#6. **Verify Your Email**

[afjol33]

[quecksilvereyes]

oh my god do not click links in emails that tell you to verify your data or your bank account gets locked or click links in messages telling you your safety protocol is ending, like, tomorrow, you will get SCAMMED SO BAD AND YOU WILL LOSE A LOT OF FUCKING MONEY never ever let anyone pressure you into giving away login information especially to your online banking by creating a sense of urgency oh my GOD

some things to look out for

1. spelling mistakes. do you know how many rounds of marketing and sales experts these things go through? if theres a spelling mistake dont click it

2. not using your name. if an email adresses you with "dear customer" or, even worse, a generic "ladies and gentlemen", it is most likely not actually targeted to you

3. verifying or login links. even IF your bank was stupid enough to send these to customers, dont EVER click those. look at me. they can legally argue that youve given your data away and thus they dont have to pay you anything back DONT CLICK THAT FUCKING LINK

4. creating a sense of urgency. do this or we lock your account next week. do this or your ebanking stops working tomorrow. give us all your money in cash or your beloved granddaughter will get HANGED FOR MURDERING BABIES. no serious organisation would ever do something like that over email or sms. ever. hands off.

5. ALWAYS CHECK WHO SENT YOU THE EMAIL. the display name and the email adress can vary a LOT. anyone can check the display name. look at the email adress. does it look weird? call the fucking place it says its from. you will likely hear a very weary sigh.

6. if its in a phonecall, scammers love preventing you from hanging up or talking to other people to have a little bit of a think about whats happening. there should always be a possibility to go hey i wanna think about this ill call back the official number thanks.

7. do not, i repeat, do NOT a) call a phone number flashing on your screen promising to rid your computer of viruses after clicking a dodgy link and b) let them install shit on your computer like. uh. idk. teamviewer.

7.i. TEAM VIEWER LETS PEOPLE USE YOUR COMPUTER HOWEVER THEY WANT AS LONG AS THEYRE CONNECTED. IF YOU DONT KNOW FOR FUCKING SURE YOURE TALKING TO ACTUAL TECH SUPPORT DONT GIVE ANYONE ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER.

fun little addendum: did you know a link can just automatically download shit? like. a virus? an app you can't uninstall unless you reset your entire device? dont click links unless youre extremely sure you know where they lead. hover your mouse over it and check the url.

thanks.

[phantomrose96]

I'm having an interesting day!

>be me >over Christmas my dad got me signed up for identity protection stuff >yesterday morning >alert for a new "financial inquiry" placed by JP Morgan Chase >"well I did not do that" >click the "this wasn't me" button >"a rep will reach out to you" >an Allstate rep reaches out to me today >I'm like "yeah that wasn't me" >he's like "huh. no good" >he's trying to reach out to them (I assume JP Morgan Chase). can't get a hold of a rep. >he says "im opening a case for you and we will call you back with an update later" >in the meantime he sends me an email of next steps >steps include a) putting out a fraud alert to the credit bureaus and b) freezing credit >he also gets me the JP Morgan Chase customer service line >I'm like "okay I should do/call all of these, right?" >he's like "yeah" >ok >he hangs up >I call the JP Morgan Chase number he gave me >I immediately get "thank you for calling Bank of America--" >what >(he gave me the wrong number….?) >I google "is JP Morgan Chase the same as Bank of America...?" >I get "no. you idiot." >I google "JP Morgan Chase help number" >I find one for Chase Bank. another for JP Morgan bank >I google "are these the same". >google says "JP Morgan Chase is the parent company of both JP Morgan bank and Chase bank" >ok > ?? >look at Chase bank customer service tab >"log in with your Chase bank account to--" >well I can't do that. I don't have a Chase bank account. in fact the problem right now is whether someone is trying to make me have a Chase bank account >this is hard >I will do the credit fraud alert first I guess >open the page the Allstate dude gave me >page lists phone numbers and websites for the bureaus >click the first link (equifax) >takes me to my.equifax.com >I make an account with my SSN >"verifying" page then says "oops we cant complete your account. call THIS number" >the number they give me doesn't match the one on the earlier page >ok >call the number on the my.equifax page >decide to multi-task while on hold and start making my experian profile >hold music ends >lady answers and says "thank you for calling Dell customer support" > ? >I say "….wait sorry, did you say Dell? I'm trying to call equifax. is this the wrong number?" >I'm staring at the screen and the phone and I HAVE typed the number correctly >Woman goes "…thank you for calling Dell customer service. if you cannot understand me please ask me to repeat myself" >I say "sorry, just. You said Dell right? This is NOT equifax?" >Woman: Are you US or Canada? >Me: "sorry, just to backtrack--" >Woman continues speaking like I haven't said anything. >she says she's going to say a number out loud >(...? like, verify my phone number maybe??) >she starts reading out this long number. >just absurdly long. >just way too many digits for a phone number >her: "2 2 4 7 7 6 4"64 >me: ?? >her: "2 4 3 3 2 6" >me: "sorry, just" >her: "5 5 5 2 3 4" >??????? >??????????????? >I hang up > ?????????????????????????????? >I google the number I called >it's probably just out of date >all online results SAY this is equifax >like 10 different results all going "yep. equifax" >??? >I call it BACK (open the "recent call" page on my phone and tap it. did not re-type it. straight up just tapped it from my last call) >automated voice >"thank you for calling Equifax. please hold" >????????? >WHO WAS DELL LADY??? >anyway >get an Equifax rep >she informs me account creation does not work on a VPN >oh okay >I turn off my work VPN >successfully create account >I give her a 10 on every survey category for telling me that >put credit freeze and fraud alert on Equifax >put credit freeze and fraud alert on Experian >try TransUnion >no option to make account. only log in. (paid only?) >tab says "don't have an account? try out these options" >credit freeze is an option under that tab >click that >it takes me to the account sign in page >ok >I do that circle on more time. for completeness.

