[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

BOTS AND SCAM COMMENTS ON AO3

WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO SPOT THEM

okay, I thought I should make this post since there has been an influx of scammers plaguing AO3 comments section and people are falling victims to them. so here it is;

WHAT THEY ARE

so far, there are three main types of these scam bots

bots that tell you AO3 is deleting works, and that you should delete the works yourself because your entire account will be affected if your works get deleted by AO3

bots that tell you your works are terrible

bots that tell you they want to draw comic panels from your works

ALL OF THESE ARE SCAM WITH MALICE INTENTIONS

bots that tell you AO3 is deleting works, and that you should delete the works yourself because your entire account will be affected if your works get deleted by AO3 are just trying to get you to delete your works, most certainly because they want to steal and/or use your works to train their AI and, once you delete your works, it becomes extremely difficult, almost impossible for you to claim ownership of your works when the original works have been deleted. AO3 IS NOT DELETING ANY WORKS.

bots that tell you your works are terrible are also just trying to get you to delete your works, most certainly because they want to steal and/or use your works to train their AI and, once you delete your works, it becomes extremely difficult, almost impossible for you to claim ownership of your works when the original works have been deleted. (more examples here and here)

bots that tell you they want to draw comic panels from your works are trying to hack your password, personal data and credit card information (they will say they see potentials in your work and are interested in drawing comic panels from it, and then they will ask you to discuss this with them on discord where you will have to pay/commission them for the “comics” you will never get, but you will get your password hacked, personal data and credit card information breached and stolen instead, do not fall for them).

HOW TO SPOT THEM

what all these 3 types of bots have in common is that;

most of them (keyword, most, not all) are guest users or empty accounts that have just been recently created.

their comments are all the same copied and pasted scripts that they mass leave on lots of authors’ works at random.

they will ask you to contact them outside of ao3 by giving you their discord, or instagram, or other social media handle.

their comments are all vague, in the sense that there will be no mention of any specific characters’ names, no mention of any specific scenes or events from your works (granted, they need to be vague because they are bots, they never actually read your works, and they have to be able to use the same comments on other writers’ works too).

EDIT: I’ve been told they got “smarter” and are now mentioning characters by names and also specific scenes from the story. Most definitely because they ran your fic through AI and let AI write comments for them. So basically, if a comment, from someone you don’t know, ends in something along the lines of “I’d like to draw a comic panel about this”, “can we chat on discord (or anywhere outside of ao3)” or anything that’d require your email or other personal information, always assume that it’s 90% a scam.

report them for spam then delete their comments when/if you get them.

please spread this if you can. us writers gotta look out for each other. stay safe, everybody ♡

EDIT (Dec 10, 2025): NEW TYPE OF BOTS WHO THREATEN PEOPLE WITH LEGAL ACTIONS

EDIT (Dec 15, 2025): BOTS IMPERSONATING LEGIT USERS, WITH REGISTERED ACCOUNTS, BY USING THESE LEGIT USERS’ AO3 NAMES AS THEIR GUEST-USER NAMES IN THEIR GUEST COMMENTS

EDIT (Dec 22, 2025): BOTS PROMOTING THEIR APP/PROGRAM AND ACTING AS AN AD (WHICH I BELIEVE IS AGAINST AO3’S POLICIES) ON COMMENTS SECTION

EDIT (Jan 16, 2026): BOTS TRYING TO PASS FOR GENUINE COMMENTS BUT FAILING AND ACCIDENTALLY MENTIONING NAMES OF RANDOM CHARACTERS THAT ARE NOT PRESENT IN THE FICS OR THE FANDOMS

EDIT (Jan 18,2026): BOTS TRYING TO ACCUSE INNOCENT WRITERS OF USING AI, BY COMMENTING ON OTHER WRITERS' WORKS AND TELLING THESE OTHER WRITERS THAT 'THIS WORK BY THIS SPECIFIC WRITER IS AI'

EDIT (Jan 30, 2026): BOTS TRYING TO TRICK YOU INTO DELETING AND DESTROYING ALL THE WORKS IN YOUR COMPUTER/FILES/DRAFTS

EDIT (Jan 31, 2026): BOTS TRYING TO ATTACK YOU FOR THE LACK OF TRANS CHARACTERS IN YOUR FICS (DOESN’T MATTER IF YOUR FIC HAS TRANS CHARACTERS OR NOT)

EDIT (Feb 2, 2026): BOTS TRYING TO ACCUSE YOU OF TERRIBLE THINGS

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN REPORT COMMENTS FROM REGISTERED ACCOUNTS

[jainydoe]

Ok so I didn't know these spam bots existed until today. I wanted to post my interaction with one so you can see an example of what this scam might look like. There were a lot of red flags during the conversation, but I'm really grateful to this post for confirming what I suspected because the last thing I wanted to do was potentially push away an actual member of the community.

