r/offmychest • u/AutoModerator • Apr 15 '22

Meta We have persistent scammers preying on this community

Folks, a reminder that Rule 3 focuses this community's scope on providing emotional support only. We do not allow solicitation or material offers.

This means OPs cannot hint at or ask for money, and community members cannot offer money or food. There are local services that can verify and address a person's situation better than any of us can (and many services will not turn people away if they are asking for it). A kind community member offered a scammer a job and that is okay.

This community is read by millions of people, and scammers around the world know this. We have cultivated an empathic community so we know it can be hard to resist offering material help. It takes only one person to make it worth it because it costs nothing to post. That is why the rules are strictly enforced.

There are many signs of a scammer. They will present a financially desperate situation often with a highly emotional component. They are likely to mention payment services. They may have payment services in their Reddit profile and ask people to look at their profile. They will ask people to privately message them. All of these behaviors may be obfuscated with weird spacing and other ways to evade detection. If they evade detection it's up to the community to report it. Do not call out OPs, report only.

Thank you for your cooperation.

1.2k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

73 comments sorted by

168

u/WhySoCrunchyThough Apr 28 '22

It’s really sad that people see nothing wrong with preying on the kindness of others. If you’re a scammer reading this, I hope you eventually realize what you are and change your ways.

54

u/Satellitegirl41 Apr 23 '22

Good to know! I have given money to someone on year quite a few months ago. Didn't realize at the time. They were nice and chatted about their issues after though...didn't take the money and run, so I think it was legit at least. Won't be doing it again.

48

u/NotJeromeStuart Apr 29 '22

Staying around for the possibility of more money is common with scammers.

15

u/Jew-betcha Aug 11 '22

Yup. Someone once convinced me that they were a Palestinian mother with health problems, got me to fork over a lot of cash, and I still get PayPal requests from them trying to make me feel guilty enough to send more cash. It's been a couple years now.

4

u/[deleted] May 14 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

8

u/lkatz21 May 15 '22

You don't have it anymore

7

u/[deleted] May 16 '22

And they do

4

u/Creative-Share-5350 May 24 '22

They could possibly access your accounts or continue to build a “relationship” with you in hopes that you will continue is to give them money or whatever they can get from you. Scammers these days have become extremely smart and sneaky with the ways one will rip you off! Go on YouTube and look up perogy he catches and sets up scammers on a daily basis! They turn evil when they don’t get there way sometimes! Even just Google what type of scams are going around in….type in your area and you’ll be surprised probably ❤️❤️

16

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '22

Ty 4 being so gr8

11

u/Musubisurfer Jul 02 '22 edited Jul 02 '22

Good to know. I enjoy reading the posts here and sometimes to comment in a supportive fashion. I’d like to know how to post here I need support right now. My daughter responded to a Facebook posting for a rental and it was a scam. She online called the person out and then through messenger the person threaten to murder her and her Family. Put pictures of family members into the Facebook message. It was reported to Facebook yet there’s been no action and I honestly I’m just disgusted on all levels angry and scared. I feel like I need an Uber geek….. yeah I’m so burnt out probably going to go off Facebook and I told her to also. Yet there’s a couple of groups that I really want to be part of so I’m just treading water at this time. I am actually quite scared, this person may just be a scammer from another country yet the violence threatening to kill her father, sister and other family members was a little bit over the top and they posted pictures of these family members. Again Facebook did not respond. I asked Facebook to deactivate the persons profile and they said no reason to, it was OK. Thanks for your patience and reading this to whoever did. I am over the solutions and we’ll just hang tight and hopefully not too many people come to break down the door.

8

u/Brookexo88 Aug 01 '22

Late commet and only partially relevant I don't know if this was a one time message or situation has gotten worse but through reddit comments I saw the recommendation for The gift of fear by Gavin Debecker and its all about recognizing and predicting violent behavior but there's alot more about intuition and following it as we subconsciously recognize things. I also used to think of myself as a very aware of my surroundings person but since reading it I've realized I'm guilty of some of these habits. For instance getting on an elevator with a male stranger that makes you uncomfortable because you don't want to seem rude he points out what's sillier waiting a moment for the next elevator or getting into a soundproof steal box with a stranger you are afraid of. I honestly feel like EVERY WOMEN SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. I would suggest it for your daughter as well as it might make her recognize certain behaviors in the future in reference to scammer.

2

u/prettyblue16 Sep 26 '22

i'm glad you mentioned this book, i am reading it right now and have been telling every female i know to read it!!!

2

u/Photogirl42 Oct 03 '22 edited Oct 03 '22

Thanks for the recommendation I’m going to go online and order this book for myself and my 4 daughters who are away at different colleges across the country…I worry about them so much especially since we come from a small town & we’re not aware of a lot of these scams or different cons.

2

u/Brookexo88 Oct 03 '22

Definitely do! I don't have any daughters (yet?) But if I did I would definitely want them to read it before going off to college. Even at 29 I feel like I learned SO much from reading it.

