One of the most common questions we receive from celebrity figures is what we can do about scammers impersonating them. While in practice there is little we can do for any being being impersonated, we do have mechanisms by which to verify the identity of our staff and affiliated community admins. For a while we used one of these - in the form of a warning about impersonation[files.steamrep.com] - to combat scammers impersonating our own trusted community admins. Out of fear of this flag being used as a "vouch" before scamming, similar to a "verified" status being used for credibility, we limited that mechanism to vetted and trusted community admins only. That concern still exists, but after weighing the pros and cons, we think offering it to those outside our trusted circle who frequently get impersonated is mutually beneficial - that is, it gives impersonated celebrities something to help clear their name, while also broadening the usefulness of our impersonation flag to the wider community. If more traders routinely check our database to confirm who they're interacting with, our ability to curb impersonation and other scams may grow, and with it the utility of the warning flag for any given celebrity, making this arrangement mutually beneficial.

The impersonation warning will be applied on an as needed basis, to those who are actually impersonated, not merely on request. However, regardless of active impersonators, we will still publicly link the celebrity's stream or equivalent online persona from their SteamRep profile along with an explanation of who they are, allowing them to use SteamRep to verify their identity even if they're not yet impersonated. Both of these perks will only be offered to accepted Notable Affiliates.

As we open this up to the broader public, we'd like to emphasize that a link to someone's stream or warning about being impersonated does not mean the real person won't scam you - and we've even seen high profile scammers get impersonated. Like with donators, we will try to perform a basic background check to keep scammers out, and we hope most celebrities will not try to "cash in" on their reputation, but we have seen a fair share of streamers scamming. For comparison, more than half of our incoming donators end up scamming, typically after using the tag as a sign of legitimacy, so it's really important you not automatically trust someone more for this status.

We would also like to recommend that traders everywhere take a moment before each trade to carefully check SteamRep profiles[steamrep.com] of anyone claiming to be a famous streamer or competitive player before trading. Please remember, however, that just because the person is the real streamer doesn't mean they can be trusted, and having their stream linked or a warning about impersonation doesn't automatically make someone more trustworthy than other traders.

In addition, the Notable Affiliate program will entitle anyone accepted to most of the same privileges of a SteamRep Friend Community. That includes access to a private section in our forums, and an invitation to a private Discord server where they will be able to speak directly and privately with other public figures, admins from websites and communities throughout Steam, and SteamRep staff directly. Here, you will be able (and encouraged) to interact with us (and other communities or public figures) directly, to help bridge the disconnect, learn more than you thought possible about how scammers operate, and use that knowledge to help educate your followers. Note: Specific sources and conversations within either the forums or Discord are still confidential. Do not share any specific sources from within or your affiliation will be terminated.

• Eligibility for a public note on your SteamRep profile, indicating who you are, with a link to your stream or online persona.
  
• Warning dialog about impersonators[files.steamrep.com] upon request, if deemed necessary by SteamRep staff.
  
• Access to a private section of SteamRep forums, with a banner on your forum profile indicating your status.
  
• Invitation to a private Discord with other public figures, site admins from SteamRep-affiliated communities, and SteamRep staff.
  
• An open line of communication with SteamRep staff to give feedback on what we do, how we operate, or to ask us questions directly.

• Protection or leniency from getting marked if caught scamming.
  
  • You'll actually receive less benefit of doubt than a newer trader might receive.
    
  • As a leader people look up to, the community will scrutinize you even more.
• "Trusted" reputation status or green tag on your SteamRep profile (only offered to partner communities).
  
• Ability to issue BANNED tags on scammer profiles by yourself (only offered to partner communities).
  
• Influence over decisions on individual cases where you or your friends are involved.

To apply as a Notable Affiliate, you must have a clean reputation, and be able to demonstrate that you have a substantial following. While an exact subscriber count is not disclosed, if you are not already widely recognized, and you expect to use a Notable Affiliation to become famous, this program is not for you.

While Notable Affiliates are not necessarily traders, they are expected to follow these rules at all times:

• No endorsing Steam/CSGO gambling sites of any kind. (read below for why)
  
  
• Must take a public stance denouncing scams of all kinds.
  
• May not participate in anything shady, whether or not it's within our investigative policy.
  
• Must not use SteamRep affiliation or branding while endorsing other sites, services, or products.
  
• Content on stream or profiles must be reasonably socially appropriate, and comply with the host's ToS.
  
  • No racism, inciting violence, hate speech, etc.
• Must not use "verified" status as a tool for leveraging trust or deals from other traders.
  
• Must not be publicly or privately abusive to SteamRep volunteers, Friend communities, or Partner communities.
  
  • Disagreements are fine, if they're kept respectful, and in private.

Notable Affiliates are also expected to help promote safe trading, in whatever capacity they are able, and publicly condemn fraud.

What does SteamRep have against gambling?

While recognize gambling has become a popular (or addictive) part of CS:GO that isn't going away no matter how much we or Valve wish it would, we don't want to send a mixed message about some illegitimate websites being "safe" while others are not, or to promote the idea that gambling is "safe" to a varied extent. It would be nice if we could promote a set of "best practices" for gambling safely, but between respecting Valve's stance on commercial gambling websites, our own API usage being contingent upon following their subscriber agreement, and a lack of transparency for the websites methods of determining winners as seen with many past infamous gambling partners, we cannot in good conscience recommend any gambling website - no matter how legitimate its owners claim to be. Further, with a large portion of the CS:GO playerbase being underage - both legally prohibited from gambling in most countries, and psychologically more prone to addiction - we cannot justify the risks of encouraging children to gamble. Therefore, we are standing firmly behind Valve's position that there is no such thing as a legitimate gambling website in Steam, and nobody affiliated with SteamRep should suggest otherwise.

While we cannot definitively vouch for a celebrity as "trustworthy", we are enforcing a minimal code of conduct for Notable Affiliates similar to what we expect from affiliated communities. This is in order to prevent (or minimize) a Notable Affiliate from being abused to further the cause of online gambling or fraud. We aren't going to tell you not to gamble yourself - that's your own decision, and isn't shady in itself so we won't stand in your way - but we will ask that you not encourage your viewers to use any gambling websites as a condition of affiliation. With the consistently sketchy history of those promoting such websites, we think it's for the best.

Read more: https://forums.steamrep.com/threads/new-notable-affiliate-program-for-public-figures.185342/