Alchemy Playing Cards Scam - now TWICE beaten on KS

[rjtomlinson1977]

I'm not sure why it's taking so long of KS to kick this guy off. I'm assuming he'll get kicked off tomorrow once everyone gets back from the Easter weekend. A lot of businesses were still off today.

[HudsonDesign]

Interesting to see that KS staff doesn't work holiday weekends haha. I have a feeling this will come down like a hammer on Monday or Tuesday.

I realized this today as well.

Is it possible that the person doing this was part of this forum at one time and got booted or had a failed Kickstarter project with criticism from this forum or the playing card community in general?

I also think something like this. I can't imagine the person running this thinks for a second it would ever fund. I think its a straight out troll at the community.

The audacity of this scam amazes me. The numbers right now are 105 backers for $6339. That would be an average of $60 per backer! Geez, I already reported it for misrepresentation but, this suspicious funding is ridiculous.

The jerk obviously has pledged from another account to secure funding so that even if some backers cancel, he will still be able to steal some others' money.

No this isn't correct. While yes at my best bet he has actually pledged around $5000 himself (maths is easy enough if you check kicktraq) this has not been done to fund the project. The goal set was only $200. The project passed its funding goal in the first hour with genuine backers who fell for it. So pledging $5000 benefited in no way other than to make it look more legitimate. (If thats at all possible).

Kickstarter will most likely go back to work and cancel it after Easter but this is actually another really disappointing troll on the community IMHO. Its getting a little tiresome all the people intentionally trying to damage the community at the expense of genuine backers and collectors for some kind of sick laugh.

[Cbkimble]

I don't think it's anyone that is/was a member but simple a troll that has learned how to work the system. This should definitely be brought up as an issue to KS. After this( and how long it's taking to be taken down ), I'm seriously debating boycotting KS.

[nECr0MaNCeD]

Actually the second and last "Comment" from John Warnick is the same name as the creator. He commented from his own account. If this isn't a troll he has to be the dumbest inbred idiot ever.

[Eoghann]

Pretty sure it's the autocensor, but some of Pierre's comments have been removed by Kickstarter. I think the ones where he was calling the guy a moron.

[badpete69]

Hey what can i say i call em as I see em. I'm almost tempted to call the local news and show them how Kickstarter is enabling fraud by not doing anything hehe. Dan go to their corporate office in Greenpoint Brooklyn and go tell them in person hehe

[WillHart CthulhuWho1]

I hope that all the money currently pledged on this SCAM project is there to make the creator think he has a BIG paycheck coming!

While we know Kickstarter is going to kill this project; or everyone will pull their pledges just before it ends.

I'm tempted to also pledge big, just to enhance the height of the drop when everyone pulls out!

[cherrynukacola]

Kickstarter really needs to have someone looking at this stuff during holidays. What if this had started AND ended during the holidays?

[HudsonDesign]

Kickstarter really needs to have someone looking at this stuff during holidays. What if this had started AND ended during the holidays?

100% this.

I was thinking exactly that. If this had been set with a three day goal and named something similar "EXTREMELY LIMITED EDITION 3 DAYS ONLY!!" how many people would have been stung? Kickstarter still would have been able to refund in the 2 weeks "funding" period (which I assume is probably exactly why its done this way) but the inconvenience, admin, bank fees, let alone the damage to their brand would be damning in the mean time.

To not have staff on at all during a 4 day weekend is really quite dangerous....

[nECr0MaNCeD]

Kickstarter really needs to have someone looking at this stuff during holidays. What if this had started AND ended during the holidays?

100% this.

I was thinking exactly that. If this had been set with a three day goal and named something similar "EXTREMELY LIMITED EDITION 3 DAYS ONLY!!" how many people would have been stung? Kickstarter still would have been able to refund in the 2 weeks "funding" period (which I assume is probably exactly why its done this way) but the inconvenience, admin, bank fees, let alone the damage to their brand would be damning in the mean time.

To not have staff on at all during a 4 day weekend is really quite dangerous....

Not to mention unprofessional.

I was wondering if LPCC has e-mailed KS or reported this.

Pierre and I comment bombed his comments to drive them from view. This way backers won't mistake his comments for legit comment traffic.

