#avoiding scams

[onesaltyerik]

Tech Question for the internet

My parents, who have taught me how to recognise scams, have fallen for the very scams they taught me to avoid. They also are just....really bad at their internet security. I have already suggested they delete Chrome and Facebook and get UBlockOrigin installed, possibly a VPN but I know most commercially available VPN's also sell your data so, not sure how good that is. But any other recommendations one would give to two over 60 year olds who are starting to fall for the very tricks they taught me to avoid? I may not have the best relationship with them but I really don't want to keep seeing them struggle with the internet and potentially getting scammed out of their life savings. Looking for any assistance on this matter. Thanks yalls.

[topload-brands]

Promoting Brands In A Scam-Wary World – Avoiding Scammers And Spammers.

Building a marketing or brand building company is tough enough when it comes to reaching out to new people that don’t know you from a bar of soap.  

You don’t need people out there doing harm to your type of promotional business but in 2025 that’s our new reality: a trust crisis fueled by scammers and spammers.

As deceptive tactics become more pervasive, you’ve got to pivot from the old idea of casting a wide net to taking a trust-first approach.

Your potential new customers have grown increasingly cautious and in some cases this might extend to someone in their family having been on the wrong end of scammers.   So now, every touchpoint carries the potential to either build or break a very fragile trust.

The evolution of digital behavior is unmistakable. Consumers now meticulously screen their emails, dismiss unfamiliar phone calls, and hesitate to click on even seemingly attractive digital links.

This is not merely a nuisance, it’s a seismic shift in expectations.

In this scammer infected climate, a compelling, secure digital presence is non-negotiable. Your company image and your website needs to immediately convey credibility with robust security signals, an intuitive user experience, and transparent privacy practices.

Authentic, high-quality video content can also play a pivotal role. By putting a real face and honest story to your brand, video helps dismantle the cynicism that scammers and spammers have sown.

Rethinking your channel strategy is equally crucial. Instead of relying on aggressive, generic outreach, you need to invest your time in channels that are inherently trustworthy.

Traditional venues like established media outlets, verified social networks, and native platform features provide natural safeguards against deceptive practices. Emphasize authentic storytelling and genuine engagement over sensational claims and clickbait, which only serve to further alienate discerning audiences.

Success in today’s market can no longer be measured by superficial metrics alone. It demands an assessment of deeper, qualitative interactions, repeat visits, meaningful conversations and real testimonials that signal trust.

When a marketing or brand building company actively addresses digital deception and fosters transparent communication, it should not just survive but thrive, turning skepticism into a strategic advantage.

Top 5 Takeaways:

Trust is Paramount: A genuine, secure digital presence is essential in overcoming consumer skepticism.

Behavioral Shifts: Modern consumers are more discerning, prioritizing safety over flashy outreach.

Authentic Content Wins: Videos and real stories rebuild credibility and combat the effects of clickbait.

Smart Channel Strategy: Choose reputable channels that naturally filter out spam and deceptive content.

Real Engagement Matters: Focus on deep, quality interactions rather than vanity metrics.

For a deeper dive into how to navigate this trust crisis and build lasting relationships in a scam-wary world, you can read my full article: Topload Brands - Avoiding Scammers And Spammers

[goodoldbandit]

Dark Patterns: How They Work, How to Spot Them, and How to Stay Safe.

Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo. skm.stayingalive.in Learn how to identify and protect yourself from dark patterns in digital spaces. Discover common deceptive tactics and practical solutions. In today’s digital world, users interact with countless websites and applications daily, expecting a seamless and trustworthy experience. However, not all digital experiences are built with…

[redinktill]

Just some advice I wish I knew. If you are asked for money for helping people and you go to give and the PayPal transaction doesn’t go through, it’s probably a scam and you shouldn’t give money through their emails. Just conveying this so you give to people you actually intend to give it to.

[rinoapoison]

Today's premiere 11am Eastern YouTube Due to Paris TwitchCon, no stream

[vainvaiheart]

behind every sandy man is a woman rooting for his downfall

[starcurtain]

Sometimes I think about the fact that we have absolutely no information on how long Aventurine actually spent in slavery.

He fled from the Avgin massacre as a young child, and we didn't see him again until he was a grown adult. I doubt he could have survived entirely on his own at that age and Sigonia's conditions seem too harsh for people to randomly adopt orphans, especially from a rival/outcast clan...

We do know that the master we see on screen was not his only master, because he was purchased from someone else, but we have no idea how many masters he had total before his final one, how many times he could have fled and been recaptured, how many times he was bought and sold...

We do know that Aventurine appears to have been kept on Sigonia or somewhere similarly tribal for those missing years, since his first request to the IPC is for Jade to take him to her "chief," but we don't even know how long Aventurine has been out of slavery. He doesn't look massively different in age from his "trial" with Jade to how he looks in-game now, and he did not rise through the IPC ranks over time like Topaz but won his role directly through his gamble with Jade and then later proving himself on Iymanika.

Basically, all this is leading to a big question: Is it possible that the Aventurine we know is only barely out of slavery? That there may be something like five years or fewer separating him from the wastelands of Sigonia? That he learned all these new behaviors, all this new information about how to operate as a free person in the universe, in what likely amounts to 2-3 years of Jade's guidance and his own hard work?

Man, what an incredible character. Really a standout among my very favorites.