It was at that point I blocked the account. Stay safe out there.

[jainydoe]

I FINALLY FOUND YOU. For some reason I couldn't find your blog through the search feature. I had to follow you here through a post of someone tagging you. Anyways, just wanted to say hi. Your fics kept me very entertained while I was waiting at the airport (and without internet during flights) this weekend. Thanks a bunch, I love how you write Emmerich 🤭

dude your comments on ao3 were so so lovely THANK YOU FOR FINDING ME!!! NOW WE CAN BE FRIENDS!!!

[emmg]

Tagged by a few peeps and finally doing it! Tagging back my usual suspects @heylittleriotact @aldisobey @thepalehorsevictoria @excited-hiss @silshinobii @davrinsleftpectoral @jainydoe @lavenderprose @thessaralka @scuttlingcrab @caughtnyact @starfleetteddybear and literally everyone else because im bad at remembering usernames

To those who have seen my selfie floating around it won’t be much of a surprise lol but basically you make your face in picrew

[jainydoe]

i love knowing beautiful people and can't wait to see everyone's portraits omg!!!

[zander-t]

All eyes on me

[coiled-dragon]

Im just feeling a certain way rn

[auujehjrgnmuuoingjoskjcnjsjshdo]

[arastir]

"Hope"

[magekrove]

the time will pass, and you`ll forget all that once was between us

no, i don`t wait for you, but you should know i loved you

for the last time

Ive spent another 4 hours on a tiktok meme and i dont even have an account on tiktok

i also didn`t play this branch in emerich`s root, but the variant connected with his age was too obvious, and this one was much funnier. And a fitting end for a dalish veiljumper rook.

Upd dudes my rook is a he

He is just a twink dksjfhggh

[jainydoe]

Stunning

[gaywill-deactivated20260129]

Actually that no punctuation plot hole ooc wattpad fanfic written by that 12 year old will ALWAYS be better than character ai. And I love that 12 year old btw

[intoapuddle]

[excited-hiss]

It's actually WIP Wednesday

Once again I'm in a position where I have so much to do, I'm clutching my hair and in agony, I have so much to do I don't have time for this.

But woe. Silence of the Lambs AU upon ye.

No pressure tags, just me squinting furiously at some enablers >:( @jainydoe @aldisobey @smoreofbabylon @emmg @mojo-bro-tho @ollypopwrites

***

Even before his room was in sight, Rook heard the sound of humming. It echoed off the high ceiling and cloistered walls, amplified by the tunnel she walked down. The path to Emmrich Volkarin’s cell was a hollow, empty space. A gaping maw, resounding in its emptiness.

Her skin prickled. It always took her a moment to adjust to the sense of wrongness in this place. The cage to hold Volkarin was not the impenetrable stone walls or the Templar Knights who guarded every entrance. It was the massive amounts of lyrium embedded in every surface, constructed into interlocking lines that formed a geometric mandala, every square inch accounted for.

The man stood in the very center of his room, lifted up slightly on the balls of his feet, with his hands clasped behind his back. Volkarin was quite tall, which only seemed to emphasize his sharp and slender nature. His cheekbones were gaunt, shadows filling the hollows of his face, darkness trying to find purchase wherever it could. Rook found him to be a contradiction in many ways.

One hand bobbed and gestured in the air, the long and imperious fingers conducting an invisible symphony to accompany the soft humming. The movements were graceful, passionate, and even though she knew he was aware of her presence, they had to wait until the music was done.

His hand articulated with a showman’s flourish, the humming reached a final crescendo, and – voila! Volkarin’s eyes opened a sliver and he turned on his heel to face Rook, smoothly transitioning that motion into a bow.

Rook clapped her hands softly. Brava.

“My dear Rook, to what do I owe this pleasure?”

The polite smile on his face dropped.

“You’re hurt.”