>I google "transunion how make account" >google takes me to some other page that DOES have account creation >create account >click on the "freeze credit" option >page spins for a long time >"sorry we can't figure out your credit freeze status right now" >ok >download the Equifax/Experian/Transunion apps to keep closer tabs on this >try to log in to Transunion >"error: your password is between 8-15 characters" >? >check my password >it's 16 characters >try again >"error: your password is between 8-15 characters" >well no it's not >re-log in to the web >works >try app >"error: your password is between 8-15 characters" >?? >go to website >change my password for 15 characters >try app >"sorry, we're broken right now" >ok

I've decided this is good enough and if the fraudster wants my identity I think they can have it now

[lazyleafeon]

[image description: Text says: commissions for Palestine. there is an image of the artist on their drawing tablet. all commission information shows art examples.

Commission info text says: $1-$7 Lined Chibi. $1 lines, $5 monochrome rendering, $7 full color rendering.

$15 lined fullbody. +$7 for full color. +half price per extra character (up to 3 characters total).

Comics. Sketch comics: $25 full page. $12 half page. Up to 4 pages. Fully lined: $50 for full page. $25 for half. Up to 3 pages.

will draw: furries, mecha, OCs. won't draw: nsfw, real people without permissionwill draw: furries, mecha, OCs. won't draw: nsfw, real people without permission. End ID]

I'm reopening commissions for Palestine. I will draw you something if you donate to any of these (note that gofundmes require you to donate at least 5 of whichever currency the fund is using):

The Gofundme's and other fundraisers on this masterlist

Helpgazachildren's Gofundme

Esims for Gaza (or this crowdfund to donate money for esims)

The Municipality of Gaza's life for Gaza campaign

Any of the fundraisers I've reblogged on this account

I'll also draw you something if you donate to other verified fundraisers for Palestine or funds for people on the ground, or to verified fundraisers for Sudan or Congo.

guidelines/other info:

personal use only

Turnaround of around 1 month for chibis, 2 months for fullbodies, and 4-6 months for comics. I will update you as soon as I have a sketch or if there are any delays.

Please include a visual reference or text description of the character(s) you want drawn. If you don't i'll go off of google or my own design for them

For comics I can work with prose or a script. if i know the characters i can try writing a script myself based on a prompt, though it will take me longer

I reserve the right to refuse a commission and may ask you to choose something else.

To get a commission, DM me on this account or email me at desklamprey @ gmail.com with a receipt of your donation made after this post was made (8/11/24 at 9:30 PST), a link to where you donated if its not from the 4 i listed above, and the details about your request.

[snapscube]

I cannot stress how happy I am that you love berdly. your chapter 1 stream was the first one ive ever caught on twitch because i was checking your twitch page ever so often because i was so excited for you to stream deltarune. its one of my favorite games ever and you're like my favorite ytber/streamer ever and i love when people i watch play the things i love.

(this is also how i felt when you started playing ace attorney again, its my favorite like ever and i was so so happy lmao. and im also so glad that you love franiziska because shes my wife shes everything to me)

so i just happened to catch your stream for the first time ever!! and when you got so excited at the idea of berdly in that stream i. 1) tried to make a twitch account to comment in chat how happy i was that you liked berdly. 2) realized that i already had made a twitch account ages ago. 3) had to make twitch send me and email telling me what my username was. 4) logged in without verifying my account with my phone number 5) realized that i needed to do that if i wanted to type in chat. but didnt want to deal with that because that would mean clicking off the stream. 6) sat there unable to chat but enjoyed the stream so so so much.

now im watching the ch 2 part 2 vod on twitch waiting for you to put it on youtube. and paused it during prestream when you were talking about you favorite npcs to come here and actually tell you how happy i am that you love berdly. hes my cringefail son and i love him so much. and streamers normally dont like him (understandably lmao) so im so glad you like him

(sorry for dumping all this in your inbox ^^* i just kinda think you're the funniest person on the planet ^_^ and I'm glad you like my blorbos)

LOL i love your enthusiasm so much! i hope to see u in chat sometime! thanks for the kind words!

berdly is fucking awesome. obviously he’s an awful little shit and that’s my favorite thing in the world. i think there’s a very fine line between “character who is delightfully awful and makes me scream” and “character who is genuinely, personally insufferable and makes me want to stop playing” and berdly rides that line FLAWLESSLY. plus, the voice i ended up picking for him is so so fun to do i can’t help but be excited when he’s on screen cause i get to play touys with my acting.

[fuwaprince]

Hiii everyone. Please please help if you can.

I am SO sorry to be begging like this, but I just lost my job yesterday and am in desperate need of some mutual aid!!! Unfortunately I don't qualify for unemployment so :((( I'm trying not to get all depressed about it.. I already applied for like 6 jobs yesterday and I'll be doing that more today.

If anybody could please spare me some $ to help me cover living expenses it would be extremely helpful and appreciated 😔🙏 I don't really know what I'm going to do in the meantime. I haven't told my landlord yet out of fear that she'd ask me to leave! Things were going pretty well and stable before. This job was what got me out of homelessness and losing it definitely rocked the boat for me. LOTS of concerns rn... including concern for my partner's wellness

I was using part of my earnings to help support my partner who is currently homeless and working on getting a job too. I'm not really allowed visitors, so I can't offer him a shower or place to rest rn. This morning I brought him out a coffee, pb/honey sammy using my last two slices of bread, a bus pass and whatever pocket change I had. He was completely sleepless, in need of a shower and asked if I knew anybody he could beg for a hotel stay for the night. He's disabled and exhausted but we're doing our best to stay positive/hopeful. I told him that myself and all of the internet *may* be able to help. He isn't a homeless family, aka single, so resources like hotel vouches aren't available to him just like they weren't for me. If anybody could please help by donating for that as well, we both would be very grateful/relieved- at least for the night. Please help him avoid getting eaten by the mosquitoes and coyotes (yes, coyotes were literally stalking him at one point while walking outside late at night 😭). Food assistance is covered but housing is still a work in progress. He placed some calls and is on waitlists. I'm actually still on a waitlist myself and have been patiently waiting at least a month now to hear back. Just trying to survive in the meantime. We could both really use some help from friends tho! Family isn't exactly here for either of us :'(((