[badpete69]

Lawrence Sullivan told me he would try and contact KS to clarify all this

[Cbkimble]

Maybe it's time to find somewhere else to fund cards.

[Eoghann]

Wow I'm surprised this is still going. If I get some free time tomorrow, I might just give them a call and berate the KS gang.

[HudsonDesign]

Kickstarter really needs to have someone looking at this stuff during holidays. What if this had started AND ended during the holidays?

100% this.

I was thinking exactly that. If this had been set with a three day goal and named something similar "EXTREMELY LIMITED EDITION 3 DAYS ONLY!!" how many people would have been stung? Kickstarter still would have been able to refund in the 2 weeks "funding" period (which I assume is probably exactly why its done this way) but the inconvenience, admin, bank fees, let alone the damage to their brand would be damning in the mean time.

To not have staff on at all during a 4 day weekend is really quite dangerous....

Not to mention unprofessional.

I was wondering if LPCC has e-mailed KS or reported this.

Pierre and I comment bombed his comments to drive them from view. This way backers won't mistake his comments for legit comment traffic.

Another thing is Lawrence can report him for breach of copywrite/trademark were as general users can not. It would get much more attention much quicker than a general backer reporting it...

[Cbkimble]

And this is still going. WTF?!?

[jerichoholic]

Been reported to KS, USPCC, Legends, and the feds, only a matter of time now.

[Eoghann]

We've received your request (#464956) and a member of our Community Support team will get back to you soon. Our support hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Our apologies for any inconvenience, but we're currently experiencing high volume and are working as quickly as possible to get back to you. Thank you for patience and please visit our FAQ and other help resources in the meantime:

https://www.kickstarter.com/help" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.kickstarter.com/help/handbook" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/backings" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.kickstarter.com/trust" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

First response I get from Kickstarter after multiple reports and trouble tickets. Even if it's automated, it's something...

[Eoghann]

Finally a human has replied to another one of my tickets!

Your request (#464681) has been updated.

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for reaching out and taking the time to inform us of this. Our Integrity Team is currently investigating this project and looking at every report we've received. I'll make sure to pass along this report. Thank you for being a thoughtful member of the Kickstarter Community.

Best wishes,
Raul

Not long now.

[Cbkimble]

Not long now.

Yeah, but too long so far.

[nECr0MaNCeD]

Not long now.

Yeah, but too long so far.

Too long indeed and STILL going. I like how the one commenter, John Warnick is the creator himself. Commenting like he is a happy backer.

[badpete69]

this is the response I got this morning

Hi Pierre,
I appreciate you writing in about this. I've forwarded your message along to our Integrity team, and they're already looking into the project. Thanks for helping out!
Best,
Marissa

[ejay07]

I did report the project last night. How many reports do we need for kickstarter to pay attention?

[Cbkimble]

It has to go through their integrity department first. What a joke.

[sprouts1115]

Wow! I love the comments. You guy are pretty funny. That is why I keep coming here than there. Yea, this Kickstarter has a lot of red flags. Who has a 10 foot pole to stick them with cos this Kickstarter is so bad I don't want to use mine?

[volantangel]

Wow! I love the comments. You guy are pretty funny. That is why I keep coming here than there.

Haha does anyone still visit "there" ?

[dazzleguts]

Anyone notice the John Mayer pic is gone now? He's trying to smooth it through.
If this doesn't hit the fan KS will suffer for it.

**edit
The comments have covered the profile pic changes - I was too slow

[Cbkimble]

How long does it take for them to read dozens of reports reports, saying the same thing, and finally do something about it.

[nECr0MaNCeD]

How long does it take for them to read dozens of reports reports, saying the same thing, and finally do something about it.

Since this is so easily and quickly confirmed as a scan my thinking is that they are trying to trace or track to guilty party/parties. I am certain that this is not a scam as much as it is a joke or trolling attempt.

[cherrynukacola]

Integrity....it doesn't come quick...or cheap.

[Cbkimble]

How long does it take for them to read dozens of reports reports, saying the same thing, and finally do something about it.

Since this is so easily and quickly confirmed as a scan my thinking is that they are trying to trace or track to guilty party/parties. I am certain that this is not a scam as much as it is a joke or trolling attempt.

I have to disagree. I think this is simply someone trying to take advantage of the card collecting community. Either that or someone trying to show how incompetent KS has become.