#attempted scam

[sacredartist33013]

Do not trust this individual. They are trying to use an email scam and almost just got me

Do not make the same mistakes I nearly did

@brightlotusmoon @brain-rot-tmnt @fire-fira @catbowserauthor @jerry-who-are-you-talking-to @sweepclean @technicallysublimechild spread this to whoever you can.

[lueanna]

It's my fist scam comment!

Joy! What a milestone!

long post below detailing the exchange because I just had to see where it went!

I clued in right here. The whole exchange is very vague. Which can be an immediate clue. (Not always, some people are just brief or don't know what to say.) It's really the dm request that flags this.

I was kinda curious where things would go. I took them an hour to contact my Tumblr. It's not like my tumblr is provide at the start and end of my story...Also, they say they have ideas...17 chapters behind where the current story is. (And they ask for a private dm)

Even google agreed with me when I searched: DreamyPalette ao3 scammer

That's not even the ao3 account which contacted me...

They seem to be trying to garner some goodwill here too.

I love hearing from readers, but ideas sounds like brainstorming not questionable art. Also they're supposedly chapter 15/32. Dope...(lol)

Most art scammers return ai art or nothing, fyi.

This is the start of chapter 15. (which happens to have one of the highest comment count. I wouldn't call it provocative. This section is frankly not the most intuitive or interesting to draw. (Maybe not. I'm sure some non-scammer could do wonders. I do feel like someone genuinely invested would have chosen something different. Or at least not the opening paragraph!)

It took them maybe 30 minutes to copy and post this.

Trying to build a rapport to gain trust and fake validity.

I decided to end things. I didn't want a website sent to me. (btw, the account has no posts, but a few likes and a few follows. To build some resemblance of validity.

The photo is the same as above, so I won't include the rest of it.

It's pretty obvious to anyone why I'd say it. An honest mix-up would've never happen or inspired a very different reaction. (imo). It also doesn't matter if it's their first time seeing it. (it probably isn't.) It's not like I'm pointing to a murder scene, I'm pointing at a picture which outlines art scams.

Admittedly, I am being passive aggressive, but it's not degrading. The phrase is provocative, and can often cause people to back away and it inspires sympathy. Threatens to end the conversation which I have no stake in but my amusement. Often this can feel like disapproval or disdain which can stop some people.

Previous clients: unfortunately, they probably do have victims, but I doubt their 'testimonies' would be shown. What is this? Court? The proof is probably ai generated or by the scammer themselves unfortunately.

Nothing's more triggering than a passive aggressive smiley, lol.

Still trying to scam me. Pretty common tactic. They're trying to see if they convinced me somehow, or can get the sale regardless. Not sure why they want a new dm though.

Classic scammer anger

Keep an eye out, and remember a genuine person will have a genuine connection. Not this. And if they don't, then you probably shouldn't be near that person to begin with.

Pity. I get so few new comments to begin with. And I've only gotten one fanart. (Which I realize I've never reposted, so I'm going to do that right now.)

<3 to the 2 people who give me a little something every chapter without fail.

<3 to the silent faces who also read my story. I might not know how many there are, what you think, or you, but it's an honor.

PS: I had too much fun with this, but I do feel a little mean.

Anyway, time to block and delete this scammer.

[dark-drawssss]

Thinking about those E-Mails seen in some of Nintendo's videos and how Wario and Waluigi tried to scam people with it.

It's also funny how The Bros don't report them, which either means that they're too nice or that reporting someone for attempted scam doesn't do shit even in the Mario universe, damn man.

[lunaeclips]

I got a scammer, knew immediately, and then saw how long it would be until they scammed me. I was just playing the entire time, lol.

She thought she got me 🤣

[defcon-leppard]

had me for a split sec, there bud, too bad you got angry that I was willing to rebuy my games....

ignoring my brief brainfart when it came to words, they actually beat me to the punch on blocking. Scammers hate smart people. Stay safe loves.

Also I’ve been told I’d have been notified by Steam it had been true and given a chance to contest the report. But you know how I know it’s bullshit? I went and added my phone number as another form of verification right afterwards and it worked fine.

Now for context, the ‘user’ was a former server moot that I’m pretty sure was hacked because we barely spoke even as moots. Otherwise my DMs on Discord are CLOSED. I don’t often get friend requests, or accept any from people who’ve been in my servers less than a few minutes.

[dispatchesfromzhejiang-blog]

Welcome to China!

I have officially arrived in Shanghai! I’m typing this latest dispatch from the comfort of my hotel room bed (the mattress is almost unbelievably firm, and not, I think, in a good way). The room is, at the very least, air conditioned, and it is a bed, and while the Internet may not be fast, there is Internet. All of which I am grateful for.

The past few hours have been full of firsts (and a few seconds, such as my second-ever ride on the Shanghai Maglev, which continues to astound). First time putting myself through Chinese immigration all on my own. First time hailing a cab in China on my own and then giving directions to the cab driver on my own despite the slight language gap. And, in a particularly noteworthy first, I have had my first experience with a Chinese scam artist.

Some brief background. I few Delta to Shanghai, and Delta allows you to bring two fifty-pound checked bags and a carry-on and a personal item. I arrived in Shanghai with two fifty-plus pound duffel bags, a twenty-plus pound suitcase, and my computer case. It was incredibly awkward to navigate. While I was able to put everything on a trolley in the airport, eventually my luck ran out. In other words, I had to leave the airport.

On my way to the train and on my way out of the train, the staff helped me with my luggage, taking a near-impossible task and making it merely difficult. Once I left the maglev’s Longyang Road Station, I was on my own, and it was up to me to figure out how to transport myself and my suitcases across the street to the official taxi stand. Some of it I dragged the two duffels while sparing half a hand to carry the other suitcase. Some of it I took the suitcases in shifts. Some of it I just gave up.

Long story short, there I was, looking rather tired, rather exhausted, rather overburdened, and very American. Just as I was about to get into the line to wait for a taxi, a man came up to me and offered to take me wherever I needed to go for 250 RMB (about $40). He was clearly not licensed to drive a taxi (he claimed he was an Uber, but offered no proof). I said I wanted to take a taxi like the ones lining up to take people where they wanted to go. He lowered his price to 200 RMB and helped me move my suitcases in the direction I wanted it to go. I still said no. He claimed that the taxis only went to the airport (a semi-nonsensical claim, as we were right next to the far quicker, far cheaper maglev). I got into the taxi line and started hauling the suitcases down towards where the cars were waiting. And, much to my surprise, the man helped me drag my luggage towards the certified cabs. I’m still not sure what to make of the experience. I’m pleased with myself for avoiding a scam, humored that I was targeted, and grateful that I got a little bit of help with my truly unruly luggage.

I was also pleased that I got a taxi ride for a somewhat more reasonable 60 RMB.