CoH Download Scam!!!

[Felderburg]

Hey everyone. It looks like scammers are taking advantage of the rumors regarding the potential sale of the game. In the last few hours, a bunch of videos have gone up claiming to link to a full download of CoH. These videos only have a shortened URL in their description, which leads to an unknown file download. Do NOT download the file! It is most likely a virus or malware. These users appear to be uploading massive amounts of videos titled "____ full game free download!" so it's not just CoH - they've just added CoH to the list because of recent rumors.

If you see anything that has various odd titles of CoH and "DOWNLOAD" in the name of the video, and a shortened URL as the only thing in the description, you should report it. Use the little flag below the video, and mark it as "Spam or misleading > Scams / fraud". In the description, I've been putting: "City of Heroes is NOT available for download. There is a rumor about it being sold to a new company, and this video is taking advantage of that to get people to download an unknown file."

YouTube's been removing these accounts pretty quickly - I'm not sure if it's reports or that they're on the lookout for these shortened URLs, which appear to have been used before.

If you are interested in downloading the CLIENT for City of Heroes and being able to visit the city WITHOUT gameplay, go here: http://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,9531.0.html (Windows) or here: http://www.cohtitan.com/forum/index.php/topic,9502.0.html (Mac). Those are downloaders for Titan Icon, which is an offline tool that lets you create costumes and visit city zones, and nothing more: http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Titan_Icon

[MaidMercury]

Thanks for the warning.  ;D

[The Fifth Horseman]

Could this be what Pikabko's latest alias was ranting about a few days ago? Except obviously he was mistaking it for the real thing...

[Felderburg]

Could this be what Pikabko's latest alias was ranting about a few days ago? Except obviously he was mistaking it for the real thing...

I don't know who Pikabko is, but these videos all popped up in the space of a few hours last night, so probably not. There's a couple this morning, but as I said, they're part of a larger scam to catch anyone searching for free downloads of various games.

Side note: it's possible to mark videos as scams too fast, and be forced to enter captcha words every four videos or so.

[Angel Phoenix77]

it is a good thing youtube is squishing them, every time they popup

[Nyghtshade]

Youtube is definitely staying on top of them, or else lots of people are reporting them as fast as they come up.  I found one that was still active, but while I was trying to report it, Youtube yanked it.

Thanks for the warning, Felderberg.  I've also posted on some of the CoH boards that these new "Download COH" vids are apparently scammers, and to not download anything.

[MaidMercury]

Thanks for the warning, Felderberg.  I've also posted on some of the CoH boards that these new "Download COH" vids are apparently scammers, and to not download anything.

On the bright side, we must still be an influence to be noticed like that? else why create a scam for no market?

[Felderburg]

On the bright side, we must still be an influence to be noticed like that? else why create a scam for no market?

Yeah, the scammers were probably made aware of the recent hubbub, and decided to take advantage. But the users that posted the CoH videos also posted dozens of other videos claiming to be "free downloads" of other games, so it's less about CoH itself as gamers in general.

[HEATSTROKE]

I reported a few yesterday...

[Defcon Kid]

Thx or warning, I'm also spreading word between the Spanish FB Group.

[btru]

So its like that guy on facebook last year (I think) saying he was going to make a private server "New City Of Heroes" and that he and a few friends had copied all the data before shutdown?

[Aggelakis]

No, it's more like "download this virus/malware because I tricked you into thinking it's CoH".

[Angel Phoenix77]

there's also another way to find that this is a scam, look at the views all are 301

[SerialBeggar]

there's also another way to find that this is a scam, look at the views all are 301

FYI about "301 views".

[The Fifth Horseman]

So its like that guy on facebook last year (I think) saying he was going to make a private server "New City Of Heroes" and that he and a few friends had copied all the data before shutdown?

That guy was a fraud, and has been exposed as such in December 2012, due to failing on some very basic knowledge he would have had if he actually had anything to do with a private server - he didn't try to feign ignorance but outright made stuff up and was called on it. Nobody has seen hide nor hair of him ever since, except for some sockpuppets he created to defend himself.