Of course, my post count makes it seem like a total loser but I have lurked around for a long time and have seen my fair share of scamming.

Of course the best way to prevent any type of scamming is to be alert and use common sense to determine whether or not the person is trustworthy.

Trustworthy Features:

-Staff Vouch
-Tons of other users vouches(Make sure the majority are those with credible rep)
-Looking at the Original post for any flaws or signs of "Oh this isn't right"

Of course, sometimes all may seem well and in the end, the person you believed trustworthy isn't. So I've come up with a list of steps to prevent a scammer from completely scamming you out of your account.

Steps to prevent scamming:
1. Email and Account Creation

When creating your account, you of course have to create a live account or use one that's allowed. When creating these hotmail/live accounts you have the option to add additional "security" to the account, which I recommend you all should.

First of these is the ability to add an additional email in which you could be contacted.
Create one, preferably of a different kind (gmail, yahoo, etc) and use a username and password combination different from that of your live account. (This is just in case the other person is smart enough, they already have your email, if the password is the same, that other email is now compromised. This cannot be removed without confirmation)

Next hotmail/live gives you to add a mobile phone number, USE IT if at all possible. Texting is required but a lifesaver if the above is also compromised and you need to change the password. Windows Live Service will send you a Verification Code which you can use to change the password. (This cannot be removed without confirmation)

Lastly is the security question, which is flawed on hotmail because anyone on the account can change it on the website. So use it just in case...



Having all three will definitely help in retrieving your account.

When a person on your account wants to remove the security information they would get a screen like so.



There is always a possibility of the information being removed, so Speed is key to getting your account back.

Step 2. What to do once the account has been compromised.

Lets assume you have sent your information out to someone and they are using it in ways you really don't want.

You can change the password if you have any of the above security measures in place. (Mostly the mobile phone and back up email.)

Once the password is changed, recover your gamertag on your console. When recovering, at the end it will ask you, "Do you wish for this console to remember your password?" Select No since it will have the tendency to save the new password on all other consoles as well, even after they are updated.

Next is to slide over to settings and get to account management. There is a section in there about windows live accounts, on the bottom of that slide, you have the ability to have all consoles require a password to use the account. SELECT THESE OPTIONS.



Next what is needed is to sign into the account on xbox.com If you manage to sign in, go to this section of the site xbox.com/security. From there, there is a link where it says "[Gamertag] was last signed in on another console?" Of course click the learn more link and it will lead you to a new page where you have the option to require a fresh download of your profile on each console that it has been signed into. Definitely Handy.



Step 3. Final Step

Once this is all said and done, you should have control of your account. In this case I would change the password once more and download your profile once more from the server except when this occurs, you can save your password on the console.(The previous part with other consoles signing in should still be selected, if not you can always select it again.) Afterwards check all parts of your account to make sure nothing was severely messed with.

Of course guys, be safe when looking for services and make sure you know what your getting into when you actually do one of these.

Those that I have found to be trustworthy with account recovery:

-Cote (Suspended)
-Allstate
-SecretServices
-xLRGx
-Mean & Nice