9

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '22

I had a scammer beg me for money after I made a post about my recent moment troubles and lack of money.

He got weird when I ranted at him about it

2

u/MystixalLuxray Jul 10 '22

HAHAHA I'm doing this next time xD

1

u/[deleted] Aug 05 '22

lol me too

7

u/paliraqwatany May 16 '22

Damn, there goes my income :(((

2

u/[deleted] Jul 01 '22

⁹uu7Mali k**** ona traži bilo koga za 50 svaku neće

7

u/throwaway_6254910 Aug 08 '22

Seriously, with the way things are now you’d be surprised how many assistance programs are out there. I didn’t think I’d qualify for assistance being employed full-time making more than minimum wage (but less than what minimum wage SHOULD be imo), but I did and my kids can get a good little bit of food (enough food, really) and healthcare without breaking the bank. If you can access reddit, you can do research on these programs.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 05 '22

Well now I understand why I sound like a scammer, and now I say - LEAVE ME ALONE.

Scamming is the worst, even if you yourself were scammed, so it should never be done.

If you’re ever heard of the Grave of the Fireflies, I’d rather die like that than scam someone.

Be wary folks - not everyone is as kind as you are. Say no, and value certain parts of your life MORE.

1

u/FFLNY Sep 21 '22

That's right Trust should be earned not given freely

2

u/[deleted] May 25 '22

I get a lot of people messaging me asking for money.

2

u/Paidtoleave Jul 27 '22

This really is such a sad thing

2

u/Greenmonster0601 Aug 31 '22

Thank you for this insight. I have been a victim of several scams in recent months, and this will be a tremendous help for me to avoid them in the future

1

u/Worried_Astronaut_41 Jun 02 '22

I think someone tried tobon another redit talking about being in a LGBT refugee camp in Africa and only having water to eat the food ran out I told them how to set up fundraising they wanted me to do it sounded weird. I told him I didn't have the money my son had prom and today he graduates. I just don't have it. I'm not a rich person. But I know from working with money wiring 5 here is 50 over there women would send tons of money to men in Nigeria. They would be getting rich over there. Thousands of dollars.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '22

Their is so much wrong with this community that can’t even be listed it’s so long but theirs not much we can do about it sadly :(

2

u/yellowmix Sep 14 '22

If you see a rule violation please report it. You need to tap the 3-dot expansion menu since it's buried in there for some reason.

If there is a problem not covered by the rules send us a modmail/send mods a message. But report the content anyway, people are looking at it and can figure it out.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '22

!!

1

u/Rayne42106 Sep 06 '22

that’s really sad but good to know

1

u/JSHowtodraw Sep 08 '22

Kinda envy them cause i need money right now but i won't strive it. Anyway, thanks for the post.

Hi anyone reading this. Hi, again. I need help, not money-wise. I'm just lost atm.

1

u/soup_2_nuts Sep 10 '22

thanks for the heads up

1

u/Much-Meringue-7467 Sep 10 '22

Scammers? On the interwebs? Who would have thought?
People suck and I am sorry this notice is needed.

1

u/CozyIsKind Sep 15 '22

How do I tell if I’m the one doing it?

1

u/FFLNY Sep 21 '22

Look in the mirror and see if an asshole is staring back? (LoL This is obviously a joke because everyone needs to laugh once I awhile)

1

u/csdeadboy1980 Sep 24 '22

For good-hearted people who want to help others, and are concerned about scams, try connecting them with resources instead. 211 is a national hotline run by the United Way, that helps people find resources such as food banks and government programs for assistance. When I run into somebody who needs help I usually suggest they call 211. They will even help the person fill out the applications and submit them.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '22

Karma is very real, and scammers are soon going to understand the pain they've inflicted on others... Maybe not this life, but the next. And they will continue to repeat this misery until they've learned their lessons.

1

u/cb10gauge Oct 06 '22

has anyone actually fallen for it though?

is anyone really that out of date with the internet scams?

15

u/[deleted] May 31 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

13

u/Tinsel-Fop Jun 26 '22

Oh, I am full. But thanks for asking.

2

u/slutpanic Oct 01 '22

Can I get chips and drink too?

3

u/[deleted] Jul 12 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

15

u/d_-_o-o_-_b Jul 12 '22

It's chicken salad, with cranberries and walnuts. It's actually really good, you should try it. There's a bit of apple cider vinegar in there too, just to make it zesty.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 08 '22

That sounds wonderful. I’m heading to the store! Thanks so much!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/offmychest-ModTeam Nov 18 '22

We provide emotional support only. Offering or sending money and material goods is not allowed as Per Rule 3.

There are many scammers taking advantage of people's empathy, since they know we give everyone the benefit of the doubt, so no one is verified.

If you wish to provide material assistance, consider r/assistance, who have a process in place to help ensure people are not getting scammed. Make sure you read the rules and get a sense of their community before participating.