them link their steam account?
Web Development, maybe a portfolio?
These measures are pretty Jurassic, but I think when a lot of the scams are eliminated, it will pay off.

 

[Hannes]

If this is being implemented, it should only be for like a few months or something.

 

[Ivain]

And what if they're only looking to buy?
The reason I believe spigot has such a small amount of scams is quite simple. They have only a few options to sell stuff, and no options for premades other than resources, which like on here require moderation.
Either you have a service thread for building or development, or you can piss right off, is basically what their site is like.
How many scams on here are from builds and development?
maybe 5% at most, and a lot of them seem to be from premades.

 

[JJDAHM]

And what if they're only looking to buy?
The reason I believe spigot has such a small amount of scams is quite simple. They have only a few options to sell stuff, and no options for premades other than resources, which like on here require moderation.
Either you have a service thread for building or development, or you can piss right off, is basically what their site is like.
How many scams on here are from builds and development?
maybe 5% at most, and a lot of them seem to be from premades.

If they're looking to buy, it's not hard to get skype usernames of legitimate users who have shop threads posted.

 

[Zeiyon]

I get you point but.
1. MCM is a business and if a business gets no customers then it dies. And dont think the 10 new members that join per month will donate.
2. So now staff have to start accepting applications, just to let someone into MCM? They have to then research the person one by one to make sure they arent scammers. Lol.
3. All this will do is stop the circulation of money. No new customers the sellers will have no business, and vise versa.
4. People will, yes its hard to belive but a lot of people will leave this site, and daily. But to counter that, a lot of people join this site. If you stop people from joining then leaving will over power the site until, no ones left.

 

[Ivain]

A lot of people no longer use skype for deals because of impersonators.

 

[lol]

New users are what makes this community grow, it's not like all of the old members are on here still.
Although I could agree with what you're saying, it's just not the best idea to stop it.

 

[JJDAHM]

Sorry but this is the worst idea ever...

Very descriptive and contributable, thanks.[DOUBLEPOST=1470842063][/DOUBLEPOST]Ajdin
I noticed you disagreed.
Can I get your point of view?

 

[Skionz]

Skype has an API

It is really awful though and a complete pain in the ass.

 

[Ajdin]

I disagree because the majority of our new users come from Google Search results. If they don't have a way to join straight away, they will click the site away in just a few minutes.

And any kind of manual approval system won't work since we get over 600 registrations each week.

 

[Shattered]

similar to the one I'd suggested for MC-Admin

Pretty sure that was just temp until the site actually released.

Well. was going to release.