#impersonation scam

[chubbywaiifux]

reminder that I ONLY EVER post on here ig and OF ,don't get scammed by ppl impersonating me here on tumblr and other platforms

[chrissy-kaos]

Aaaannndd my block list grows ever so slight everyday. You’d think these scammers would eventually have something better to do other than steal content and impersonate famous trans girls? How are y’all still falling for this shit?

[sunatsubu]

PSA ABOUT PHONE SCAMS FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IMPERSONATORS So. I almost fell victim to a really elaborate phone scam. Now that I've had time to process it, it's deeply unsettling how convincing the scammers were, and I don't know how far they might've gotten if it hadn't been for a tumblr post that I'd read recently, warning about these strategies. For the life of me I can't find that post now which is a shame because it explained the strategies very well, but I'll try to reiterate the main points I remember that helped me realize in time that I was being scammed. Hopefully no one else has to go through this but in case they do, may this help you recognize the red flags MUCH earlier than I did. (if anyone knows of the post I'm talking about please let me know! It went into a lot of good detail of what to watch out for)

I'll try to summarize how it went down first. I was called by someone claiming to be from the FTC. They gave me a badge number and a case number. They said a package being shipped to me from Mexico was intercepted, and contained illegal drugs and huge amounts of money, that my name was used to open accounts at multiple banks, and that my name was also used to try and claim some property in some random city/state I'd never been to. Of course this was immediately alarming to me and I start freaking out, but they then reassured me that after a background check they determined this is most likely a case of identity theft.

The convincing part was how much effort they seemed to put into asking if I could remember any instance where my identity might've been compromised; like they were legit trying to investigate the case in order to catch the actual culprit. So of course I'm trying to be as helpful as I can. They haven't asked me anything specific like bank accounts or SSN, so no obvious red flags.

Then they go into the steps I needed to take in order to establish I'm not the actual criminal who tried to ship drugs across the border, that it really is a case of identity theft. They describe to me ADR (alternate dispute resolution), which I quickly looked up and seems like is an actual legal thing. Basically they were saying that if I chose this option I don't have to hire my own lawyer/show up in court/etc, that the US Marshal will on my behalf establish to the court this was a case of identity theft.

They transfer me to someone supposedly at the Department of Justice, who also gives me a badge number. This person goes into more detail about the steps I need to take, that because my identity has been used to open up all these bank accounts and shipping drugs to multiple countries, etc - that I would need to be assigned a new SSN. And to do that, they needed to know which accounts were actually mine; so they asked me to verify exact amounts in my bank accounts, and anything else that was directly tied to my SSN such as credit cards.

They kept reiterating that I needed this new SSN so that they can monitor my old one and be able to catch whoever is using it for all these illegal activities. They emphasized I should stay on the line, and to also not tell anyone about this ongoing investigation because the identity thief could be anyone I know. I'm still not getting suspicious at this point because they keep emphasizing they don't want to know any specific bank account #s or my actual SSN, because that would be illegal to ask for.

I then get transferred to the supposed US Marshal, again gives me a badge number. Again going into more detail on how to secure my actual accounts so they can close out/track the fake accounts. He starts getting more into detail about securing my bank account and how I needed to go to the bank in person. He emphasized that I shouldn't tell the bank teller what was going on because they could be involved in the crime, or something about money laundering, I don't remember exactly what the explanation was.

This is the point I started getting suspicious; I remembered specifically from that tumblr post that the scammers will want to keep you from revealing anything to bank employees because they are trained to recognize scams like this. I continue the conversation though, and the 'US Marshal' goes on to say, in order for me to secure/establish this account as truly mine, that I need to withdraw 50% of my funds from it in cash, and not a cashier's check. THIS is the point I realize what's going on, and I stammer out something about wanting to verify the badge numbers they gave me, and quickly hang up.

Things they did that made it believable: - Giving me badge numbers and a case number - Reassuring me they don't want to know sensitive information like SSN, bank account numbers, etc. - Seeming genuine in investigating how my identity might've been compromised - Citing actual legal pathways like ADR - The way they slowly ramped up the urgency so as not to come off as suspicious too suddenly. They worked up my fear from a more believable scenario (that my identity was stolen and being used for criminal activities including opening a bunch of bank accounts) and used that to justify the steps I needed to take to secure my own actual accounts.

