#avoid scams

It claimed to be from Google and wanted me to click and win a mystery prize. There were even past winners featured at the bottom of the page with prizes like thousand-dollar gift cards. But it was very, very fake. If you look at the url, it's definitely not from Google, or even a reputable-sounding source. (Do I entirely trust Google? No, but that's another story.)

To whom it may concern,

Beware of people claiming to be interested in your photographs/artworks/drawings etc. They will feign interest in order to get your work, often time claiming to want to buy the rights to your work for some project they may have. They will usually offer you a large sum of money for your work, upwards of $10,000 dollars at times. However this is a ploy to scam you out of what is rightfully yours.

They will usually direct you to a website of their choosing, even if you have a way of taking payment. They will usually say that it’s for their convenience but it’s a lie. Take these two “different” websites that two different scammers will direct you to. One is called “Artvaultmarket” and the other “Artpixelhub”.

They are absolutely the same, but will look professional to the untrained eye. On these websites they will seem to credit your account with payment, unfortunately the only way for you to withdraw those “funds” would be to deposit ethereum or bitcoin into a wallet they claim is the websites. Please beware, these people are devious and want nothing more than to get your hard earned money, time, attention, and most of all photographs/artworks/drawings/etc. Please be mindful when dealing with strangers on the internet. There is no direct way to report them due to them leading you off of Tumblr where the scam can happen. To the scammers and those that build these fake websites, your time will come.

Sincerely,

zoneoftreatys / Elizabeth Kegocha is a documented scammer.

some usernames they had previously used to run this scam are foggybouquetsublime, deafeningpaintercat, generalmilkshakepatrol, qualityengineerfest, timinah9, instantnutshark, radhideoutsublime, lazyangellady, furrybouquetdonut, differentballoonjellyfish, cooldeerruins, perfectlyzanyobject, timinah96, coraltyrant, luckypersonafart, unabashedsuitlover, dutifullylegendarymoon, groovywinnernerd, perfectlyhardfan, happilyjoyfulnut, scarletmanticoregrail, royalgladiatorutopia, and hardenemysalad 

https://www.tumblr.com/kyra45/741259579611136000/hey-theres-a-blog-called-timinah9-thats-sent-me

https://www.tumblr.com/scam-alerts/771416018300108800/perfectlyhardfan

this is an archive of zoneoftreatys’ blog on july 6th when they were using a paypal account under the name Hyvonne Bosibori: https://archive.li/LvwjF

this is an archive of another tumblr account, mysteriousmartyrjinx, running a completely different scam but linking to that same exact Hyvonne Bosibori paypal account: https://archive.li/pYNOL

Oh well I didn't know about that. Thanks Mr/Mrs Anonymous!

And as for you @fleetway1900.........

There are also other scams:

Telephone calls about the stimulus payment asking for your bank account information posing as the government.

Fake at home Coronavirus test kits

This is an interesting email for 3 reasons.

1) I haven’t opened my current laptop (the one that isn’t 6+ years old) in about 2 weeks so kudos for hacking something that isn’t on.

2) All of my webcams are covered, so that video is gonna mighty dull. (Also you know... Sex-Repulsed Aro/Ace, I don’t watch porn).

3) The grammar is atrocious, if you’re going to blackmail me at least do me the courtesy of being grammatically correct.

To whom it may concern,

Beware of the profile “carinnelson” , they are scammers. They express interest in your photo or artwork and claim to have a client. They claim that you will be compensated for your work. This particular instance they want to use Cashapp for the payment. When provided with the legit cashtag they claim that there is a problem and need your email address. This is a ploy just to get your email so they can further the scam. Once they have the email, they send you an email stating that the amount has been credited but because it is not a “business” account the limit needs to upgraded. THIS IS A LIE…for the cashapp personal account you have an unlimited limit on receiving funds. However, they claim that they have deposited extra funds to upgrade your account and now you have to refund them the amount. In this case it was $500 to be refunded so the account would be credited with $1500. Again this is a lie. You should never have to pay or send money to get payment. Furthermore, the “Cashapp support help” is from an aol account. When Cashapp uses a square account for there emails. I even verified my account to make sure. Again these people have no conscience apparently and believe that this is ok to do, and that we’re the ones who don’t understand. Please be careful and double check always before dealing with “interested buyers” over the internet. If you see the account “carinnelson” block them or report them. They will get what is coming to them. You reap what you sow…

Sincerely,

Silentlyinfamous

To whom it may concern,

If you come across this account or are contacted by this account beware. This is a scam artist who will try to collaborate with you claiming to have a client interested in your work. They claim to want to use your work as “inspiration” for a project. This will happen over the course of a couple of days. They will produce a sketch of your photograph or artwork to make you think that they are working on the project. They will ask for your information so that their “client” can send you payment. They will send you a photocopied check in whatever amount was agreed upon and tell you to print it out and deposit it in your account. All the while claiming to be fair, friendly, and wanting you to get paid. When you deposit the check it will actually clear and credit your account for a while and this is when they will pressure you to send them “their” cut immediately. DO NOT DO THIS!!!! Always wait a couple of days for the bank to actually clear the check. If the check is actually legit then the money should stay there, no problem. But it always bounces and you will be left responsible for whatever amount you withdraw. Also, you look complicit. If you try to contact them to get payment or rectify the situation, they will play stupid or just be outright disrespectful. Again be aware. There is no way to report this account for scamming, but your day will come.

Sincerely,

I got a message from someone claiming to be a Lottery winner. Said she'd chosen me to receive $50k. I politely responded to her message. I did a search for the name and found an article about someone scamming people by offering to share her Lottery money. The scammer "needed" financial information to send the money.

Just sharing this information so no one gets their bank account emptied. I told the person I didn't want her money.