reallyoptimisticauthor

I’ve been receiving several asks exactly like 👆 these over the course of the past few weeks. After looking into it more, I realized this is an issue other accounts (both within the Twst fandom + Tumblr and outside of it, in other fandoms and socials) have experienced.

From my understanding, this type of scam uses already hacked accounts (so they seem like “real” people thanks to previous blog activity) to phish for your private information and then steal your blog. The scam works in two ways, depending on if you have your DMs open to everyone or if you have them only open to blogs you follow.

If you have your DMs open to everyone, these scammers will use already compromised blogs to directly message you. They will claim to have accidentally reported your blog, provide a doctored screenshot as “evidence”, then advise you connect with someone on Discord who is supposedly “Tumblr staff” in order to get the “ticket resolved”.

Once you’re in the Discord DMs, the “Tumblr staff” will pressure you for your age and country of residence, then they will ask you to change your blog’s login credentials. This is so the scammer can steal your personal details + blog. (If you don’t agree, they will threaten to delete your blog for suspicious activity, which is a complete lie.) The newly compromised blogs will be used to continue scamming others + they will hold your blog for ransom money (they’ll take your money, but never actually return the blog).

Here is are examples of the DM exchanges described above. The accounts that initially reached out to them even match the people who sent me asks, though I’m sure there are plenty of other examples.

If you have your DMs limited to only blogs you follow, the scammers will send asks to your inbox (similar to the 3 examples posted above). Again, they will claim they falsely reported your blog and will invite you to contact them to see the doctored Tumblr support ticket.

This has become such a problem that Tumblr themselves has had to issue a statement:

So please, if you come across something like this, just report it directly to Tumblr Support:

Viktor: This is my first Valentine's Day and I don't want to come on too strong. I will procure one (1) reasonably priced but sentimental gift. We will go to dinner after work, get tipsy, maybe do hand stuff.

Chibifying @doricula drawing from “The Line is Covered in Jellyfish” by @yunuen

Original:

full down below :)

I just learned today that there is a new type of bot comments on ao3 who try to trick you into deleting your works from your computer/drafts/files. not from your ao3 account. from the folders on your device that you use to write and save your writings.

they will come up with some bullshit, the usual, and tell you you need to follow the instructions they give you in their comment if you want your ao3 account to be safe (or some other bullshit they come up with, with the goal to scare you into believing them and doing what they tell you to do). if you fall for their lie, if you do what their comment tells you to do, boom, everything you've written and saved in your folders is gone. there's no getting them back. ALL OF YOUR WIPS, DRAFTS, EVERYTHING THAT IS SAVED ON YOUR DEVICE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DELETED.

>>> HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEIR COMMENT LOOKS LIKE.

DO NOT FALL FOR THEM. DO NOT DO WHAT THEY TELL YOU TO DO. REPORT THEIR COMMENT FOR SPAM.

Thank you in advance!

✎ Anti AI Ao3 Graphics // Request

･ ⟢ ⋮ Free to use, credit not required but appreciated. Reposts/Edits/Recolours/adding to Masterlists or hoards allowed.

YESSS I love this idea oh my gosh. I stuck to the colours of ao3, but if anyone would like any recolours let me know! I’m definitely gonna use these eheheh.