Alert!: Lead Archetict Clone Strikes Again and Again and Again
by Alphaville Herald on 05/05/04 at 11:38 pm
All TSO Users Need to be on Extremely High Alert for the clone of Lead Achitect, going by the name of Lead Archetict. (Notice that the e and the i are switched). A few days ago we reported on how AV resident cj johnson had created Lead Archetict in several cities and had scammed Monkeybear among others. Now things are spinning way way out of control, and Maxis is refusing to take any action whatsoever, claiming that it is “just normal gameplay”. Tell that to Meri, who thought she had sold her robot cat to Lead Architect for 50 million simoleans. Instead she got 1 million and a lot of profanity. In effect, at current retail prices for simoleans, she was scammed for $2450 US. Normal gameplay to Maxis, but not to the rest of us. Reports on the clone are flooding in; what follows are the most recent cases.
Case 1: This was posted elsewhere on the blog, but needs to be brought front and center.
Name: Meri (Reyes on Sims)
Email Address: Compare@new.rr.com
Comments:
Lead Archetict (notice spelling)came into my house wanting to buy my Robot Cat. The real Lead knows my Yahoo ID so i told him this is ***** on Yahoo IM me. So the Fake on Imed me with the ID of tsoreality. Thought nothing of it thought it was the REAL Lead. He said he would give 50 mill simoleans for my Robot Cat. I said OK so then he says price the Cage for 1 mill then i will give you the 49 mill in trade. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF THIS CAUSE I KNOW AND TRUST THE REAL LEAD. so i did and well then he went POOF and then i Imed him and asked him for my money and he called me a few Curse words and logged off. I know he has scammed people before and he NEEDS to be stopped. He got my Robot Cat for 1 mill and nothing can be done about it. Please email me with any suggestions. Thanks, frustrated Meri
Case 2: Jordyn was scammed for a million simoleans. She paid via paypal.
Urizenus: Hi Jordyn, Lead Architect tells me that you had a recent encounter with his clone Lead Archetict. Is that right?
Jordyn: Yes, that is correct.
Urizenus: So tell us what happened.
Jordyn: Late Saturday night, May 1, 2004 I was in my house in CC. I had just bought it and was talking with the seller. Lead Archetict came in and asked if I was interested in buying some simoleans.
Jordyn: I had gotten some a few weeks back from Lead Architect and was very happy with the service.
Jordyn: Ok so Lead Archetict (the clone) asked if I wanted to buy some simoleans. Thinking he was the one I had worked with before I said YES. The “Clone” asked for my email account and said he’d just send me the bill.
Jordyn: I gave him my email address and right away got the bill from PayPal.
Jordyn: When I got the bill from PayPal I ok’d it and he was paid. Then right after he got his money he said “I can’t give you the Million tonight, I just did a 20 Million deal and am short”.
Urizenus: How much did you pay him?
Jordyn: I paid $36.00.
Jordyn: I was thinking hmmm how odd but..wasn’t too worried about it at the time. As I said I’ve dealt the real Lead Architect before and liked him.
Jordyn: The clone said he’d meet me in CC on Monday and bring me the money then.
Jordyn: After not seeing him on Monday, late that night I sent him an email asking why he didn’t show. Much later I was told “sorry having a problem with my account will bring it in tomorrow.”
Jordyn: Was signed Donna
Urizenus: Donna?
Jordyn: yes
Urizenus: did that mean anything to you?
Jordyn: No
Urizenus: did he respond via email or in game IM
Jordyn: I believe I still have the email saved
Urizenus: if you can forward that to me it would be great
Jordyn: Donna Howland
Urizenus: ok, what happened next?
Jordyn: Nothing more has happened. I have emailed him a few times since and have heard nothing back. Nor has he come in to CC in TSO to pay me.
Urizenus: OK, and have you learned anything more about the guy?
Jordyn: I am contacting PayPal to let them know what he did and contacting EA as well.
Jordyn: At this time I haven’t learned anything more, however if I do I will be sure you know what that is.
Urizenus: What was the PayPal acct he used (email address)
Jordyn: dash2@nycap.rr.com
Urizenus: ok, thanks
Jordyn: Sure
Urizenus: did you learn anything talking to the real Lead about this?
Jordyn: That this fake Lead has been doing this a lot and that a couple more people we taken over this last weekend, as well.
Urizenus: thanks Jordyn!
Jordyn: Sure anytime!
Lead Responds
urizenus_sklar: are you familiar with the claim of Meri (Reyes on Sims) getting scammed out of 49 million by your clone? (didn’t pay her full amount for robot cat). Is that a legit story?