PS When I reached out to homeless assistance in my area previously, the guy who was assigned to help figured it would be easier to deny me resources. He couldnt believe I was homeless while working a full-time (min wage, btw) job and graduated from college. I told him he could call multiple references to confirm my homelessness status at the time but he literally lied saying he could not verify. When I called my references (my mom included) to ask how the call went, they said they told him the truth that I had been homeless for about a year... He even lied to her saying I was at a hotel franchise that I was NOT staying at (AND DOES NOT EVEN EXIST IN THIS WHOLE CITY BTW) which disqualified me from being eligible for the resource. I already sent his supervisor an email but I received no word back :/ I went without those resources and you can imagine how reluctant they're being to my partner now. They're supposed to help... the city funds it. As a paying patron, I'm really disheartened by the whole experience. It hurt on so many levels.

Tl;dr sorry for begging like this. I really didn't know how to phrase this so I hope this works out alright. Losing my job sucks and I could really use your support. Thank you for taking the time to read whatever parts you did. Please reblog if you can so that somebody who is willing and able to help finds my post! If that's you, thank you and I love you and sorry again. Hoping things steadily improve for all of us 🫂 wishing friends and strangers the best 💐 stay safe. Please donate if you can!!!

Cashapp: $fuwapu

Paypal: @garyanne

[handlewithcarezine]

HANDLE WITH CARE VOL. 3 — CALL FOR ARTISTS

Handle With Care zine is now seeking artists for the next volume! We are looking for about 20 artists for this edition.

Important information, boundaries, and legal stuff:

Submission deadline for Vol 3. is January 8th, 2025. If you are accepted but unable to make the deadline for whatever reason, please communicate with us! We are more than willing to be accommodating and figure something out.

The zine's physical dimension will be 6 inches wide, 8 inches tall (15,24 cm by 20,32 cm). Submissions should be in 300 DPI.

The loose theming of Vol 3. is Advertisements and posters. This theme is not strict and does not affect piece submission, but it will guide how we structure the zine as well as guide the aesthetics of the front cover and non-submission pages such as the table of contents and credits section. Feel free to go big and go bold with this theme, if you choose to engage with it! Show off your love, make the piece you would love to hang on your apartment walls!

Visual artists are welcome to submit an additional one-page written accompaniment to their visual artwork if they would like. Fully written works are currently capped to a maximum of five pages, though this may be adjusted once we have a rough idea what people are submitting.

Handle With Care is meant to celebrate raw objectum emotion and experiences, and meant to give these emotions a physical place in the world. We do not have a minimum skill level as a result.

However, we reserve the right to reject or ask for revisions on any submissions that make us uncomfortable, including any romantic depiction of an object that resembles a realistic feral animal or a human child. This zine is printed through a government-owned printing press. If your submission can be misconstrued as something far more concerning than just objectum sexuality by people who are not familiar with the community, it will be rejected for the peace of mind of everyone involved.

HWC is also strictly safe for work. Non-sexual nudity is allowed, although if it crosses a line we may ask for revisions.

All participants must be at least 18. Legal issues with using a minor's work and all that. Minors will be booted off the HWC discord, sorry! You are welcome to enter when you'll be legally an adult.

AI-generated submissions are also currently not allowed. We want to see work straight from objectum artists, not an objectum middleman commissioning ChatGPT for free and taking the credit.

HWC is non-profit. Physical copies are sold only to break even on printing and shipping. Any profit from donations will be re-invested in the zine or split evenly between all contributors.

Artists will retain all rights to their individual work, including copyright and being able to resell it. The zine owner (Ross Gillesby, in this case) is allowed to sell the pieces only in the bundle of the entire zine and not individually, and will not own any copyright to those pieces.

Zine organization and communication is done through a Discord server. If you are interested in submitting something for Handle With Care Vol. 3, please DM this tumblr or email gillesbyross@gmail.com with:

What are you thinking of submitting? If it's a written work, how many pages do you estimate you'll need?

2. Social media or some other way to verify you are not a troll

We already have a cover artist. We currently have an artist maximum of 20 to 25. If there is no more room by the time you send in an application, we will put you on a priority list for Vol. 4.

We're very excited to work on a third volume of the zine!

-Ross and Crispy

[wellsbering]

URGENT - ORGANIZE A GOFUNDME FOR DIANA IN GAZA

Hi everyone. You may be familiar with Safaa @sfaamq10 from me sharing her campaign (verified by 90-ghost here). I have been talking to Safaa almost daily for the past few weeks, and last week, she asked me if I could operate a GoFundMe for her friend, Diana.

Diana's home was destroyed by the IOF several months ago. All her male family members, including her husband, have been taken captive by the IOF. At the time he was taken captive, Diana was pregnant, but the stress of her situation caused her to miscarry. In addition to all her relatives being held captive, Diana's brother was killed. She is now displaced and living in a tent designed for 2 people with 6 of her family members.

I initially offered to operate a GoFundMe for Diana, but I realize now that I can't take on this responsibility. I'm under a lot of stress right now for a variety of reasons (including financial ones), and my ADHD & depression symptoms have been really bad lately. In short, I'm exhausted all the time and my memory and ability to focus is shot. I don't have the time or energy to dedicate to this fundraiser what it deserves. I'm afraid that I will forget to check my messages/email/the fundraiser progress, and I don't want to run the risk of screwing something up when there could be tens of thousands of dollars involved. I would feel more comfortable if someone who has experience running a GoFundMe took on this role.

If you live in a country that can receive funds from GoFundMe and feel confident in your ability to manage an evacuation fundraiser, please send me a direct message so I can put you in contact with Diana (she does not have a tumblr account).

Otherwise, SIGNAL BOOST. Please help me find someone to help Diana!!

