The title says it all really. So if nothing else, please share and reblog this post to raise awareness for those that might be caught out - both artists and followers.
For a TL:DR, please look at the bottom of the post
What is happening?
Right now, there is at least one person actively impersonating multiple artists across tumblr in an effort to scam their followers into paying for fake ‘cheap commissions’.
The scammer will clone a tumblr, usually using a slight change to the url/account name to look like the real deal. They will then message people directly through Tumblr with messages along the lines of “Hey, i’m doing cheap commissions right now. DM me to get one”. Naturally, this is ends up just being a way to take their money without giving anything back in return.
Who does this affect?
Everyone. Simple as that. As long as the scammer in question works unopposed, they are free to spread their influence and continue to scam more people. Even if you haven’t been targeted yet, it does not mean you are safe or immune.
Several artists have already fallen victim to this scammer, and I encourage any artists that have to reblog this post with the details of their affected account(s) and the ones the scammer has set up.
How can we stop this?
Tumblr, like many other social media platforms, seems to care very little about ‘minor’ occurences like this one, and despite reaching out directly to them over a week ago through multiple avenues of contact - they have refused to comment on the situation, provide a recommended response for users, or take action on behalf of those already affected.
Despite this, there are still tools at our disposal that we can use to make this scam more difficult, and to increase its visibility to those within Tumblr staff that are required by policy to take action.
Tumblr has the following to say on the topic of impersonation:
Confusion or Impersonation. Don’t do things that would cause confusion between you or your blog and a person or company, like registering a deliberately confusing URL. Don’t impersonate anyone. While you’re free to ridicule, parody, or marvel at the alien beauty of Benedict Cumberbatch, you can’t pretend to actually be Benedict Cumberbatch.
They then provide a link to this online form that you can fill out if you suspect someone’s identity is being confused. Unfortunately, this can only be filled out if you are the victim of impersonation. In other words, only the artists can fill this out legitimately.
So, what about the followers and users of tumblr whom aren’t being impersonated?
Our most valuable tool in this online platform is the platform itself. It enables us to spread our word near-virally across all the many sub-communities on Tumblr with remarkable efficiency for a user-driven system. We can take advantage of that effect to increase awareness of the situation. Even if you - the one reading this right now - aren’t an artist or don’t know an artist, the act of reblogging this post or sharing it directly with friends improves it’s ‘ranking’ in popularity increasing its chances to be seen by more people.
We don’t need everyone on Tumblr to see the post for it to be effective, just like we don’t need the entirety of the human population of the world to be immune to a disease for that disease to be rendered ineffective or eradicated. If enough people are aware, the likelihood of pulling off a successful scam increases dramatically reducing efficiency to a point that it no longer becomes profitable to continue.
Why should I care?
It disheartens me to say this, but of the many artists I contacted directly over the past week to warn about this issue many of them refused to listen or dodged the responsibility with lines like;
“I’m not being impersonated, so it doesn’t affect me”
“I’m just one person. I can’t make an impact”
“I need to take care of my community. Other people can look after theirs”
This is honestly disappointing that so many artists or art-rebloggers care so little as to intentionally wave the responsibility of keeping their followers and fellow artists safe from this, that they cannot spare 10 seconds of their time to share an informative post.
I’m not here to bash artists, but it is time that everyone takes responsibility for their own communities, and of those around them.
Artists: You have a responsibility to ensure that your followers and fans aren’t being abused by someone who may impersonate you. If they succeed, your reputation will be damaged, and your followers will resent you. Your followers are also almost guaranteed to be following other artists meaning your efforts can spread beyond your own circle of influence, so don’t be naive when you think you have little effect.
Followers: You have just as much responsibility to be aware of those that might try to scam you or your fellow followers. Don’t just sit in silence when you see something wrong: Ignoring the issue only makes it more resilient to our efforts to stop it. You are the vocal majority if you just use your voices to be heard!
TL:DR
A scammer is impersonating artists and scamming money from their followers under the guise of ‘cheap commissions’. If we ignore the issue, it will get worse.
Every single person that reads this can afford to spend just 10 seconds to reblog and share this post. Those 10 seconds can save others from being scammed for hundreds of dollars.
Reblog & Share
Might as well be on the safe side
If you’re getting out of the blue messages from “me” that ain’t me, I don’t think I’ve sent anyone a message that wasn’t in response to something they said first in at least a year
Stay smart yall
I don’t do comissions unless I am sought out. If I ever open them, I’ll obviously post something about it. Reblogging just in case, better safe than sorry!
The ONLY time I will ever approach someone about commissions is if you have already come to me expressing interest, and I’m just checking in to see if you’re still interested. No other circumstances
I don’t ever message anyone first about commissions. If you get a random message from me, it’s really not me.
I have not sent out any messages so if you think you’ve received one, it is fake. Contact me directly. Usually I let you guys come to me anyways.
I am NOT taking commissions right now. I DON’T send out messages about commissions either.
I will only wait for someone to contact me first when discussing commissions. If you got anything its not me!