Lead Architect: i know about it
Lead Architect: i cant do anything
Lead Architect: he is unstoppable
Lead Architect: and EA wont do anything
Lead Architect: everyone is reporting him
urizenus_sklar: ok
Lead Architect: and maxis comes back with a lame excuse
urizenus_sklar: what do they say?
Lead Architect: part of normal gameplay
Lead Architect: nothing was actually done against TOS
urizenus_sklar: lol
Lead Architect: scamming is not a violation
Lead Architect: however cussing is
Lead Architect: and he does that too
Lead Architect: he cusses his victims out
Lead Architect: after he scams them
urizenus_sklar: in game?
Lead Architect: yep
Urizenus: and maxis won’t do anything about that either?
Lead Architect: according to ebay seller underwaterstingray
Lead Architect: who was at the house when he scammed the robot cat
Lead Architect: he told them he was me and underwater knows me
Lead Architect: so he trusted him
Lead Architect: underwater imed me
Lead Architect: and i told him to report it on alphaville herald .com
Lead Architect: anyway more victims keep coming up
Lead Architect: and now hes cloning more people too
Lead Architect: Popcorn has now been cloned
Urizenus: ok I’m gonna do another story on it now. We will try to keep it at the top of the blog for a while
Lead Architect: now there is Popocorn in av
Lead Architect: and he’s using tsoreality
Lead Architect: with an i
Lead Architect: as his new yahoo
Lead Architect: people barely notice
Urizenus: what is yours? tsorealty?
Lead Architect: yes
Urizenus: ok
Urizenus: lemme get to work on this
Lead Architect: i have his rl name
Lead Architect: from more than 1 victim
Lead Architect: cause they look at who they pay in paypal
[contact Lead if you want more info – Uri]
RB
May 6th, 2004
TOS is short for tossers. all the wankers at EA. lol.
Nice to know they have no clue about thier own TOS isn’t??
You will violate the Terms of Service if you (or others using your Account) do any of the following:
Harass, threaten, embarrass, or do anything else to another Member or guest that is unwanted. This means: don’t say bad things about them, don’t keep sending them unwanted messages,
You will not do anything that interferes with the ability of other Service users to enjoy playing an EA game
FROM THE USER AGREEMENT:
Do not defraud or cheat other players in the game. This includes, but is not limited to, exploiting the game’s trade interface to acquire another player’s in-game assets without the agreed-upon repayment or refusing to provide an agreed-upon in-game service after collecting in-game payment.
RB
May 6th, 2004
Wait, Wait. I found the all mighty cop-out part. You knew it was coming did’nt you?? =D
It basically says, they don’t care about you. And they don’t have too cause the website says so. lol.
EA English —> You acknowledge and agree,
Plain English —-> You have no choice. So tough cookies.
EA English —-> that EA shall not assume or have any liability for any failure to act or action by EA, its content providers, other members or licensors with respect to conduct, communication or content on the EA.com service, including on the message boards or in the Game.
Plain English —-> We just make the rules to cover ourselves. If people break them, it’s not our fault and you can’t do anything about it.
EA English —-> EA shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, exemplary, or consequential damages in connection with the Game or the EA.com service.
Plain English > We just run the game. If criminals steal things from you or others cause you to lose things of great value, That’s your fault too. lol.
EA English —-> Your sole and exclusive remedy in any dispute with EA, or for any breach of any implied or express warranty, or for breach of this agreement, is termination of your Account.
Plain English —-> Don’t like how we operate? Stiff shit. lol. LEAVE THEN. Your choice, stay or leave. 1 person means nothing to us.
Sux the big one don’t it? EA are so stupid they would’nt know if there arse was on fire til it burnt them.
- RB
Charlene Mathews(alpha)
May 6th, 2004
I had a run in with the phoney Lead Ardhitict myself on sunday. He was moaning he wasn’t doing well in rl and needed some cash. He asked if I or any of my friends were interested in buying simoleans. I told him no we all had enough at the time. At the time i had my rares out cheetah, afghan and st bernard. He told mme he would love to buy my st bernard for 30mil simoleans when i said no he offered more. Told him i wasn’t interested in selling it took me a year and tons of searching buying and selling back dogs to get it i wasn’t interested in selling it.he kept pushing i kept saying no.For someone who says he has no money in rl he came back a little while later and told me he just bought a program that duplicates things. so he would install it for me and we could duplicate my st bernard and I would be able to give him one. He wanted my account info.My account had gottin hacked about 2 months ago I told him i never give out my account info. Then I got the don’t you trust m? You knew me for a long time . Told him i don’t trust anyone. He kept pushing I kept saying no. Finally told him I was putting him on ignore caus he was irratating me at this point. Now I’m glad I didn’t trust him after reading what happened to others. It’s a pity TSO won’t do anything about scum like him.
