Hihis!!! This is a PSA. I'm going to name off tactics predators use to try and recruit vulnerable or younger people. I'm doing this cause I've had instances of it happening both here and on discord and I know lots of regressors use these sites. So please read up and learn how to protect yourself. And if you aren't a regressor, this info can still help you!!
These are ways a bad person might reach out to you.
❌ "Hey, we talked in (insert community, group, server, etc.) I don't know if you remember me."
This is a red flag if you didn't talk to this person. If you had no recollection of it happening. They are faking familiarity to get closer to you. Please block them.
❌ "I saw your post about (insert vulnerable thing like regression, mental illness, grief and loss, etc.) and it just hurt my heart."
This is a red flag because they don't know you or your story. This is a stranger. And they are trying to speedrun intimacy to make you feel closer than you are. Block them.
❌ "do you not have a caregiver?"/"Are you looking for a caregiver?"
Bonus points if they don't say hello or literally anything else. This person once again does not know you or your needs. No one who wants to be a carer should come to you asking for that role. They should get to know you. You should know LOTS about the person who is going to help you in your most vulnerable state. Please block this person. They are not good for you.
If you reach out to someone and they seem like a bad actor, please think about these things:
Lots of predators will try and allure you or trap you by getting you to reach out first. This is so that when you wake up to their games, they can blame it on you. I'll list some examples of how you know they're bad.
❌ "I'm so glad you reached out to me. I looked at your profile/posts/etc. and was so intrigued"
This can be harmless but it can also be someone who vetted you to see how vulnerable you are.
❌ "I was hoping you were single/needed a cg"
Once again. Somebody preying on your downfall.
Lastly, I'll list some red flags to look out for in conversation. Not every groomer or predator is easy to spot.
Red flags to look out for in convos or profiles:
❌ blank or private profiles, no age listed, no information, etc.
❌ if they push you to give info about yourself like your name, number, state, country, etc.
❌ pushing boundaries, like if you say you don't like something and they try to justify it. "I do this with my friends."/"I'm only doing this cause I like you"
❌ throwing in sexual themes randomly. (Asking if you're a masochist, a submissive, etc. Or asking you to send pictures or play innapropriate games or things of that nature)
❌ downplaying age gaps (oh 18 and 23 are the same thing) they are not. And that goes for anything. If there's an age difference and it makes you uncomfortable, that needs to be addressed and respected.
❌ sending suggestive pictures constantly. This is them trying to pressure you to do the same.
❌ messaging you late at night/once a week/getting super close to you and then texting sporadically. This is them trying to get you addicted to them
❌ praising your softness and kindness: this is because predators want open and kind people to go after. They usually want emotional support they aren't getting from people their age/able bodied people
This is NOT an exhaustive list of everything a predator might use to get to you. If anyone else has more to add, please reblog and put it in the tags or literally just add it to the post.
If you are a victim of someone like this, it is NOT your fault. If you need to talk about it, my dms are open. I see you and I'm here for you.
"I don't wanna hurt their feelings" they don't care about yours. Block them. You are worth more than them. You deserve better.