[X] My Assistant

Scamming is killing the freebie trading scene. Anything4Free seems to be the prime target for international and domestic scammers in both ref for ref and ref for cash trades. The majority of said scamming occurs in n00b on n00b trading. We have always relied on spreading knowledge and information as our anti-scamming policy, in hopes that by educating our user base they will not put themselves in "high risk" trade situations. This method, in the big picture, does not seem to be working. So after much deliberation and discussion, we have decided on a new plan that we feel is the best possible compromise between all parties. The details:

We have added a new trading forum called Beginner's Trading Post within our Trading Forum. As the name implies, this forum will be open to beginner traders (anyone with fewer than 4TR, the number may change later) as well as our new member group A4F Premium Members. However, only Premium Members will be allowed to start threads. UPDATE: Anyone 50TR+ at the time of this post can get a free year of Premium Member access. You won't get any of the other Premium Member perks, but will be allowed to start new topics in the Beginner Trading Post. If you are 50TR+ and would prefer not to purchase Premium Membership and get the extras, feel free to open a ticket in the Premium Member department, and I'll manually give your account an override.

There are two ways a new user, or anyone with fewer than 4TR, can "graduate" to the normal trading forums. Either by A- meeting the minimum TR requirements (4 for now) or B- becoming an A4F Premium Member. However, if they choose the latter, they will have access to both forums, but will only be able to start new threads in the normal trading forums. The idea being that only "experienced" or "safe" traders will be trading with 0-3TR'ers. But at the same time, if a new member, for instance comes from another forum and wants to go straight to trading for their own refs, they have the option of becoming Premium so they can access the normal trade forums.

Of course, to go along with this new system, the TR rules have been adjusted as well, in that anyone with fewer than 4TR can only trade with, and therefore receive TR, from Premium Users over 4TR, OR 50+TR traders.


Premium Member Perks:

1. Access and ability to create new topics in Beginner's Trading Post provided you meet the 4TR minimum
2. 2500 PM inbox space
3. Ability to add custom song to your profile
4. Bright orange forum-matching username color everywhere in the forums
5. Matching Premium Member icon
6. Shorter Flood Control (search as fast as you want)

Cost:
29.95/6 months OR 49.95/year

Responsibility
Besides all the perks you get for becoming Premium, there is a responsibility that comes with it. This whole system is predicated on the idea that people who are in freebies enough to know the value of their 29.95/49.95 purchase should have better judgment compared to your average freebie'er. Therefore it is up to you to make sure you take every precaution when trading with the 0-3Tr n00bs. That is the high risk area. And the Premium Members will now be the first line of defense.

The rules are effective immediately and anyone who wants to become Premium can do so by opening a support ticket on our Ticket System in the Premium Member department. The first 5 members to purchase Premium get the first 5 pinned spots.

We realize many of you have still not reached 4TR and therefore will now not have access to your trade threads. Please open a ticket on our Ticket System if you have an open thread you now cannot reach and we will either delete it or close it for you, depending on what you wish. We will then be removing any open trade threads that do not meet the necessary requirements if we do not hear from you.

And lastly, our plan of attack against scamming is two-fold, this is only the first measure. Once the second one is ready, it will go live and help even further. And that one doens't have anything to do with money or member accounts. If you guess what it is, I won't respond so don't waste your breath (err, finger movement).


A4F Administration

I realize you are trying to stop the scammers, but users like myself, who don't want to look for a whole bunch of threads that meet our statistics. Or.. What If I don't want to get money, just give. So I have to look all through the threads for one that meets my criteria (which I have never seen one). So. How do you suppose this works out?

I'm not entirely sure I understand. Since you are 0TR, you now have to trade in our Beginner Trading Post. Once you get to 4, or you decide to purchase Premium Membership, you can get back to your trade threads.

I know it seems like a lot to ask right now, but eventually lets hope it will feel natural and everything will be safer.

please open a support ticket on our Ticket System if you have specific concerns for your pre-existing trade threads. we'll hide em somehwere until you can access them again.

edit: I think I understand your concern a bit better. To find trades that meet the new requirements, just find threads in the Beginner Trading Pro forum. Its setup so whatever you have permission to view, is what you can use towards TR. hope that helps.

Bullcrap. How about 50+ TR for access to Beginner's Trading Post? Leave the Premium stuff for a cost, but I believe access to the Beginner's Trading Post shouldn't be about money... it should be about experience and trustworthiness.



EDIT: Can PPD Mentors have automatic access to the BTP also?

Yeah^^^ what he said but not 50 TR maybe like 15-20

I agree with FreebieTeacher. With freebies, new people are the best people to trade with because they've done very few offers and therefore can do more sites for us.