Little Rose
May 6th, 2004
Just wanted to add to the warnings.. I myself have met the clone and knew right away it wasnt the real Lead because he knows what kind of business I do and this one obviously did not.
I have a clone now in AV under the name Little Rose Transfers I am Lil Rose there instead of Little Rose because that name was already taken so I am afraid it is easier to find them there then me… They have all my contact info on their sim bio minus a letter here and a letter there. I have only had a couple complaints because it is a new sim. So I wanted to let everyone know as soon as possible.. Thank You For Your Space..
Little Rose
May 6th, 2004
It is me again… My Clone Musta been a reader of this site. Because they have already deleted. But please be cautious of any other imposters.. My Sims are Lil Rose in AV EJ and TC
I am Little Rose in all the other cities
No Sucker
May 6th, 2004
If you get suckered it is your fault not ea’s. Many of the sims who get suckered are just as greedy as the scammers.
simolean seller
May 7th, 2004
You know I would not be suprised if Lead Architect cloned himself to scam people and reap the benefits on his own. He doesn’t make hardly anything selling Simoleans…lets do some math here….but 1 mil at $30 sell at $39.99…10 bucks profit less ebay listing fees, Pay Pal fees, Ebay final value fees….leaves about $4 per mil profit…and we haven’t firgured in all the auctions that close without bidders, those have fees too…and the $600 chargeback he got through Pay Pal recently…..He needs to find a better source for simoleans and rare items to sell, I think he is doing all this himself…the guy is a liar and so full of crap his shit stinks all the way from AV to EJ and back. And what a perfect way to drum up more sales and exposure but take the poor me route I have been scammed, someone is using my name…nothing but bullshit, I thin lead is doing it himself he would steal his own mother’s last dollar.
RB
May 7th, 2004
I think a certain notorious online criminal may be trying to cover this tracks by throwing up wild conspiracy theories. Think about it.
either that or someone is saying horrible things about lead for whatever reason. Not pointing any fingers. yet.
- RB
Becca
May 9th, 2004
You are all asses
Becca
May 9th, 2004
the above Becca is not the one from Pet Addicts. Personally I hate scammers and find no use for them in the game. Becca of Pet Addicts
simolean seller
May 12th, 2004
The person that wrote those horrible things about Lead is longtime ebay seller KrystensKollectables.
This fact is undeniable.
Can’t use a real name? need to hide when you sling mud? Aww too bad, so sad woman.
Kyrsten
May 12th, 2004
I was told there was interesting reading here that I would want to see, so I am assuming this is it. I didn’t make that post, everything in that post is over on another message board in 2 different threads, so very easily it could have been anyone there, including the one who posted it for all to see in the first place and started all the rant on that board. I talked to lead last weekend and actually asked him how he is making any profit and if he says he is then he is, and as I have told him, as well as posted on the other board, it doesn’t matter to me what other sellers do or what they sell for, I do my own thing and they do their’s. My only concern is my own selling, I keep to myself other than on the other board in which I try to help everyone in general to better prosper. So I dont know what you are basing your comment on and how you are so sure of yourself, but anyone who knows me, knows this wasn’t posted by me.
Zeldaboy
May 12th, 2004
Ok…a few things. 1. I wouldn’t doubt what simolean seller said since anyone with half a brain could tell that lead is making no profit. 2. Kyrsten would not hide her identity. She’s like me- if she wants you to know something, she’ll let you know. She wouldn’t be a pussy about it like whoever said that was (although it’s probably true anyway).
Ian
May 12th, 2004
Kyrsten I hope you aren’t talking about me, because Uri (the leading editor) can do an IP check and show you that it wasn’t me.
RB
May 12th, 2004
Don’t be so naive zeldaboy. Unless you know someone personally in RL, Nothing is ever what it seems. you need cyber culture 101. lol.
- RB
Samantha Luscious
May 12th, 2004
Anyway, so I played the game back in the days of the free trial under the name “Samantha Luscious” and my first roomate was a mister cj johnson. It must be said that I scammed him of 75k because he wanted to use me to make his place a brothel, and me it’s star! So, anyway I told him to give me sum money so I could buy stuff for the place, of course he gave the money, and I went out and never came back. So, at least we know someone scammed the poor guy!
Zeldaboy
May 12th, 2004
And who says I don’t know some of these people in rl RB? Sounds to me like your assuming things…
Zeldaboy
May 12th, 2004
And who says I don’t know some of these people in rl RB? Sounds to me like your assuming things…
simolean seller
May 13th, 2004
The. Truth. Is. Out. There!
the damage has been done. Too bad. Case over.
KK has the green not of $, but envy.