A small, sardonic laugh escaped her. That was an understatement, but Volkarin was always a gentleman. She’d necked a few more health potions than was necessarily safe, so she could function and fight as needed, but they did little to seal up the cuts on her face. Her lip was split, dried blood scabbed up around the swollen flesh. There was a cut above her eyebrow, dark purple and red bruising spread over her nose and cheeks.

She didn’t have time for pleasantries or the dance of riddles today. Exhaustion strained her voice, “Let me speak to Hunger.”

Volkarin stood very still, every line of his body lifted and tense. He was a knife, a razor’s edge – the danger within him almost invisible to the naked eye.

“That wouldn’t be wise, my dear. Please, do heed my warning that it is very dangerous to give into his wants.”

Her hand slammed against the arcane barrier, the wall that sealed the front of Volkarin’s cell shimmering.

“Varric’s hurt. I need to speak to Hunger.”

It was impossible to know if Emmrich Volkarin acquiesced to her wish and unleashed the demon, or if the desperation in her voice was powerful enough to summon Hunger forth. But in the next moment, Volkarin’s eyes flashed an eerie, unnatural green.

Hunger looked at her with glowing eyes of Veil light. The impeccable posture melted into something liquid and boundless, he stretched his arms upwards and let out a pleasurable groan as his joints popped. Ran a hand through his hair and tugged at the stiff collar around his neck, hating the feeling of constraint.

He placed a hand against the barrier to mirror Rook’s own. Hunger always smiled at her, greedy and shameless.

“You smell divine.” His nose skimmed the air, “Copper and dirt. Pick at your lip, I want to know what your blood smells like fresh.”

Rook took her hand back away from the barrier.

“The Wolf’s name. The ritual. You know something.”

But Hunger clucked his tongue disapprovingly, borrowing Volkarin’s professorial tone and wagged a finger at her.

“Quid pro quo, little Rook. You know the rules.”

She tried to keep her frustration at bay, but she was tired. Hurting. Growing more obsessed with the hunt by day.

“This isn’t a game! People are dying and more will get hurt – why won’t you just tell me?”

He surged forward, restless in his movements, always moving, all of his attention focused on her. The naked want and yearning on Emmrich Volkarin’s face when Hunger looked through his eyes always unsettled her.

“If I give you everything you want, you won’t come see me anymore,” Hunger whined, “And you’re the most interesting person to visit him in years. And he likes you.”

Her face twitched. Hunger was a demon, she reminded herself, and everything he said was treacherous. He wanted to escape and would say anything, that was all.

“What is the Dread Wolf’s name?”

Hunger sighed, rolling his eyes as if she bored him – leaned against the barrier and looked at his fingers.

“I miss wearing gold. He had a ring for every finger.”

“Hunger. Please.”

The glowing green eyes snapped to her face. Hunger couldn’t ignore need, even when he knew Rook was playing into it. His eyes bore into hers, his lips parted, tongue flicking out for a taste.

“Tell me about a time you were thirsty. Your body screaming for a drink, and you could not have any. What was it like? What did you dream of?”

Rook closed her eyes and tried to compose herself. It was galling, but even though he wanted to toy with her very badly, she needed him.

“In the warehouse. Where they kept the slaves while waiting for transport or auctions. Once a day a waterskin was thrown into the room, meant for everyone. There was only ever enough for a person to have a few drops. My…”

She sucked in a shaky breath. Hunger’s face was so close, it would have been pressed right up against hers if there was no barrier.

“My lips were so dry they were cracked. I felt hot and tired all the time. Then cold. I tried to lick the stone for any sort of moisture. I tried not to think about how thirsty I was, how swollen my throat felt, that it hurt to breathe or swallow. Once, I started to cry and I licked up all of my tears, even though the salt burned. And it only happened once. I cried after but there were no tears left.”

Emmrich’s eyes closed and he drew in a long, silky breath, his nostrils flaring slightly. His throat bobbed, he swallowed some delicious taste as he drank in Rook’s memory, of a time she wanted and needed so badly, she couldn’t even wring out a few tears.

His fingers stroked down the barrier, before he drew himself back. Clasped his hands together, a satisfied smirk curling around Emmrich’s lips.

“The Dread Wolf’s name is Solas.”

Solas.

It felt like a lightning bolt struck her and coursed throughout her body – she suddenly felt alive, sharp, her nerves singing.

“Solas. Elvhen? The Dread Wolf is an elf?”

But his eyes were closed and when they opened again, Volkarin looked back at her with hazel eyes. He looked…saddened.

