Alt is an abbreviation for alternate character. Generally speaking, an alt is a character that receives less time and effort than a person's "primary" character. In scamming, an alt can serve many purposes.
For many people, using an alt allows them to scam carelessly, without ever affecting their reputation on their main character. This means you can be a trustworthy individual in the game, all while stealing from players on your alternate character.
In addition to the fact that an alt will allow you to hide your real identity, they can also serve very important purposes in perpetuating scams. For example, let's say you're trying to convince players in Jita local that you'll send them back 10 times any amount of ISK they send you. With the use of an alternate character logged in simultaneously, you can pretend to have received the money, thus proving you really are giving ISK away.
Maybe you're scamming someone, but they're still on the fence. So, they request some sort of reference. You give them your alts name, they mail your alt, and you reply positively. The more alts you have available, the more convincing this can be. It also benefits to have trustworthy friends that are willing to assist. Almost anyone will help you scam for a small cut of the ISK. Other players can be your alts--just be wary of anyone who has the potential to backstab you.
Always remember that alts are not a necessity to your scams, but can prove to be very valuable in many situations. Using an alt to provide positive feedback can really build enthusiasm and bring in a lot of victims. People will quickly get onboard if it seems like other players are willing to take the risk (and are being rewarded for it.) Never underestimate how much influence one person can have, just through a few positive words.
This page last updated: 2010.02.25
For many people, using an alt allows them to scam carelessly, without ever affecting their reputation on their main character. This means you can be a trustworthy individual in the game, all while stealing from players on your alternate character.
In addition to the fact that an alt will allow you to hide your real identity, they can also serve very important purposes in perpetuating scams. For example, let's say you're trying to convince players in Jita local that you'll send them back 10 times any amount of ISK they send you. With the use of an alternate character logged in simultaneously, you can pretend to have received the money, thus proving you really are giving ISK away.
Maybe you're scamming someone, but they're still on the fence. So, they request some sort of reference. You give them your alts name, they mail your alt, and you reply positively. The more alts you have available, the more convincing this can be. It also benefits to have trustworthy friends that are willing to assist. Almost anyone will help you scam for a small cut of the ISK. Other players can be your alts--just be wary of anyone who has the potential to backstab you.
Always remember that alts are not a necessity to your scams, but can prove to be very valuable in many situations. Using an alt to provide positive feedback can really build enthusiasm and bring in a lot of victims. People will quickly get onboard if it seems like other players are willing to take the risk (and are being rewarded for it.) Never underestimate how much influence one person can have, just through a few positive words.
This page last updated: 2010.02.25