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The wasteland can be a dangerous place, more so with scammers and thieves lurking around every corner.
Do yourself a favour and read over this full guide on how to safely trade with other players.
Currently, there is no safe player-to-player trading system coded into the game.
As a result, the community has stepped in to fill the gap. Every platform has worked together to create and run scammer blacklists and courier groups to help players trade safely.
This guide will cover all the steps and red flags to look for when trading in Fallout 76, as well as links to the Xbox and PS scammer lists and approved courier groups.
What is a scammer list?
It is a list of GTs, PSNs, and the names of players who have been caught scamming and stealing from other players.
Before you do a trade with anyone, the first thing you should do is check and make sure that their GT, PSN, and/or username are not on the scammers list.
Here are the links for the Xbox and PS scammers list. It is recommended that you bookmark/save these links so you can refer to them often.
Xbox
PlayStation
PC
What is a courier?
Couriers are "middlemen" for lack of better words. They assist with safe trades, mod weapons, and armour and can help to mule items and caps between player's characters.
There is an extremely strict criteria and process in place before someone can become a courier, which is one of the many reasons why couriers are the most trusted players in the game.
Couriers always work on behalf of a courier group and will always verify themselves before accepting the trade job.
Some scammers will claim to be a courier to make you drop first or they will use a friend who pretends to be a courier to take your items.
Scammers will also change their GTs/PSNs to look similar to well-known couriers and attempt to scam you that way.
Always double-check the couriers' GT/PSN against the verification link before handing them your items.
Couriers are not allowed to use the fact that they are a courier to make you drop first. Couriers are also not allowed to facilitate their own trade and must get another courier to do the job.
Couriers are a free service. They volunteer, in their own personal time, to help keep the community safe. This also means that sometimes a courier can not respond to your post straight away. They have work and family and lives outside of this game.
Never be rude to your courier and definitely do not throw a tantrum and complain in the courier group that they are taking too long to respond. Not only is it extremely disrespectful but it may also result in you being blacklisted from all courier groups.
You do not have to tip them however it is considered polite to do so. If you aren’t sure what or how much to tip, just ask them if they need anything. If in doubt then flux, ammo or steel is always a safe default. If you can’t afford to tip them then don’t stress. Just tell them that you can’t afford to tip them but remember to thank them for their service and time.
A good courier group has been verified and approved by the Scammers List Council Authority for their respective platform.
Do not use a courier group that has not been verified and approved by the council. Scammers have been known to create their own courier groups in an attempt to scam more people.
It can take a few days to be approved into courier groups because they do a background check on you and your GT or PSN, therefore, it is better to be in them now vs being put on the spot later and not having access to a courier, which in turn leaves you at risk of scammers.
Here are the links to the approved courier groups for both Xbox and PS:
Xbox
Verify courier's external link
PlayStation
PC and Steam
What to do if you have been scammed
Every scam needs to be reported to the admin who run and maintains the scammers list for your platform.
Join the scammers list group for your platforms now and not later.
It is really important to report a scam the moment it happens. Scammers tend to hunt in waves and will scam multiple people within a few hours.
As soon as you report the scam, the admin can add their details to the scammers list. The admin of the scammer list groups are in contact with most other trading group admin and advise the groups when a new scammer has been added to the list.
The other trading groups then check and see if that person is in their group and remove and block them.
If you do not have video proof of the scam then you can still report the player, they just might not be able to be added to the scammers list.
How to report a scam on Xbox
Go to this group
Create a post, then copy and paste the template below and fill in/attached the details
GT:
Facebook name/Reddit username/Discord username:
They stole/took:
Proof:
You will need to attach the following to your post (where possible)
A screenshot of their Xbox or PSN gamer profile
A screenshot of their Facebook, Reddit or Discord profile
Screenshots of the original post, any and all comments they made as well as screenshots of any private message conversations
A video of the scam actually happening.
Note: The other party may delete their comments and messages and block you, so take screenshots before and during the trade.
Your post should look something like this
These are fake GTs and fake names for the sake of this guide. If someone actually has these as their name or GT, please don't go on the war path and hunt them down. They probably did nothing wrong.
An admin from the group will make contact with you and just follow their prompts from there.
How to report a scam on PS
Go to this group
Create a post, then copy and paste the template below and fill in/attached the details
PSN:
Facebook name/Reddit username/Discord username:
They stole/took:
Proof:
You will need to attach the following to your post (where possible)
A screenshot of their Xbox or PSN gamer profile
A screenshot of their Facebook, Reddit, or Discord profile
Screenshots of the original post, any and all comments they made as well as screenshots of any private message conversations
A video of the scam actually happening.
Note: The other party may delete their comments and messages and block you, so take screenshots before and during the trade.
Your post should look something like this
These are fake PSNs and fake names for the sake of this guide. If someone actually has these as their name or PSN, please don't go on the war path and hunt them down. They probably did nothing wrong.
An admin from the group will make contact with you and just follow their prompts from there.