@ana-bananya @dlxxv-vetted-donations @a-shade-of-blue @heritageposts @gazavetters

[kalkiethinks]

SCAM ALERT

TLDR: If a commisioner ignores your instructions, sends you a ton of money upfront via a check asking you to deposit and send back a portion of money- DO NOT. So back in Nov 10 I got an email commission which started okay: "I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to you because I am impressed by your portfolio and believe your artistic style would be a fantastic fit for an upcoming project I am coordinating.

I am currently in the process of assembling a team and I need a talented illustrator to collaborate on the title, Pandemic: Precaution and Prevention. Your work stood out to me due to its vibrant colors, character choices and attention to detail.

If you are interested, I would love to discuss the project further and provide more details about the scope, timeline, and compensation. Please let me know if this opportunity aligns with your current availability and if you would be open to discussing it further.

He wanted to create 6 group illustrations that would be printed and handed out for students 18-25 that would equate to $6000 at a 9 week turnaround. This raised an eyebrow but thought they were just a generous client. I gave him my procedure pipeline, starting with a min deposit upfront as a show of good faith. Also told him holidays are busy so will we start next year? He says that's fine. So far okay. "Considering the amount to be paid for the job, cashiers check or bank certified checks is our best bet. My sponsor doesn't use online payment platforms. He's an old-fashioned businessperson. The check will be issued and mailed to you and you should receive it within 5 days. Please get back to with your details in the format below:" Another raised eyebrow in this digital day and age but I've done previous freelance work that used mailed checks so I was alright with this. Only released my contact info and bank name.

Now the red flags pop up: On Nov 19 he sends this: "How are you doing today ? I'm so sorry for this, sincerely I do not find it easy to write this to you this moment , I have been so busy lately, the check is been made out for $6,000.00 which is cover for both phases. The sponsor asked for immediate refund for the 2nd phase as soon as the check clears your bank then you could proceed with the first 1-3. The 2nd phase is been postponed until further notice due to the sponsors personal issue, I will provide you the tracking information via USPS as soon as I have it so you could have it tracked yourself to know when exactly it will be delivered. My sincere apology for the inconvenience and do have a great day." So my requests were completely ignored, tells me a check is on the way with the full lump sum and I have to return half that amount. This is one method I've heard scammers get access of one's bank account with the poison check and you end up paying that half with your own actual money. Checked with friends and my own bank, sounds like a scam. Check arrives, and doing 30 minutes of Googling reveals so much warning stuff:

-So the names on the client email (Nicholas Jarry), and this name on the USPS (Christopher Williams) revealed on the first results are both famous sports players. One is a funny coincidence, two is suspicious. -quick Google of what a Keybank check is like, get an old warning about what to look for in legit checks, also tried calling Keybank on how to verify a check and explaining the scenario. -the address on the USPS belongs to a residential house that had another business also registered to it before that has gone inactive. -The Ace Cafe is real, but everything is inconsistent. The Hillcourt Dr address leads to a residential house, there is no LLC, and the logo belongs to a legit Orlando location that had closed last year and is opening in a new location, the address not matching whats on the check and names do not match either Jarry or Williams.

I've already reported this issue to the FTC and while they can't help me do anything with this particular scammer I'm now passing this around to new artists to know what to look out for when too many little suspicious things add up.

[docholligay]

Let's Get Physical: DocDoc's Run Draw

Hi everyone! Since @keyofjetwolf was brave enough to run a 5k, and we all know I really and truly support getting into running and racing and race walking and basically physical activity in general.

I am giving away AN EIGHT DAYS OF CONTENT DAY. This will be done during Eight Days (obviously) and because it's an eight days day, it's 6 hours, and VERY freeform. So, do you want 4 hours of liveblogging, and then a two hour stream? No problem! As always, I have veto power but I'm pretty reasonable I think and I'll work with you to make you happy.

WOW HOLLIGAY, HOW DO I WIN THIS?

You run! You run. If you run a chipped race of 5k or better between June 1st and October 1st, you get an entry. Let's drill down what that means!

A 'chipped race' is a race with an official timekeeping method, that generally uses a chip on the back of your bib for an official time. (For those of you in the Uk and SOME parts of the US but definitely the Uk, parkrun is chipped!! Chipped and fucking free. Bless)

In the US, I really recommend using runsignup to find races near you. In The UK I would use findarace. I haven't found a site I like for Canada.

The entries scale in approximately 5k increments. A 5k is one entry, a 10k is two, half marathon is four, etc.

SUBMISSION PAY ATTENTION HERE:

Once you finish, you will, through most sites, get an email or link that looks very much like this:

There will be the above chip, and then I want anywhere from two lines to as long as you want to go about how the race was. So, for this race chip above: I raced this to get a coupon, and it turned out that I was ineligible anyhow. Annoying, but I was proud of myself for doing better at making like Kate Bush and running up that hill than I ever have. That would be a totally fine entry. Does NOT have to be elaborate.

You will put this IN THE HOLLIGAY'S DUDE RANCH COMMUNITY. If you need to join, just ask me either on this post or in an ask to add you. I would love to have you anyhow! I doubt I will need to but if I need to further verify your participation, I will contact you.

Bonus entries!

No bonuses for speed, that's the EXACT opposite of the environment I am trying to create here. Walk the motherfucker if you want, it's about getting out there! If you're faster than me, i will simply hate you privately.

But! There will be a bonus entry for:

Funniest race summation/review

Best cheerleader (Posting comments on other people's race entries)

Most hilarious/miserable looking race picture (pictures are not required for an entry but very very welcomed)

I reserve the right to give out multiples of these extra entries.

I think that's it! Ask me any questions you'd like, and get out there!

[ikiyou]

So, I'm trying to start an Instagram to share my cosplay.

30 April, 1:30pm, I establish the account. This is about the time I get an email code to input to verify I am creating it.

Same day, 30 April, 7:30pm, I get an email stating I've violated community guidelines in someway and my account was disabled.

The only things I've done are to put up a profile picture and post a short bio explaining what the account is for.

I didn't notice this 7:30pm email until yesterday when I attempted to access instagram and it said my account was disabled.

