It started like so many other scams: a new player gets an unexpected message from someone offering “help.”



“I decided to try Eve recently and have been doing some of the basic tutorial stuff. I got a message in game from someone claiming to be with CCP welcoming new players, asking if I had any questions.” – u/AlkaliActivated



All three of the new players who also visit /r/eve confirm a similar experience. The pattern is consistent. A player logs in, completes the new player tutorial, and begins working through career agent or low level missions, then gets a message from a “GM” offering help. Somehow, alts do not seem to get this special treatment, suggesting the “GM” has insider information allowing them to distinguish new players from new characters.



This scam is unique, however, in that the individual offering assistance really is a GM authorized by CCP to interact with players in an official capacity. The GM offers legitimate help, and has a unique and difficult to fake indicator in the in-game chat.



So, what’s the scam?



It’s the long con, as u/ProTimeKiller pointed out.



CCP staff GMs are targeting new players with the intention of giving them a positive feeling towards CCP and EVE Online. This, then, encourages players to continue to log in, and, eventually, buy PLEX so they can purchase skill injectors for their fleet of Rorqual pilots.



Dirty scoundrels.