Things that should have been red flags: - I was too panicked in the moment to notice right away but I'm fairly certain all 3 people I talked with had the same accent. What are the chances of that for 3 different employees at supposedly 3 different government organizations? (these were things that thank god I remembered reading from that previous tumblr post) - they kept me isolated by claiming anyone I know could be the actual culprit who stole my identity. - They urged me to stay on the line as they continued to transfer me to the next person, keeping me from calling anyone else. - they said not to let the bank teller find out what was going on

Things I did not know but learned, either from looking up myself or from the FTC when I called to report the incident: - Different departments don't actually communicate very closely. So they'd never transfer me from department to department the way the scammers did. The FTC for example wouldn't be able to ask the Social security department to issue me a new number. - Nobody from the FTC will give you a badge number or ask you how much money you have in your accounts.

Steps I took afterwards, because I'm fairly certain I never gave actual sensitive information, but in my ramblings to try and be helpful with their 'investigation' I might've said something compromising. - Called the US Marshal office just to triple check; they almost immediately said it was a scam as soon as I mentioned 'badge number.' - Called the FTC to file a fraud report - Called one of the credit bureaus (Experian I think) and placed a fraud alert on my credit activity. This automatically applies to all 3 bureaus, and lasts for a year - Changed my bank acct passwords

I feel pretty stupid in retrospect at how panicked I got, but I do feel like they were very good at manipulating my emotions to believe them for as long as I did. So as embarrassed as I am to admit I almost fell for this, again hopefully this might help even 1 other person spot the red flags early enough.

[bigcutiebonnie]

I have had so many messages recently regarding the scammer impersonating me. Now they are apparently asking for money to fund their gain. Unfortunately there’s no option (that I can see) of my reporting them. I have them blocked 🚫

I hope no one falls for this scam🙏🏻 everyone please reblog this, I’m not aware of what name they are using now. If you know reblog & let everyone else know ❤️

[weirdenbyferret]

I'll find an ask in my inbox and I'll get so hopeful, wishing that its perhaps an ask about one of my aus or something andddd then its a palestine scam-

[boygirlctommy]

fuck it cbench as cryptids

[mangocheesecakes]

I have struggled to find money for my mother's treatment for a long time, I have met many different people, that's why if I see someone saying I'm lying, I don't have time to argue with him because I've been insulted by so many people, I'm not surprised at all

the paypal account is having problems, money is being sent but i can't withdraw, now i use my sister's account, even if you look carefully you don't see the last names match, if you have the heart to help someone or not to help someone you stop because there are people who have the heart to help them, so i ask you to stop sending messages untrue.

Babe didn't you have me blocked just now? The post you are sharing is literally months old, the real person's Facebook account have proper, DETAILED updates on their mom's condition. your post says TODAY, your mom was rushed to the hospital, but in reality, that update was last March, Vivian had her surgery already and is now in recovery. Anyone can just contact the person on my screenshots to verify whether you are lying or not. You are impersonating someone with a large following, how long do you think you can keep this up?

Huwag na nga tayong maglokohan. Yung totoo, Filipino ka 'no? 🤔

[corythesaxon]

LMAO 💀

[artbyzephra]

For clarity, I am Zephra on discord, not artbyzephra - an impersonator/grifter is trying to scam people using a discord username that I was unable to claim during the name change.

Discord has not responded to my ticket yet, so trying to get the news out there in hopes no one falls for it - my discord also has my socials connected now to make it more obvious which one is mine.

[machinavillage]

in the “so lonely i burst into tears… no im fine actually :D” mode

[macmanx]

It looks like this "WordPress Security Team" impersonation scam is back, so please spread the word!

The WordPress Security Team will never email you requesting that you install a plugin or theme on your site, and will never ask for an administrator username and password.

[tarotoftheendless]

Tom Sturridge Imposters... well, really any celeb imposters, but especially TomStu

There are a fuck ton of imposters/catfishers/scammers out there claiming to be the real Tom Sturridge. There are fake accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and even texting apps like Telegram!