TR rules have been adjusted as well, in that anyone with fewer than 4TR can only trade with, and therefore receive TR, from Premium Users over 4TR

So now I can't trade with people under 4TR? Wtf, those are the best people to trade with. $50/year is pretty obnoxious and reminds me immensely of FLR. Experienced traders should be able to trade with these newbies and help them get started. Paying $50 isn't going to guarantee that we can be the first line of defense, it'll just show we have money to throw away. A better first line of defense would be letting those with TR over a certain number to be allowed to trade with those with under 0TR.

FLR Verified = A4F Premium Member?

-=Evan=-

Support ticket opened!

I personally love any step that will put a slow down to the scamming that has gotten out of control. It's better to get 3 SOLID trades then get 10 and have 7 of them scam you. Besides the fact that the Cops here *ahem* have to try to resolve them when most of the time we can tell from the 30 red flags the user is waving saying "I'm a scammer" and we know that there isn't any chance of it being resolved.

Look at the big picture for a while. If you're trading in the regular forums, then you only trade with users that have been here for a while so you have more security in trading there (at least they've been around long enough to have 4 TR). If you pay for the premium (which you shouldn't be complaining about seeing how much money A4F MAKES you for trades) then you have the ball in your court for the new people and you can control the trade more (Ie, you will be paid on approval versus green for X site).

It will work wonders, just give it a bit of time to get adjusted. GJ Emoney and admins.

seeing how much money A4F MAKES you for trades

Hahaha, you've got to be kidding! The prices here (and other forums) for referrals are SO inflated, it's ridiculous. I'm lucky to make $15 or so per referral...

Hahaha, you've got to be kidding! The prices here (and other forums) for referrals are SO inflated, it's ridiculous. I'm lucky to make $15 or so per referral...

That might be true, but how much would you make per referral without trading here? You must be here for a reason.

The issue isn't about money to access the forum, it really isn't. Money is involved because it is the only way we can see trustworthiness. If you are going to pay money, then there is WAY less of a chance of you scamming traders. The money gives you more options on A4F...everyone has told us a million times we should make it so you can donate to get more inbox space. $29.95 for 2500 PMs, compared to 100 some people have it REALLY good. So maybe you could think about that added options that come all with the money.

A4F has made me a ton of money so spending $50 isn't that bad. I agree that it will reduce scamming.

The issue isn't about money to access the forum, it really isn't. Money is involved because it is the only way we can see trustworthiness. If you are going to pay money, then there is WAY less of a chance of you scamming traders. The money gives you more options on A4F...everyone has told us a million times we should make it so you can donate to get more inbox space. $29.95 for 2500 PMs, compared to 100 some people have it REALLY good. So maybe you could think about that added options that come all with the money.

I've donated over $50 to A4F. I work for a site. I have 30 TR and about 5 pending trades. Can I have the Premium features? I've already shown my trustworthiness through my money so I think that's fair.

-=Evan=-

I've donated over $50 to A4F. I work for a site. I have 30 TR and about 5 pending trades. Can I have the Premium features? I've already shown my trustworthiness through my money so I think that's fair.

-=Evan=-

Evan this is a separate thing from the normal frontpage donation links. It is new. Working for a site doesn't make it better than any other member, I know MANY people who have worked for a site and turned out to be scammers.

You don't have to become a premium member, it is voluntary.

I've donated over $50 to A4F. I work for a site. I have 30 TR and about 5 pending trades. Can I have the Premium features? I've already shown my trustworthiness through my money so I think that's fair.

-=Evan=-

Free4Me has donated thousands of dollars, I work for a site, I'm a super cop, I have 250-ish TR and about 6 pending trades. I still paid.

Don't be cheap Evan

support ticket created :-D

The issue isn't about money to access the forum, it really isn't. Money is involved because it is the only way we can see trustworthiness.

I've donated over $50 to A4F. I work for a site. I have 30 TR and about 5 pending trades. Can I have the Premium features? I've already shown my trustworthiness through my money so I think that's fair.

-=Evan=-

That's how I felt. I mean if it TRULY isn't about the money I think TR is a great way evaluate trustworthiness.

I obviously went with it because I recognize that 90% of trades are with n00bs at 4 TR or less and now they all have to come through the beginer forum (ME) before getting access to the other one.

I got it :)

Sure, I'll become a premium member, but can there be a maximum amount per referral in the BTP section?

The part I'm most surprised about though is that this kind of just got dropped on everyone. Usually when there's a feature addition/change there's some discussion and somewhat of a vote on it before it goes live.

My guess as to why this didn't happen is because MOST people probably would disapprove of it prior to it's implementation. But this way we all kind of just have to because it's not like you're going to drop a feature like this and refund all of us who've paid