HI, THIS IS HORRIBLE. If you get a message from “me” about a commission please disregard it! artists generally don’t reach out that way, I certainly wouldn’t. be safe, guys
As you might have heard, FOX has decided to cancel Brooklyn Nine-Nine after just five seasons. However, this doesn’t mean it’s the end for our favorite cop comedy. Many shows these days are able to be picked up by digital platforms after cancellation by a major television network.
The more we tweet and actively request for the series to get picked up, the more likely it will be one of the digital platforms decides to revive our favorite show!
Okay so here’s the thing. I love dogs. Dogs are amazing wonderful creatures. But we have to stop acting like dogs are perfect, or safe to be around every one and every thing.
I just watched a gif of a man walking his dog when they came upon kittens. The dog immediately lunged - only to have the mother cat barrel in and scare the dog off. I was furious, because the owner sat and watched as his dog lunged at a kitten - and had to be beaten off of it by its mother.
In the comments people were discussing it, saying “That dog just wanted to play! He wasn’t going to actually *hurt* the kitten!”
And I’d really like us to stop this.
“He just wants to say hi,”
“he’s just trying to play”
are two phrases commonly said by people who do not understand their dogs behavior, and make excuses for them.
That dog did not want to play. When dogs want to play, they change their body language and start using different behavior - most obviously the play bow. They sniff first, and get introductions out of the way. If your dog lunges for something the moment they set its eyes on it - they do not want to play. Just imagine, if you were a kid who had never met someone before and they just straight up attacked you. That would be different from someone walking up and saying “hey, do you wanna play/wrestle?”
And here’s the thing. There’s nothing wrong with that dog, it just should not be allowed around animals smaller than it. Cats, hamsters, rabbits, hedgehogs, even toy breeds of dogs, I wouldn’t consider safe. And thats OK! You can have a perfectly happy life with your dog never harming any animals as long as you know this and make sure to pay attention. But if that dog harms a kitten or other small animal, I blame the owner, who should have known better.
We have to be responsible owners and know our dogs. And as people, we need to stop making excuses for other animals and instead do our best to make sure everyone in the situation is safe, not just the dog who “just wants to play” or “was just trying to say hi”, while barreling straight for something.
Just because you love your dog doesn’t mean its not aggressive in specific situations. Doesn’t mean its safe for all to be around. Doesn’t mean its incapable of fault.
IDK how you see a post about “a missing child” and it’s made for a 17 year old LGBT person reportedly covered in self harm scars who left with their valuables and pet to live with their boyfriend and think ‘kidnapping’ and reblog it.
Like, please, please take 10 seconds to think about the context and look at the facts before spreading something and trying to track down someone who doesn’t want to be found.
I see so many “missing child” posts made by family of 16-17 year old LGBT people who clearly needed to leave. I hate to think of them being dragged back to an abusive home.
I know people just want to help and do the right thing, and the “spread like wildfire” and “reblog to save a life” comments may make you feel guilty for ignoring it, but just be careful.
There is a difference between a 4 year old disappearing and a very nearly adult saving up money to escape and leaving in the night with their valuables and pet/s. Be wary of ‘missing’ teens in general but particularly those who are LGBT.
I had this happen at 23. I had a missing person’s report filed against me. I hadn’t harmed myself - I simply decided to leave. Be wary of giving away information.
That’s true that missing persons reports can be filed on adults who attempt to leave home. This also can happen to adults who move out of their parent’s home state as well as adults who cut ties with their parents. This happens to people who move without telling anyone, move farther away then the parents would like, stop answering the phone, block their numbers, change the locks, etc even if the people ‘searching’ know that they are alive and well because they are still speaking to other family members or posting on social media. They just don’t care. Bottom line is not everyone claimed to be missing is actually missing.
While my post was just a mini rant about LGBT minors escaping abusive parents in particular, it gained traction so I’m going to add to it. Here are some things I want you to think about when you see ‘missing person’ posts:
Someone could be trying to escape. As I’ve already mentioned this is common with parental abuse and LGBT people but domestic abuse victims on the run is a situation you need to consider, as well as people escaping from a cult, or an arranged marriage or trafficking. You just don’t know what’s going on.
Just because a post is made doesn’t mean an official report was filed. Anyone can make a post on social media, and it doesn’t require contacting the authorities first. It doesn’t mean the person is really missing, or that the person who made it has good intentions.
You don’t know who is making the post. The person behind the computer could be an abusive domestic partner looking for the victim who had enough courage and help to escape, or abusive parents who want their child back and will punish them harshly for running away. It could even be an ex trying to track down someone who has put in a lot of effort to distance themselves and move on. Or perhaps even an internet stalker who wants a victim’s specific location and just has their name and photo and so they made the post as a scheme to get information on them.