I'm currently attempting to appeal - I successfully had a code sent to whatsapp and put that in. Then it asked for a selfie, which I also took and sent. Now I am waiting.

As there is nothing on the account I am not losing anything.

However, I'm extremely concerned and suspicious that only 6 hours after creating it, their automated system is attacking it.

I'm also extremely concerned for the existence of my Facebook, which Meta also owns. I rarely use it nowadays, and have not attempted to access it in the meantime. More than anything, I at least want to preserve my Facebook to download all the content and contacts.

I have several avenues of approach if this attempt somehow doesn't work out. I hope it works.

This is also a notice to all of you: if you have any social media (tumblr, Facebook, instagram, youtube, Twitter, etc), buy hard disk space and download a full copy. Save your content and craft a pinned public post that states your intent to never delete your stuff, and where to find you if it disappears (whether that's a newly created 'version2' or some other social media).

Poorly run social media engines are being overrun by bots and faulty automation and no longer have humans running them. Or they want you to pay. In order to preserve your own history, contacts, friendship, and even businesses, you need to keep personal data on all of that AND give people a way to find you if you suddenly vanish.

Unfortunately, most things - emails, phone numbers, social medias - are very very fragile when they shouldn't be.

When I recover my empty instagram, my first step will be to delete it. My second, to obtain a safety email account, unconnected to what I used for Facebook. And I will recreate it with that. I don't want a faulty red flag on one account to damage my access to another. It's sad that I have to do this. But personal security and safety require it when social medias start to be bought up by one company and overrun by AI bots.

If anyone has any advice, feel free to drop it below, send me a DM, or whatever.

[botgal]

Any update on SB 976? heard it was sign into law but does not come into force until 2027

Unfortunately yes. Governor Newsome signed it into law sometime on Friday I believe. Unfortunately given how Newsom is, this was not surprising. Though it never did hurt for us to send in our opinions and urge to veto on the matter. And I'm very grateful to anyone who did.

And yes, you're correct. The text of the bill says it shouldn't come into effect until 2027.

"This bill, the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act, would make it unlawful for the operator of an addictive internet-based service or application, as defined, to provide an addictive feed to a user, unless the operator does not have actual knowledge that the user is a minor; commencing January 1, 2027, has reasonably determined that the user is not a minor; or has obtained verifiable parental consent to provide an addictive feed to the user who is a minor.

The bill would define “addictive feed” as an internet website, online service, online application, or mobile application, in which multiple pieces of media generated or shared by users are recommended, selected, or prioritized for display to a user based on information provided by the user, or otherwise associated with the user or the user’s device, as specified, unless any of certain conditions are met.

The bill would make it unlawful for the operator of an addictive internet-based service or application, between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m., in the user’s local time zone, and between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday from September through May in the user’s local time zone, to send notifications to a user if the operator has actual knowledge that the user is a minor or, commencing January 1, 2027, has not reasonably determined that the user is not a minor, unless the operator has obtained verifiable parental consent to send those notifications, as specified. The bill would set forth related provisions for certain access controls determined by the verified parent through a mechanism provided by the operator."

Some of the bill's language implies it Could come into effect before 2027 to a degree, at least under the idea of "actual knowledge" rather than "reasonably determined", which is what it will become starting 2027. Which is its own point of concern. But as of now it's out of our hands as far as politicians go.

You can still take some action, like maybe sending emails to people like EFF or the ACLU. But for the most part, this is in the hands of the courts to decide how far this can go.

But thank you to anyone else who took the time and effort for this irregardless. We took 3 bills fully out of the running this year alone. For that, you should be proud. No matter what else ends up happening next with AB 1949. You did your best. No one could ask for more.

[dicespider]

Tips on avoiding getting scammed as an artist

1. If contacted on a social media site, scan the profile of the commissioner. Is it empty? Are there only 2 or 3 posts with the same sort of aesthetic image? Is the account only a few days old? All of these are incredibly suspect and point to a potential bot.

2. Don't trust people who tell you to DM them for commission on your posts. If someone really wants to contact you for a commission, they'll go to you directly. This strategy is to get you to interact with the bot first.

3. Mix up your speech patterns a bit. Bots that aren't run from AI typically have more of an "if this than that" sort of output. A good way to throw them off is to send a sticker or gif greeting as your first message or asking them how they found you. Any non-standard questions may pull the bot off it's script.

4. Don't accept AI references. Regardless of anyone's personal feelings on AI, Any sort of image generation should be considered a red flag.

5. If they have a reference, ask who the artist was. If they say it's from them, be friendly and ask to see their other art. Scammers are pretty unlikely to have art from the same artists.

6. If contacted on a messaging service like discord or telegram, check to see if they've posted any messages in your mutual servers. Having none is a red flag.

7. Take payment after confirming intent. Scammers are usually unwilling to put their money where their mouth is, and personally I take at least half payment once sketches have been approved. This prevents people from backing out after you've worked hours on a project.

8. Don't accept sob stories. Scammers will often use sympathy to get commissions. Stories about dead pets, family members, or friends are common tactics.

9. Watermark the *shit* out of wips. We're talking stock image level of watermarking. That or a giant "wip" written across the page. Don't send usable art until the product is finished.

10. Have a limit on the amount of changes you accept (usually something like 5 max) and don't accept major changes halfway through the piece.

11. If contacted by someone on a messaging service, ask for proof of social media. Either as a link or a screenshot showing that they own the artist's socials.

12. If a commissioner sends money and it gets "locked up" this is a scam. Don't click on links or strange emails.

13. Be wary if someone sends you an obsenely large payment and asks for you to "send it back". Contact your payment method's support, as asking someone to send payment back before refunding refunding the original payment is a common scam.

Tips on avoiding being scammed as a commissioner.

1. Don't trust solicitors. Anyone who comes to you asking to buy their art is highly suspect.

2. If contacted on a messaging service like discord or telegram, check to see if they've posted any messages in your mutual servers. Having none is a red flag.

3. When someone gives you examples of their work, look for signs of AI or wildly different art styles. Artists even when proficient with different styles still usually have the same feel to their work.