How to report a scam on PC
Go to this group
Create a post, then copy and paste the template below and fill in/attached the details
IGN:
Facebook name/Reddit username/Discord username:
They stole/took:
Proof:
You will need to attach the following to your post (where possible)
A screenshot of their Steam or IGN gamer profile
A screenshot of their Facebook, Reddit, or Discord profile
Screenshots of the original post, any and all comments they made as well as screenshots of any private message conversations
A video of the scam actually happening.
Note: The other party may delete their comments and messages and block you, so take screenshots before and during the trade.
Your post should look something like this
These are fake PSNs and fake names for the sake of this guide. If someone actually has these as their name or PSN, please don't go on the war path and hunt them down. They probably did nothing wrong.
An admin from the group will make contact with you and just follow their prompts from there.
Red Flags
Be realistic
If the offer sounds too good to be true then it probably is. If someone is offering you a legacy or a B2525 fixer for your pink asylum dress or your T60 power armour right arm plan, then it’s either a troll or a scammer.
Have a general knowledge of the market and a rough idea of the value of items before jumping into the trading market.
If they send you a PM/DM without commenting on your post first
Either A ignore it or B if you decide to take up their offer, request that they go back and comment on your post, even something simple like “PMed you” before the trade takes place.
The reason for this is that if they are a well-known scammer, more people are likely to spot the profile/person and call them out.
Check their profile and trading history (if possible).
Do a search for their name in the group that you are trading in.
Have they posted and completed other trades successfully?
How old is their profile? Is it only a few days or months old?
Does it look fake or dodgy?
Ask for their GT or PSN and check it on the scammers list (links at the top of the page)
Make a note of their GT or PSN
Double-check spelling and confirm 0 isn't o etc
Does it look wrong, dodgy, or vulgar?
GTs or PSNs such as Welcome2hell or Bigdaddy or BestPVP or Demonking or Daone666 are generally red flags.
If their GT or PSN is on the scammer's list (and you are 100% certain that it is the correct spelling of the GT or PSN), take screenshots of the post and any conversations and comments and report it directly to the scammer's group for your platform. This information will be used to update the scammers list with any new identifying details.
If the trade includes legacies or high-tier value items, ALWAYS use a courier.
Check and confirm what world the trade will be taking place in
Is the trade meant to be in adventure worlds? Or custom worlds?
Ideally, you want to be on the correct server (ie adventure or custom) and then send out the game invites. Alternatively, request that the courier goes to a world first and both parties join the courier.
Request that the other party “drops” first.
Never “drop” first.
Sometimes the other party will agree to drop first and then change their mind and ask you to drop first once you are there to complete the trade.
They will use excuses like:
They have been scammed before
They are running late for work and really need to go so I can’t wait for a courier
They have the trade bug or trade glitch (to fix the trade bug, fast travel to an event and then fast travel back again)
They have been scammed by couriers before
They will tell you that they are a courier from an authorised courier group
Do not drop the items onto the ground.
Always use a trade window to complete the trade.
If the server crashes then you can lose everything. Dropping the item on the ground can also open the risk of another player coming along and taking the items.
Due to the "Loot All" function that was added in Patch 32, sometimes a dropped loot bag can become “locked” and no one will be able to pick up the contents.
Use a world container or the trade window function for trades.
Suitcases and ice boxes are ideal world containers as they generally have a 0/0 weight limit.
Using the trade window also means clearer, detailed footage if you are scammed.
If the other party refuses to drop first, then request a courier
Only use a courier group from the authorized list (links at the top of the page) and always request the courier yourself so you know where the courier is coming from.
Some people will claim that their mate is a Reddit courier or that they know a courier etc. Don't believe them.
When requesting a courier, never post the trade details or either party's GTs/PSNs in the request post. People can take these details and pretend to be a courier or the other party.
When requesting a courier, use the following template
Tag the other party in the post.
Also send the other party a copy of the link to the post so they can see it for themselves, as sometimes Facebook notifications don't work.
A courier for the group will comment on your post with a link you can follow to verify that they are actually a courier and not a fake.
The courier will then either DM you or request that you DM them with the trade details and both parties' GTs/PSNs.
Follow the rest of the courier's prompts.
If you aren’t sure what to do then tell the courier that you are new to trading and they will walk you through the process.
Keep in mind that every courier is different.
Some will request that both parties join a voice chat, this is extremely helpful for large trades.
Others will be fine with just messages
Once the trade is complete
Comment on the post thread thanking them for the smooth trade. For example "Thanks for the smooth trade", "Thanks for the quick trade" etc.
If you posted the original trade post, go back and edit the post to say "Trade Complete" and turn off commenting once the other party has commented "Thanks for the smooth trade". This is so you don't get messages a week later asking if the item is still available.
Generally, people will delete their posts once the trade is completed. This is not wise, as having a trade history is highly recommended.
At a minimum keep your last 3 trade posts in the group. This means that if someone is searching for your post history, then there is some proof of previous safe trades.
Hi, I'm Kat or Duchess
I'm an Australian data miner who writes farming, event, and food buff guides for Fallout 76.
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