⚠️ Scam warning: there are accounts posing as Mastodon admins claiming to offer "rewards" or "payments" or "partnerships".

[max@afterspace.rocks]

@FediTips
@mwadmin

[rasmus91@fosstodon.org]

@FediTips already did

[unixwitch@social.tchncs.de]

@ColesStreetPothole @FediTips

Everyone has a weak day. So fight scammer scum, but don't condemn those who fall for them.

[ericbono@beige.party]

@FediTips

Received a 3rd version, telling me my account was suspended!

[worldtravelerall7@mastodon.world]

@FediTips

I assume this is a scam. i was going to report it, but i don't even know what they're saying. so i blocked it.

[ruud@mastodon.world]

@FediTips
I nuked all those accounts and closed registrations again. Sorry for the trouble.

[kotking@blorbo.social]

@FediTips good for reporting practice, also I now better understand how reporting works and appreciate it even more now.

[feditips@social.growyourown.services]

@EricBono

Yup, that's an older scam they've brought back it seems. I'll do a follow-up post about that as well.

No admin will ever demand you verify your account. The verification system on here is optional and works using websites and not links like that.

[feditips@social.growyourown.services]

p.s. Another couple of scams to watch out for as well:

- Scammers saying you need to verify by clicking on a link. Admins will NEVER demand you verify. The verification system on Mastodon is optional and does not involve credit cards or any kind of payment.

- Scammers saying you need to temporarily change your account's email address. Admins will NEVER do this. This is done by scammers who want to take over your account, which is possible if you change your email to match theirs.

[feditips@social.growyourown.services]

@ruud

Okay, good to hear!

[smartmanapps@dotnet.social]

@FediTips
I had 3 come up today, all different userids. They each cam up each time I made a post to https://programming.dev/c/dotnetmaui, replying to it from Mastodon, but not when I posted to different Communities, so they're not following me per se, but some combination in there triggered them each time, but a different bot each time, as I said

[feditips@social.growyourown.services]

p.p.s. I've just done a guide all about how to deal with scams and scammers on the Fediverse at:

️ https://fedi.tips/how-to-avoid-scammers-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse

I've tried to cover all the known scams and questions people have about dealing with them. If I'm missing anything from this please let me know.

[altenbnordpfalz@pfalz.social]

@FediTips What is even the point of scamming to take over a mastodon account anyways?

[leeloo@chaosfem.tw]

@FediTips
The email one ought to be bloody obvious. If someone is asking you to change an email address to one that isn't yours, they are going to use that email to gain access to your stuff.

The rewards one, not so much, unless you know that Mastodon admins can barely afford to keep their server running. You'd have a better chance buying shares in mr. St. Claus' toy factory on the North Pole.

[feditips@social.growyourown.services]

@alteNBnordpfalz

They use it to post the other scams that steal credit cards etc, and because they come from a trustworthy account people are more likely to fall for them.

[padeluun@digitalcourage.social]

@FediTips Wir fordern eine Klarnamenspflicht im Fediverse!

[frank@social.wittemeier.de]

@padeluun @FediTips aber nur für bots

[lazyb0y@mastodon.social]

@padeluun
ich fordere dass mein social media Name automatisch in meinen Personalausweis eingetragen wird
@FediTips

[jellyfriend@plush.city]

@FediTips The only reward i earn from my posts is the confused/horrified reaction from those that see them.

[nlupo@amikejo.xyz]

@FediTips I reported one such account, yesterday.