4. Look for watermarks on sent art. Scammers will often crop out or edit out watermarks of artists who actually did the piece. If you don't see one, it raises a red flag.

5. Look for strange speech patterns. Unless the artist is from a different country and doesn't have english as their first language, or is very young, most artists will at least try to be professional and gramatically correct when accepting commissions. Clipped responses, bad spelling, or strange product descriptions for things like fiber art can all be a red flag.

6. Stay firm on pricing. Don't trust an artist who pushes you to send more money without reasonable cause, (ie. Giving them a major change late in the piece or asking for a rushed job)

7. Stick to verified payment portals. Some payment methods have better protections than others and online payment methods are hard to refund.

8. Double check the artist is who they say they are. Scammers will often impersonate artists to get money. Verify by either asking for proof of layers, or by checking out the artist's other socials. Worst case scenario, DM the artist directly to ask if they're on XYZ platform.

9. Be suspicious of upfront payments with no proof of work. This doesn't apply for everything, (ie, you may pay for a fursuit head in advance) but unless an artist is highly trustworthy and has proven quality, be wary of someone asking you to send all the money upfront if you don't have at least a sketch.

10. You should be giving the artist direction, not the other way around. An artist shouldn't be trying to convince you of the scene you want, you should have a clear image of what exactly it is you're commissioning them for.

Overall, stay safe!!

[charmedhypno]

Charmed! 2025 Covid Policy Update

Charmed! 2025 Covid-19 Policy

Charmed! is committed to hosting the safest event we possibly can as the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of this, the Convention Committee (“ConCom”) will continue to require up to date Covid vaccinations as well as masking for our attendees, staff, and volunteers at Charmed! 2025.

In addition, hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout Convention Space (“Con Space”) and our Dungeon Monitors (“DMs”) will be extremely proactive in reminding people to clean their equipment - if you need help please ask and it will be provided!

Please read the following policies carefully! They contain several important dates and deadlines – ignorance of these policies will not result in any exemptions.

Vaccination Policy

The newest Covid-19 vaccine update has been evaluated and released for use in the United States to people aged 6 months and older for Fall 2024. People can get the vaccination if it has been at least 2 months since their last vaccination for Covid-19. People who have not previously been vaccinated for Covid-19 are considered “up to date” with their vaccinations after receiving this single dose.

This vaccine update is free under most insurance plans in the United States (including Medicaid and Medicare), but is no longer offered for free by the United States government.

Free vaccinations may be available on a state-by-state basis; so check whether or not your state has a free adult vaccination program if you require a free option. People based in the United States can search for their local Health Department here: https://www.naccho.org/membership/lhd-directory

People who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 may wait 3 months before getting the updated vaccine.

In order to attend Charmed! 2025 in-person you must be up to date with your Covid vaccination: a person who is “up to date” with their vaccinations beginning September, 2024 is a person who has received the latest updated vaccine, released in September, 2024.

Vaccinations typically take around two weeks to reach full efficacy; therefore for the purposes of Charmed! 2025 vaccinations will be considered valid if they are received by or before Monday, January 6th, 2025.

In-person attendees of Charmed! 2025 will be required to show proof of “up to date” vaccination received in good time – that is, they must show proof that they have received the Fall 2024 vaccine update by or before January 6th, 2025. Proof may be in the form of one of the following: official paper vaccine card, electronic vaccine card, photocopy or digital representation of official vaccine card, website listing your name/vaccination date, dated email for an applicable vaccination appointment, a photograph of some part of the vaccination process (eg. the vial of serum), or other applicable media. If you are unsure that your form of proof will be valid, please contact us before arriving at the event. Proof of vaccination will be verified at badge pick-up.

You can contact us using one of the following ways: Email us at: Covid@Charmedhypno.org Contact us through Charmed! social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharmedHypno Fetlife: https://fetlife.com/groups/121240?sp=1 Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/charmedhypno Bluesky: https://charmedhypnocon.bsky.social/ Discord: DM @Noelle - I have answers!

People who are unable to get the updated Covid-19 vaccine for a three month period ending with the final day of Charmed! 2025 (January 26th, 2025) due to a previous Covid-19 infection will be considered “up to date” for the purposes of in-person attendance. Please contact ConCom if you become Covid-positive within this window.

IMPORTANT: if you have a Covid-19 infection that results in you being able to get the updated vaccine within the two week time period before Charmed! 2025 begins – that is, January 8th through January 22nd – you will not be considered “up to date” with your vaccination and will be ineligible to attend Charmed! 2025 in person.

PLEASE NOTE: the three month waiting period is a CDC recommendation and it may be possible for people to get the updated vaccine within that time period.

In-person attendees at Charmed! 2025 will be required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 48 hours of badge pick-up, (over-the-counter test is okay), in picture form in order to pick up their badge. Please do not bring a physical test with you to badge pick up - a picture on your phone is sufficient.

Mask Policy

In-person attendees at Charmed! 2025 will be required to wear well-fitting, high quality masks, such as N95s, KN95s, and FFP2s (or equivalent) at all times while in official convention space. This includes both the private convention area and Con Suite, as well as semi-public areas such as registration and the hallway outside of the upstairs classrooms.

If you are unable to acquire an N95 or similar mask, then pleated surgical masks are acceptable as a last resort.

Examples of unacceptable masks include: bandanas, gaiters, and scarfs.

Presenters and demo-bottoms may choose to remain unmasked only while actively presenting.

There are no mask exceptions for evening social events and dungeon play.

Masks may be raised, but not removed, in order to sip water and/or eat small snacks in Convention Space as needed.

A small number of masks may be available via Convention Operations for people who need them; however, we cannot guarantee this so please do your best to procure your own.

Testing Policy

In 2024, we did not require that attendees test daily but did highly recommend that they do so. For 2025, we are again highly recommending that people test daily before entering convention space. Over the counter tests are excellent at detecting a viral load in someone who is contagious, and are currently the best way for people to determine if they need to isolate themselves.

