I've said it before, but I guess I will say it, again:
What ZOS, ideally, need to do is to introduce a trading system, like the one in GW2, where they allow people to trade gold for Crowns, or Crowns for gold, automatically.
Then, not only is it 100% safe and convenient, they can also take a small cut off every exchange, which will add to their revenue and (hopefully) help them maintain the game.
They can then leave the gifting system purely for people giving (genuine) gifts.
Better for us; better for them.
Correct me if I’m wrong (been a while since I played GW2) but that system you’re talking about doesn’t involve real world cash to buy the crowns.
Because if that’s the case then that wouldn’t be better for ZoS because in the current system ZoS is getting money from the crown seller buying the crowns irl and ‘gifting’ the crown items in game.

Why would ZoS make a system that gives them a small cut? Even with the scams they likely make far more from real sellers each time the seller buys crowns. Small cuts are for intermediaries, your idea isn’t ideal at all and sounds more like you want to cut out an economy which has grown within the system as it is.
A trading system within the gifting system would be preferable to protect both sides, not a system that doesn’t include crown sellers at all.
I've said it before, but I guess I will say it, again:
What ZOS, ideally, need to do is to introduce a trading system, like the one in GW2, where they allow people to trade gold for Crowns, or Crowns for gold, automatically.
Then, not only is it 100% safe and convenient, they can also take a small cut off every exchange, which will add to their revenue and (hopefully) help them maintain the game.
They can then leave the gifting system purely for people giving (genuine) gifts.
Better for us; better for them.
I do not see mention of anything that makes this trade safe in any manner since the issue in ESO is trading directly with players. A similar scam to what OP mentions has occurred with trading valuable items in game since the game launched. My guess if something is left out, basically assuming everyone knows how GW2 actually does it. So basically I am suggesting a clear and more thorough answer.
Side note, Zos seems to want this system to be based on gifting. My suggestion though is to have items that can be gifted be direct purchases in the form of a token. That token can then be gifted or posted on a guild trader (for a safe trade). Of course players can still enter a direct trade with that token as they can now but clearly that would not be the brightest way to go.
starkerealm wrote: »starkerealm wrote: »ZOS has no interest in that because the purpose of the system is giving things, not trading them.
As is so often the case with ZO, the truth is much darker.
It is 100% intentional because they - Matt Firor - have falsely advertised the game as only requiring initial purchase and after that all DLC can be purchased with in game currency.
Not really, "advertising." That's an interview. However, that statement doesn't preclude the introduction of a more secure crowns for gold system.