gr4ver0tzz

[gr4ver0tzz]

PSA TO ARTISTS (warning: long)

Hey hey, I've only been on Tumblr for a couple of months now, but I notice rampant bots/scammers on the platform. I'm a small artist, but I've already had like 20 of these accounts in my DMs and in the comments of my art, so I figured I'd make a little thing going over what the scam is, how to identify it, and how to approach it. (Obviously I'm sure a lot of people know what to do, but there are people on this site who do not, and if I can prevent one person from losing their money or having their info leaked/sold then I consider this post to have done its job) Here's how the scam usually goes, in my experience and from what I've seen happen to other users here:

A bot/scammer leaves a comment on your art/sends a message saying something like "Can you draw my pet/family member for $200? I'll pay you on PayPal." Once you reply, they often try to move the conversation off Tumblr to apps like Signal, Telegram, or WeChat (so they can’t be reported).

They’ll then either: send a fake PayPal email claiming payment is pending, and ask you to share personal info or pay a "fee" to release funds, use an overpayment scam where they "accidentally" send too much and ask for a refund (their original payment will later bounce, leaving you in debt), ask for sensitive info (full name, phone number, PayPal login, etc) to "verify" the payment. For anyone who doesnt know, here's some red flags your "commissioner" is trying to scam you: - Generic compliments like "your art is amazing!" without mentioning anything specific about your piece - Suspicious urgency ("please reply asap, it’s for my child’s birthday tomorrow") or some sort of emergency - Weird grammar that sounds copy-pasted (I notice a lot of them don't use commas and have a lot of run-on sentences) - Refusing to use safe platforms (like Tumblr DMs, official PayPal invoicing, Ko-fi, etc) and insistence on moving immediately to Signal, Telegram, or WeChat - Suspicious payment methods: fake PayPal emails, "proof of payment" screenshots that aren’t verifiable, or demands to pay fees upfront - Weird accounts with no history: new accounts, no art of their own, few followers, generic profile picture, no bio/weird AI looking bio - Reference sheet/image looks like a stock photo (always reverse image search reference sheets) If you end up with one of these accounts messaging you, and you don't know what to do, here's a list of things you can do to keep yourself safe - Do NOT move to another platform, even Telegram. Some common apps I see them move people to is Discord, Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp. Even if the app isn't on this list, do NOT move to any other app regardless, ESPECIALLY if it's an app you've never heard of - Always use invoices for PayPal (NEVER the friends and family option) for commissions - Verify PayPal emails directly (real ones always come from service@paypal.com) (Make sure they aren't changing letters!! One I've seen is people changing the L to an uppercase I) - Do not share personal information! This one should be obvious, but don't share your location, phone number, PayPal login, or contents of a confirmation email or text message to anyone. - Ask for details. Scammers often get "confused" when you ask specific questions like "which piece of mine did you like best?" - Reverse image search anything on their profile, especially their profile picture - Report the account to Tumblr BEFORE blocking so staff can track scam patterns One super, super important thing I think everyone should do is make a post (and continuously edit it) with the usernames of scammers/bots who have messaged you. I'm going to start doing this as well. I'm not super active on here and I don't know if you can pin a post to your profile, but if you can, then pin the list of usernames like a wall of shame. That way, if someone gets messaged by a suspicious account, they can quickly copy-paste the username into the search bar and see if a scam warning comes up

Apologies for the yap session, sorry if the formatting comes out weird, I post here like once a month

[gr4ver0tzz]

fursona slight redesign !! i just made him look more like a porcupine and actually gave him quills (no he is NOT bald i just had to show his head patterns)

[gr4ver0tzz]

new ref for my silly guy :D he can have any green+black alt outfit as long as its not feminine

[gr4ver0tzz]

artfight attack (oc is not mine) ive never done a ful background like that before my god

[gr4ver0tzz]

COMMISSION AD OC headshots! (Or just OC art in general) PRICES: Unshaded headshot: $10USD Unshaded halfbody: $20USD Unshaded fullbody: $30USD Shaded headshot: $15USD Shaded halfbody: $25USD Shaded fullbody: $35USD Reference sheet: $50USD Flat color/gradient background: +$5USD Complex background: +15USD Extra character: +30% Minor changes: free! Major changes: +$5USD each change, 3 major changes total allowed Will not change my artstyle to match someone elses MUST have a clear reference sheet (Unless you are commissioning one.) Roblox avatars do not count as a ref sheet! If you're interested, feel free to DM me! Yes, I work with people outside the U.S.! Paypal, Cashapp, Venmo Example art is recent, the OC is not mine

[gr4ver0tzz]

hot take: the 2020 alt stereotype is actually really cute and id actually LOVE to be friends with a kai/bug/arson with 46 different neopronouns and wears the sanrio merch and skirts and chunky boots and heavy makeup and listens to penelope scott and texts/talks like an anime character. never understood the hate for that at all, idk why im seeing so much of it recently 2020 alt ppl i love u pls let me draw ur cool ocs and be ur friend

[gr4ver0tzz]

yall ppl with the coolest ocs keep commissioning me

[gr4ver0tzz]

another gift art :D

[gr4ver0tzz]

gift art this time !!

[gr4ver0tzz]

Are you available for commission?

caution: this user is a scam

[gr4ver0tzz]

finished commission :D

[gr4ver0tzz]

its always "ill always support you!! ill always be ur best friend and be there for you!!!" and then you get a cool ball and SUDDENLY its "you HAVE to let go of the Orb of Chaos!!! its ruining you!!" like bro youre just jealous i can absorb the souls of the damned and you cant. wheres ur support now?

[gr4ver0tzz]

finished commission!!!

[gr4ver0tzz]

I did an art trade!!

(Also I’ve changed my art signature to AudPodInk btw)

With @gr4ver0tzz !!

What I drew!

The ref he gave me!

It was soooo much fun!! Thanks!!!

[gr4ver0tzz]

art trade with @adsdragonlover :D absolutely LOVED working with them (first image is theirs, go check out their profile too!)

[gr4ver0tzz]

Adopts up for sale! One on the right is available DM if interested! 10USD

[gr4ver0tzz]

tek headshot :3