Angelic_Mew Mar 4
Fedi.Tips

⚠️ Scam warning: there are accounts posing as Mastodon admins claiming to offer "rewards" or "payments" or "partnerships".

These are scams. There are no reward or payment schemes on Mastodon. No genuine admin would ever send this kind of post or reply.

If you see scam posts like the ones in the screenshot below, report them by clicking ⋯ on the scam posts and then selecting "report".

#Mastodon

Mar 2 at 9:10pmWeb
Show threadFedi.TipsMar 3

p.s. Another couple of scams to watch out for as well:

- Scammers saying you need to verify by clicking on a link. Admins will NEVER demand you verify. The verification system on Mastodon is optional and does not involve credit cards or any kind of payment.

- Scammers saying you need to temporarily change your account's email address. Admins will NEVER do this. This is done by scammers who want to take over your account, which is possible if you change your email to match theirs.

Show threadFedi.TipsMar 3

p.p.s. I've just done a guide all about how to deal with scams and scammers on the Fediverse at:

➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-to-avoid-scammers-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse

I've tried to cover all the known scams and questions people have about dealing with them. If I'm missing anything from this please let me know.

How to avoid scammers on Mastodon and the Fediverse | Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse

An unofficial guide to using Mastodon and the Fediverse

Show thread💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱Mar 3
@FediTips
I had 3 come up today, all different userids. They each cam up each time I made a post to https://programming.dev/c/dotnetmaui, replying to it from Mastodon, but not when I posted to different Communities, so they're not following me per se, but some combination in there triggered them each time, but a different bot each time, as I said
.NET MAUI - programming.dev

Lemmy

Show threadLeelooMar 3

@FediTips
The email one ought to be bloody obvious. If someone is asking you to change an email address to one that isn't yours, they are going to use that email to gain access to your stuff.

The rewards one, not so much, unless you know that Mastodon admins can barely afford to keep their server running. You'd have a better chance buying shares in mr. St. Claus' toy factory on the North Pole.

Show threadGhostOnTheHalfShellMar 2

@FediTips

First, I was trying to hit the boost button, and I kept pressing it because it didn’t seem to take and then I realize you have a screenshot. 😅

Show threadHikarii @ BART MART 3/26Mar 2
@FediTips imagine trying to scam on mastodon... Who r u trying to scam.. thats crazy...
Show threadLandonMar 2
@FediTips All write, thanks I'll keep that in mind. I do not fall for these scams, neither would anyone else here. What's next, someone desides to start bitcoin scans? Like what the heck.
Show threadColes Street PotholeMar 2
@FediTips I wonder how large (or small) the Venn diagram is for folks (1) smart enough to navigate the shoals and set up a Mastodon account and (2) uh, .... not smart enough to recognize this as an absolute scam. 🤔
Show threadHellaMar 3

@ColesStreetPothole @FediTips

Everyone has a weak day. So fight scammer scum, but don't condemn those who fall for them.

Show threadSpeed demon 🇪🇺 🇳🇴🇺🇦🇵🇸Mar 2
@FediTips That smarmy tone, and "you'll receive payment" , like, d'uh. I live in Norway, and our tone is pretty matter-of-fact, not exactly gushing, but does *anybody* *anywhere* actually communicate like that ?
Yes, for real, where I live
33.3%
No, never seen non-sarcastically
66.7%
Poll ended at .
Show threadChamomile 🐑Mar 3
@hakona @FediTips It's trying to mimick the ingratiating corporate tone that large US-based services use. It's not a particularly good imitation though (comes across as a bit dated) and people definitely don't speak that way in a personal context.
Show threadChookMother 🇦🇺🦘Mar 3
@hakona @FediTips Looks like a translation from another language.
Show threadTheNovemberFella ✊🏳️‍🌈 🇺🇦☸️🛰️🚀Mar 3

@FediTips "I got RICH off Mastadon, and you can too! Send me $50 and I'll tell you how!"

#PTBarnumLives

Show threadMaxMar 3
@FediTips
👀 @mwadmin
Show threadRasmus LindegaardMar 3
@FediTips already did 😉
Show threadEric BonoMar 3

@FediTips

Received a 3rd version, telling me my account was suspended!

Show threadFedi.TipsMar 3

@EricBono

Yup, that's an older scam they've brought back it seems. I'll do a follow-up post about that as well.

No admin will ever demand you verify your account. The verification system on here is optional and works using websites and not links like that.

Show threadWorldTravelerAll7Mar 3

@FediTips

I assume this is a scam. i was going to report it, but i don't even know what they're saying. so i blocked it.

Show threadZalasur 🐸🇺🇦Mar 9
@WorldTravelerAll7 @FediTips When in doubt, report. As an admin myself I'd rather get a report made in good faith that turned out to be a false alarm rather than find out that an account on my system was bothering or scamming other users but no one reported it.
Show threadWorldTravelerAll7Mar 9

@zalasur @FediTips

really? was it in fact a scam? i didn't understand the abbreviations or what it meant, so i wasn't sure. was hoping one of the more tech savvy people would know & report it

i'll keep that in mind next time💙

Show threadRuudMar 3
@FediTips
I nuked all those accounts and closed registrations again. Sorry for the trouble.
Show threadFedi.TipsMar 3

@ruud

Okay, good to hear! 👏

Show threadKotkingMar 3
@FediTips good for reporting practice, also I now better understand how reporting works and appreciate it even more now. 
Show threadLinkszentriker CrisMar 3
@FediTips What is even the point of scamming to take over a mastodon account anyways?
Show threadFedi.TipsMar 3

@alteNBnordpfalz

They use it to post the other scams that steal credit cards etc, and because they come from a trustworthy account people are more likely to fall for them.

Show threadpadeluun ⁂Mar 3
@FediTips Wir fordern eine Klarnamenspflicht im Fediverse!
Show threadFrank WittemeierMar 3
@padeluun @FediTips aber nur für bots 
Show threadJaddyMar 4
@padeluun @FediTips Meinen Klarnamen könnt ihr meinem Lichtbildausweis entnehmen…
Show threadJellyfriend Mar 3
@FediTips The only reward i earn from my posts is the confused/horrified reaction from those that see them. 
Show threadnLupo  Mar 4
@FediTips I reported one such account, yesterday.
Show threadskedarwarriorMar 13

@FediTips I didn't see this comment till now, but I feel like people using Mastodon probably are 90% less likely to fall for such scams than people use stuff like twitter, facebook and other proprietary social media sites.

Just to eloberate, people who use open source operating systems are more intelligent than say... windows, apple or google os users.

Because open source systems require more CLI usage. Although linux's usage of CLI is miles better than DOS.