Here are things you should look for in ‘missing person’ posts:
How old are they? Are we talking about a 4 year old child who disappeared from the mall or a 17 year old who left home? Young children are more likely to be actually missing and people old enough to care for themselves are more likely to be escaping something or someone. However, you need to consider that teens and adults can get kidnapped esp for trafficking and that small children can be tracked down maliciously just like teens and adults can. In an abuse situation, where one party escapes and take the child, the abuser could make a post to try and look for the child and their ex. This may also be the case for a parent who didn’t get custody or had all parental rights taken away. It’s just something to consider and you can’t determine a situation from age, or any of these factors, alone.
Did they take anything with them? Someone who disappeared while walking the dog and left behind their phone, keys, wallet, etc has almost certainly been kidnapped and someone who left with bags full of clothes, their wallet, keys, and phone, valuables such as computer, or even their pet/s or child/ren is someone who almost certainly left of their own accord. Pay attention to what they list off as also missing, what they were last seen carrying, or what the poster explicitly says they packed up and took with them. Generally, people who are kidnapped don’t pack first.
Where were they going or last seen? Sometimes where they were last seen, like a bus stop or train station might be a clue that they were leaving and not kidnapped, and sometimes the post may explicitly say they were going somewhere, like to ‘visit’ their close friend or partner, who they may be moving in with or staying with until they find a place. Not a guarantee, but sometimes people are where they say they are and the poster just wants them to come back.
Any situational details? The post that prompted my mini rant mentioned that the “missing person” had self-harm scars on their arms and thighs and that they were LGBT. Someone who self-harms may be doing it to cope with abuse, especially a minor, though of course, it could be unrelated. And as for being LGBT that’s a big risk factor for parental abuse and they are more likely to run away. That paired with the person having left with their things including phone, computer and cat, and was mentioned to be going to their boyfriend is enough to see they have not been kidnapped. Pay attention to details.
Does the poster ask you to contact them, or the police? I see a lot of posts with phrasing like “the police have tried everything and looked everywhere, so if you see them please call or text me ASAP” and even actively discourage you from contacting the authorities. That’s a big red flag. This person could be as mentioned before, an abuser trying to get their victim back, an ex, a stalker, or even in the situation where someone has actually been kidnapped, the kidnapper themselves. They may do this to keep tabs on the search effort and if someone calls and says they’ve seen the person, they’ll know it’s time to move on. Don’t ever call or text a personal number to give information on a missing person, even if they are actually missing.
If you do believe that someone has been kidnapped, is actually missing or in danger and you have information, call the police! That is what they are there for. Cops suck, but you have absolutely no idea whose cell phone number is in that post. Don’t use it. You could be putting someone in very real danger.
It’s not like I’m an expert or anything, but I hope this helps. Please take the time to read a missing person post and use context clues and common sense to determine if action needs to be taken. Don’t in your effort to help spread a post for a person who doesn’t want to be found or in an actual dangerous situation give information to the wrong people. Be smart and help people stay safe. Don’t blindly reblog, that’s all.
zenyatta is so cute i dont understand how some ppl dont feel anything but unabashed love for him?? his peace sign victory pose?? his tickled and taunt emotes??? he fist bumps one of his iris arm things and says stuff like “i win this round genji” with an implicit “>:3c” and says the zen-equivalent of “FIGHT ME” when another zen gives him a discord orb… hes perpetually floating jst bc and wears lil omnic sandals and asks bastion to “tell me your thoughts, my friend” and calls orisa “sister” and his on fire voice line is “i am on fire…but an extinguisher is not required” and responds to zaryas “ive got my eye on u, omnic” with “and i will watch ur back in return :^)”
i dont know where this post was going i just love zenyatta he is so goddamn cute
“i am a monument to all your sins” is such a fucking raw line for a villain it’s amazing that it came from halo, a modernish video game, and not some classical text or mythos
classic texts have nothing on the crazy people come up with in modern times tbh
“I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.”
– Joshua Graham, Who Is A Fallout New Vegas NPC, Something Most People Throwing This Quote Around Don’t Realize
“If the world chooses to become my enemy, I will fight like I always have.”
– Shadow the Hedgehog in what is widely considered one of if not the single worst game in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise
You know that episode of SpongeBob where Squidward is frontin’ like he has a five star, fine dining restaurant because of the competitiveness and sexual tension between him and Squilliam? And Patrick is like “May I take your hat,sir? May I take your hat, sir?” like a weenie?
That’s what customer service is frfr.
SpongeBob's understanding and portrayal of customer service was so accurate and advanced. But their portrayal of irritating and/or chaotic customers was also super advanced
you can see the impending inability to be satisfied in his eyes. hes smiling rn but not for long.
u can tell he’s dumb as hell, but also good natured. would bring an expired coupon to the register, but not fight you about it
self explanatory. look at her hair.
self-explanatory -basic baby boomer. always ready to fight, angry before she even gets in the store. tips one dollar.
a well known causer of chaos. can’t control his emotions. does the sort of stuff you wind up using in “back when i was a waitress” stories that you’ll tell for the rest of your life. definitely the kind of customer that makes a mess in the bathroom. personality: an interesting mixture of the dumb fish and…