[spacee-pop]

!!Do NOT trust people asking for commissions under your art posts!!

hey guys, I just wanted to post about this because there is like... a scary amount of people who I've seen that think these bots are actual people. do NOT trust anybody in your comments saying "your art is so beautiful, do you do commissions?" or just asking for commissions in total, but it's usually along those lines. if you get them, DELETE THEIR COMMENT, REPORT THEM AS SPAM/BOT, AND BLOCK THEM! do not reply to them, do not message them, do not interact with them in any way except to report and block them. if possible, warn other artists too! I myself have been going to comment sections warning artists and telling them to report and block any bots they respond to. maybe repost this in case you have a following of people who are artists to warn them too or make your own post to warn them.

I'd also like to add that you can recognize these bots easily from their accounts. this is from what I've seen on their blogs when I go to report and block them. they reblog other people's art, and will either have a blank profile picture and banner, or will have real photos including animals and usually women, but there are cases where they will use men.

another add-on from me! these bots usually appear very very quickly, like right after you post (at least they have for me) and usually appear alone, but in some cases you can get a few more. the biggest for me so far has been three in a row. this is what made me instantly realize they were bots the second I got my first one lol

i think this talks about what happens with these bots, it's the most recent I can find relating to commission scam bots (this is where there is a discussion on what the scam bots do if you fall for them)

[kirby-the-gorb]

[baejax-the-great]

Btw just had someone follow me from AO3 to tumblr to try to scam me so be cautious out there.

[nightmareonpeachstreet]

look at how perfect their artworks go together, they look like they're opening a performance. the vibes are immaculate

[rinoapoison]

Utter Gibberish... https://rinoapoison.com/episode-477-livestream-recap/

[crimsonrubinus]

How to tell if a commissioner scamming you (with photos from one of my scammer commissioners as an example)

Looking at the conversation I had with a scammer below, you can clearly extract . hints how you know this person is a scammer.

Number 1: They are willing to pay more than the actual price.

This is red flag number 1# in every situation. Normal people would go for the lowest price ALWAYS. And who the heck in their right mind would turn down a 10$ COMMISSION? Do they realize how EXPENSIVE commissions are?? The artwork being a gift doesn't make it any less realistic that they'd want to pay extra. And the fact that I took many days to respond yet they still want to give me 50$ makes it even more unrealistic. And the fact that they said it was a BIRTHDAY present AND I'm taking my sweet time to reply (out of anxiety)... Like, are you not worried I'll be late to make the artwork?

Number 2: They ask for unnecessary information.

As you can see in the pictures of the conversation below, you can clearly see that the commissioner asked for my e-mail. This is unrequired. What this person actually intended to do with my e-mail was to send a phishing e-mail to me (which the commissioner kindly explains to us in one of the photos).

Number 3 (if you do get a phishing e-mail): The address ends with a personal mail service (gmail, hotmail, outlook, yahoo, proton, ect.)

Not only did the phishing address I got have a mysterious "91.co" at the end of the e-mail, but the end of the phishing e-mail was a personal and public mail service... GMAIL. A tip to NEVER click these e-mails as some may contain viruses or at least a link that contains a virus.

Number 4: If the person insists that the e-mail is in fact not a phishing e-mail despite how obvious it is.

I reassured this commissioner that this was a phishing e-mail and that I did not have to make a refund or whatever gibberish that e-mail has told me to do, and I even explained to them WHY it was a scam. But for whatever reason, they still said I needed to make a refund. But then they proceeded to say that their money was still pending, which means they did not send it and could still cancel it. So why did I have to make a refund with the money I didn't receive?

Number 5: They only have one strict payment method.

What I mean is that they ONLY pay with PayPal, or they ONLY use Cashapp, or they ONLY use Venmo... Or the most suspicious of all... BITCOIN. This doesn't fully apply to this conversation, as they were somewhat open to use Cashapp when I suggested it (I think?), but it applies to most scammers who pretend to be commissioners, so I just thought I'd put it here.

That was when I blocked them and proceeded to make this post.

Unfortunately, so others don't get scammed by this same person, I'll put their profile here. This is the scammer. If they ask for a commission, don't accept it from them. Of course you shouldn't harass them, you don't know their situation (they could be trying to raise as much money as possible to save their dying mother from cancer or something... hypothetically), but please don't accept commissions from them either. Just block them for your own sake.

Also wouldn't it be fun if I just had a whole trail of comments giving more tips on how to find a scammer commissioner?

[feetpiclovers]

Are you a FeetFinder creator or buyer? Don’t fall victim to scammers! In this video, we expose the latest tricks used by scammers to target FeetFinder users and share essential tips for verifying your account safely. Discover how to protect your info, avoid third-party scams, and use FeetFinder with confidence. Watch now to learn the steps to stay secure and keep your transactions scam-free!

[silentlyinfamous]

To whom it may concern,

Beware of people claiming to be interested in your photographs/artworks/drawings etc. They will feign interest in order to get your work, often time claiming to want to buy the rights to your work for some project they may have. They will usually offer you a large sum of money for your work, upwards of $10,000 dollars at times. However this is a ploy to scam you out of what is rightfully yours.

They will usually direct you to a website of their choosing, even if you have a way of taking payment. They will usually say that it’s for their convenience but it’s a lie. Take these two “different” websites that two different scammers will direct you to. One is called “Artvaultmarket” and the other “Artpixelhub”.

They are absolutely the same, but will look professional to the untrained eye. On these websites they will seem to credit your account with payment, unfortunately the only way for you to withdraw those “funds” would be to deposit ethereum or bitcoin into a wallet they claim is the websites. Please beware, these people are devious and want nothing more than to get your hard earned money, time, attention, and most of all photographs/artworks/drawings/etc. Please be mindful when dealing with strangers on the internet. There is no direct way to report them due to them leading you off of Tumblr where the scam can happen. To the scammers and those that build these fake websites, your time will come.

Sincerely,

Silentlyinfamous