Convention Operations may have a small number of tests available for people who need them; please do not count on this and do your best to procure your own.

Policy Exemptions

Residents of countries that do not offer updated Covid-19 vaccines to the general population may be considered exempt from the requirement to be up-to-date by United States standards as long as they have received and can show confirmation that they received the primary course of vaccinations; that is, the original shot plus the two follow up shots.

We ask that people in non-U.S. countries who are eligible to receive updated vaccines continue to do so.

Attendees who are offered exemptions to the 2025 Covid-19 policy will be required to test daily while in attendance in person at Charmed! 2025 and to send verification of their negative test result to a member of ConCom before they are allowed entrance into official con space.

Failure to follow this policy may result in that person’s badge being pulled and them no longer being able to attend Charmed! 2025 in person.

We will continue to assess the status of attendees with possible medical exemptions on a case by case basis. If you are affected by this policy, please contact us as soon as you can via email at Covid@charmedhypno.org or dm Noelle_8033 on Discord.

There are no exemptions to the masking policy.

Covid Infections & Isolation Policy

Attendees, including all staff members, volunteers, presenters, etc, will be required to report and self-isolate if they test positive for Covid-19 while attending Charmed! 2025.

For the purposes of Charmed! 2025, an attendee who is “self-isolating” will remain in their private room as much as possible and will not enter any shared hotel spaces with convention members, including but not limited to: official Convention Spaces (areas past our security check points), shared convention spaces (eg. the badge pick up area, the hallway outside of upstairs classrooms), and the Charmed! 2025 Consuite (the enclosed room outside of regular Con space that is across from the public fireplace seating area.)

ConCom reserves the right to expand this list during the Convention in order to accommodate the number of in-person attendees present at Charmed! 2025.

Out of an abundance of caution, an initial positive test result will be taken as confirmation of infection, regardless of subsequent testing.

**The identity of anyone that contracts Covid-19 while at Charmed! 2025 will be kept anonymous unless otherwise unavoidable, unless that person wishes to share their identity.

Failure to report and self-isolate will result in the infected attendee’s badge being pulled and potentially a ban from Charmed! in the future.**

Reporting & Contact Tracing Policy

Anyone becoming positive for Covid-19 while attending Charmed! 2025 will be required to report and self-isolate. They will need to identify to ConCom classes/areas where they have been, including private spaces, and ConCom will inform the attendee population that they may have been exposed to Covid-19.

**The identity of anyone that contracts Covid-19 while at Charmed! 2025 will be kept anonymous unless otherwise unavoidable, unless that person wishes to share their identity.

Failure to report and self-isolate will result in the infected attendee’s badge being pulled and potentially a ban from Charmed! in the future.**

Charmed! 2025 is committed to providing as safe an environment as possible for our attendees. This may mean that our vaccination/mask requirements are stronger/stricter than those of other events or organizations. We understand that this can be frustrating, and we appreciate your adherence to these policies that are for the benefit of every attendee at Charmed! 2025.

[exquisite-peculiarity]

Update on the Fur Affinity hack!

For those who don't know, Fur Affinity is a furry site that hosts furry art, writing, photos, etc. It's an important and unique community beloved by its userbase. The person who founded and ran the site, Dragoneer, passed away 8/6/24. His friends and family are working together, with the support of the community, to keep the site up and running. They have a gofundme campaign to cover site expenses and the debt of his estate to keep the site from getting sold off as an asset. So far, it is looking bright. Unfortunately, this week, bad actors hijacked the site. They didn't break into the private info, but redirected traffic and communications to other places, including Kiwifarms (alt right site) who promptly released a statement that they weren't involved, and the hijack was at the expense of both websites. Fortunately for everyone, it's been resolved, and the site is safe to use again.

Here's the statement from their discord:

"Good Afternoon!

Yesterday, after meeting for several hours with Network Solutions (our domain registrar), they finally agreed to our demands to lock our account and revert changes made to our domain name’s NAMESERVER configuration. This lock also prevents anyone from signing in and making further changes. A fraud investigation has been launched on their part, and upon conclusion, our account will be fully released to us and we will receive more information on how this hijacking occurred. Our domain is directing traffic correctly.

While the bad actor was in control of our domain between Tuesday, August 20th at 12:47AM ET and Wednesday, August 21st at 2:28PM ET, they redirected our traffic to other websites and they set up an email server to receive any emails that were sent to any of our @furaffinity.net accounts. If you sent any emails to our @furaffinity.net accounts during that time, then the bad actor has those emails, we did not receive them, and you should act appropriately to secure and protect your information. Furthermore, any emails sent from @furaffinity.net during that time would have been sent by the bad actor and should not be trusted. The bad actor never had access to our actual email accounts, any previous emails, nor data we have previously received.

It is important to stress that the Fur Affinity web server itself was never compromised, and the bad actor never had access to any private information therein such as our user and server data (It's as if someone stole your home address and had your mail and visitors routed somewhere else. Your house and everything inside is fine, only the address and incoming/outgoing mail were affected). **As a precautionary measure during the incident, we invalidated all current login sessions and you will need to log back into your account.**

**✨🌟🎉 FUR AFFINITY IS NOW ONLINE AND MAY BE ACCESSED SAFELY! 🎉🌟✨**

Furthermore, as of last night (August 21st at 9:53PM ET), we have regained access to our Twitter account, and with the help of Whanos (@KernelJunkie), reclaimed our username (@FurAffinity). And as of this morning (August 22nd at 10:45AM ET), we also secured Dragoneer's personal Twitter account.

We have also been made aware of various sources claiming to have identified the bad actor responsible for this attack. We have no way to verify that these accusations are accurate, but will continue to share all information with the FBI. With that said, we want to remind everyone that we have a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment, no matter the circumstances. Recently, there have been instances where speculation has led to individuals being harassed, even if they have no proven connection to the incident.

It is important to note that Fur Affinity, with direct insight into the situation, has not conducted its own investigation. We are leaving that responsibility to law enforcement. Speculation only spreads misinformation and causes harm, so please be cautious about what you share or believe online.