“Fly, dear Rook. I cannot keep my hunger for you at bay forever.”

[knightsickness]

[vonspe]

@ifearnofish had Emmrich hold a kitten in this fic and I haven't stopped thinking about it since

[jainydoe]

pinterest blind date

rules: pinterest is setting you up on a blind date, search the following and post the results: fictional character, date, gift, outfit, dessert, love quote

ok this was so much fun thank you for the tag @caffeinatedmunchkin

full disclosure I had within the same day looked up astarion as a reference for smth so it's no surprise he's who came up but hey i'm not fighting it so be it yk whatever ugh i guess

anyway as for the rest of the date, i do kind of hate it, the only accurate part is maybe the sweater top situation and that quote about like child you dreaming of someone like them like yeah sure i guess it's true i've had 0 character development

all in all this was very fun but i'd rather drink battery acid than go on a dinner date and receive a box of like handwritten compliments and flowers fuck off

tagging the usual suspects @emmg @volkoss @thepalehorsevictoria @aldisobey

[jainydoe]

i wanna write an entire fic just so i can have a parallel moment where emmrich is looking down, hands behind his back, calm smile as he says "Brave Rook. You will let me know when those lambs stop screaming, won't you?"

[emmg]

Emmrook moodboards going around and here’s mine

Tagging the usual suspects @heylittleriotact @aldisobey @excited-hiss @jainydoe @caffeinatedmunchkin @lavenderprose

[jainydoe]

[jainydoe]

OK i wanted to draw smth for every prompt of the song list that @aldisobey tagged me in but maybe down the line here we go i'm running with isha

Event that defines your character's past: i am the body beautiful, salt-n-pepa spotify | youtube -

yeah i mean what more is there to say, i think in his "youth" he was a scamp who spent his days being a nepo baby and playing dress up

How your character sees themselves: reignbreaker, djerv spotify | youtube

ok ok so for starters i'm obsessed with this song and more to the point obsessed with djerv she's maybe my favorite modern artist and the way her music sounds is how I want my work to be ingested it's like gravelly and aggressive and neon and white hot ugh i'm in love with her anyway this song is exactly how isha feels about himself like he's some robin hood hero of the seas taking from the rich and giving to his crew if he watched game of thrones he'd be like Ok so I am Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Meereen, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and the Mother of Dragons and Isabela would be like Yeah for sure

it'd probably look smth like this:

How others view them: verbatim, mother mother spotify | youtube

and it's mainly because he does, in fact, wear women's underwear. They also see him as a loose cannon, no pun intended, in all aspects. There's a certain untouchability to his blatant, like, palpability? Dangerously languid? Am I making sense?

Their closest relationship (platonic or romantic): twilight, boa spotify | youtube

you know what, I've been mulling over this a lot, and I wanna say it'd be bellara but the truth is it'd be claudia (idc i'm blending the multiverse) and I think he'd watch her relationship unfold with emmrich and really not know how to feel about it. But I also don't think it's something he'd ever unpack. He'd probably just grit his teeth and be like wow I'm so Happy for you both Hahaha and only really complain about her settling down and not being around to join the crew on expeditions, meanwhile he's like unable to sleep because he keeps having nightmares of her in the water luring him overboard and he wants to save her but something keeps dragging her under and when he jumps in after her he starts drowning and that's when he wakes up it probably means nothing

A major fight scene: svarteboka, gate/djerv spotify | youtube

yeah so what I'm putting two djerv songs because this shit is Swashbuckling

End credits song: find yourself, jacco gardner spotify | youtube

this is what I think it sounds like after the events of veilguard for him. To me, this song sounds like growing up but that child part of you clinging on for dear life. I think Isha's someone who's been playing a part for everyone in his life since he can remember and now he just wants to be alone for a while and figure out who the fuck he is sans the ship

this was my favorite ask to do omg I had so much fun @caffeinatedmunchkin @thepalehorsevictoria @volkoss @emmg + anyone who wants to!! please tag me I wanna learn about ur ocs!!

[jainydoe]

ok this is for the six photos that describe you that aren't selfies thing that @aldisobey tagged me in (btw baby I am WORKING on that song thing don't you worry)

plants, a seal I photographed on a getaway, the forge, my dog, the fencing club I frequent has a photo of Salvador Dali that reminded me of emmrich, and a photo I took at this dive bar

if you're seeing this you're tagged