The Steel to Iron Scam is a scam in which the scammer pretends to sell Steel items which are actually Iron. It is a form of item scamming, and is against Rule 2 of the Rules of Conduct. Jagex will give bans to players reported for using this scam. The scammer will bring several pieces of Iron armour or and the same armour or weapon types in Steel while advertising to sell the Steel items. Eventually, a player will trade with the scammer. The scammer trades this person and puts up the Steel item, and the buyer puts up the money, the scammer declines and says "oops". They trade again, only this time the scammer puts up the Iron item if it is noted version of the same item (e.g. an Iron halberd, instead of a Steel halberd). The buyer accepts without checking the trade screen. The buyer has just been scammed
Players are advised to always check the second trade screen to make sure that they are buying the item they want, or checking the trade screen if the item is modified. Below are some examples of the scam.
These are just examples of the Steel to Iron Scam
Examples[]
Example 1[]
- Scammer: Selling Steel full helm for 500gp
- Victim thinks this is a great deal and offers a trade.
- The Scammer puts in a noted Steel full helm and the Victim puts in 500gp
The scammer presses Decline.
- Scammer: Oops! I accidentally pressed decline
The Scammer offers a trade and puts in an Iron full helmet. The victim puts in 500gp. Both click accept
The Victim is now scammed and reports the scammer under Rule 2 for Item scamming.
Example 2[]
- Scammer: ''Selling Steel full helm for 500gp!
Victim thinks this is a great deal and offers a trade
- The Scammer puts in a noted Steel full helm and the Victim puts in 500gp.
The Scammer replaces the noted Steel full helmet with an Iron full helmet. The Victim does not notice the Trade Modified sign.
Both click accept
The Victim is now scammed and reports the scammer under Rule 2 for Item scamming.
Update[]
Recently, Jagex released an update that shows you whenever someone modifies a trade. Because of this update, this scam is easier to detect.