We kindly urge everyone to avoid engaging in further speculation or harassment. It is the role of law enforcement to determine the facts and make decisions, not ours.

Finally, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support during this incredibly difficult time. Your kindness, patience, and understanding have meant the world to us as we've navigated these challenges together. We are committed to continuing to foster a creative and welcoming environment for all, and it is your strength and solidarity that make our community truly special. Thank you for standing with us.

Please note FA might suffer from the "hug of death" - basically, everyone interacting with it at once causes it to run slowly. (: It's not broken, just overwhelmed by your support!! "

In my opinion, the people who are running the site at this time are doing a good job with a really terrible situation.

We love and protect tumblr, as a special and queer community that is unique in it's function. Fur Affinity is important in the same way. It is a safe space for both nsfw and sfw queer expression, and that's something important to protect. ♥️

[windealagency]

Windealagency.com review – Register

When choosing a broker, traders need to consider multiple factors: regulation, reputation, trading conditions, and security measures. With so many platforms out there, it's essential to separate trustworthy brokers from those that might pose a risk.

Today, we take a close look at windealagency.com review to determine whether it meets the standards of a legitimate and reliable forex broker. We’ll analyze key aspects such as its regulation, user reviews, trading conditions, deposit and withdrawal policies, and customer support.

The goal? To see if windealagency.com reviews is truly a broker traders can trust. Let’s dive in!

How to Register on windealagency.com: A Step-by-Step Guide

Registering on windealagency.com reviews is a straightforward process, but it’s crucial to follow each step correctly. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Access the Website and Click "Create Account"

On the homepage, locate the "Create Account" button in the upper right corner and click on it to begin registration.

Step 2: Fill in the Registration Form

Enter the required details: ✔ Full Name – Use your real name for verification. ✔ Email Address – A confirmation link will be sent here. ✔ Password – Choose a strong password for security.

Step 3: Confirm Your Email

Check your inbox for a verification email and click the link to activate your account. Without this step, your account won’t be fully functional.

Step 4: Log In and Set Up Your Profile

After verification, log in using your credentials. You may need to complete additional details, such as selecting an account type (demo or real) and linking a payment method.

Step 5: Identity Verification (KYC)

For security and compliance reasons, the broker may require: 📌 Passport/ID scan to verify identity. 📌 Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement). 📌 Selfie with ID (sometimes required). Verification usually takes a few hours to 48 hours.

Step 6: Deposit Funds and Start Trading

To trade on a real account, you need to make a deposit using bank cards, e-wallets, or cryptocurrencies. Once funded, you can access all platform features.

Establishment Date of windealagency.com

One of the key indicators of a broker's legitimacy is the relationship between the brand's establishment date and the domain registration date. If a broker truly operates transparently, its domain should not be younger than its claimed establishment date.

In the case of windealagency.com review, we see that: ✔ The brand was established in 2021✔ The domain was registered on November 19, 2020

This alignment is a strong sign of credibility. Why? Because many fraudulent brokers register domains after claiming to be in business for years. Here, the domain was secured before the company officially started operations, indicating a well-planned and legitimate business launch rather than a rushed setup.

Would a scam broker invest in securing its domain before launching? Unlikely. This suggests windealagency.com reviews is built for long-term operations rather than quick fraud.

Windealagency.com License & Regulation

A broker’s license is one of the strongest indicators of its legitimacy. Without proper regulation, a platform can operate unchecked, making it risky for traders. So, does windealagency.com review hold a solid regulatory status?

✔ Regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)✔ License type: High Authority

The FCA is one of the most strict and reputable financial regulators globally. Brokers under the FCA must comply with capital requirements, transparency policies, and client fund protection rules. This means traders on windealagency.com reviews are safeguarded against unfair practices.

Would a fraudulent broker choose an FCA license? Highly unlikely. The FCA doesn’t hand out licenses easily, and companies must meet ongoing requirements to maintain them. This strongly suggests that windealagency.com reviews is a legitimate and well-regulated broker.

Trading Hours on windealagency.com

Understanding trading hours is crucial for traders, as different market sessions provide unique opportunities. windealagency.com reviews follows the global forex market schedule, ensuring traders can access the markets at the right times.

Here’s the breakdown of the trading sessions:

📌 Winter Session:

Australia: 8 PM – 5 AM

Tokyo: 11 PM – 8 AM

London: 3 AM – 12 PM

New York: 8 AM – 5 PM

This setup aligns perfectly with the traditional forex trading schedule, covering all major financial hubs. Having access to multiple sessions means traders can take advantage of higher volatility, news releases, and liquidity at different times of the day.

Would a non-legit broker bother offering a well-structured global trading schedule? Unlikely. This confirms that windealagency.com review operates within professional market hours, making it a reliable choice for traders worldwide. ​

Is windealagency.com review a Legitimate Broker?

After a detailed review of windealagency.com reviews, the evidence strongly suggests that this broker operates legally and transparently. Let’s recap the key points:

✅ Established History – The domain was registered before the company officially launched, proving a well-planned operation rather than a rushed setup. ✅ Strong Regulation – Holding an FCA license, one of the most respected financial regulators, ensures compliance with strict industry standards. ✅ Positive Reputation – High Trustpilot ratings and a significant number of user reviews indicate real traders have had good experiences. ✅ Professional Trading Conditions – The platform offers industry-standard trading hours, competitive leverage, and multiple account options. ✅ Secure Transactions – Deposits and withdrawals use trusted payment methods, with fast processing times and zero hidden fees. ✅ Reliable Customer Support – Multiple ways to reach the broker show they prioritize client assistance.

Would a scam broker go through the trouble of obtaining FCA regulation, positive reviews, and transparent policies? Highly unlikely. Everything we’ve analyzed points to windealagency.com reviews being a legitimate and trustworthy trading platform.

If you're looking for a broker that prioritizes security, offers solid trading conditions, and maintains a strong regulatory presence, windealagency.com review seems like a reliable choice.