And this post is here to help fans navigate the confusing situation of dealing with these fakers. We will help each other weed out and vet these accounts.

I plan to also post pics of known fake accounts as to warn other fans against trusting them. We don't want any of our Tom Sturridge lovers to be hurt out there because they love Tom so much that they really believe that he is talking to them.

But what you need to realize is is this: TOM DOES NOT HAVE ANY SOCIAL MEDIA. Period. He has an old Nokia phone and has said that he does not have access to the internet.

Maybe that is completely true, maybe not, but if he is on social media at all it would not be with his own name and it wouldn't be with his own picture. He is a private man and as far as we know right now, he doesn't have any social media.

Here are a couple sources that are proof of what I am talking about:

This text is from Neil Gaiman himself and it states:

Tom is not on social media. He's not asking anyone for secret private charitable donations. Anyone asking for money is a scammer trying to steal money from other people by fraud.

I am on lots of social media and I get continual messages about fake Neil Gaimans asking people to contribute money to charity or whatever.

It's not Tom. It's not me. It's not ever a celebrity. It just someone hoping to trick you out of money or into something you don't want to do.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tom Sturridge (@tomsturridgefans)

The text with this Instagram post from @tomsturridgefans states:

Please read. Scam Warning:- Some of you will know that I am a fan of Tom mostly through the theatre. Although I came across him firstly in 'Being Julia' 18 years ago.

I never had been so excited for him when I heard he was to be The Sandman. However, our little fanbase I feared would change forever. Today at Comic Con it became very clear (nothing to do with CC but what I learnt from a new fan).

I started a social media account for Tom only recently to try have a safe space for us to talk and chat and share photos/ artwork. I feared that it would be full of people taking advantage and being a bit crazy in a creepy way. Good crazy is okay!

I even started getting dodgy messages and ignored them. I started getting them on my personal account too, as my photo was an old one with Tom and I. I had to change it (sadly) and the messages stopped. That account has always been private, but you could see my profile photo.

Please understand Tom doesn't do social media. He will not message you or 'agents' pretending they can get you in touch with him. I won't name person, but I learnt they believed it. They paid money for fan card, meet and greets etc. Tom does not do any of this. Please be so careful. Tom or any celebrity will not ask you for money. They have their own, hehe! These are people scamming you and even cat fishing you.

Impersonating someone is illegal. Let me know and I can help report and post on here to warn you to avoid. Please keep safe.

************************************************************************

Please take note of some common things to look out for when wondering if an account is real or an imposter:

They have not been an account for very long. Especially if they were established right after The Sandman first came out.

The location that they are based out of. Some accounts you can check to see if they have a country of origin and if it is a weird location, like Nigeria as many of them are, then it is a scam.

How many times the account has changed their name. Yes, some official accounts have changed their name many times, like I have had to do a few times when I myself had a stalker but I digress. If it looks weird and they have changed their name more than once, it is probably a scam.

Now to the meat of it: If they refuse to not do anything except text you, they are a scammer/fake.

If they say that their team/management has control over all their devices and won't let them call or video chat or even send pictures, they are a fake.

If they say that they can give you info to contact their team/management about becoming a "true fan", and that management then quotes you any amount of money to be able to finally get in full contact with Tom, they are a fake.

That being said, "Fan Cards", "Fan Codes" and anything of that nature that they say is needed to get into full contact with Tom is a scam.

If they, the fake Tom/celeb or the "team/management" asks for private information like bank info or address or anything of that nature, that is a scam.

If the fake gets mad at you for being wary or scared or you simply questioning him about his own validity, then that is a scammer. Tom is almost 40 years old, he is above getting mad at people on the internet like that, considering he doesn't have a social media at all in the first place. But those scammers are trying to prey on your "please love me" sensibilities when it comes to Tom and they are trying to shame you into feeling bad for asking questions and not blindingly believing them. If they get mad at questions, they are a scam.

That being said, yeah, if they get mad at you asking screening questions or really just asking them questions about themselves, then they are a scam. They likely don't even fucking know as there is rarely someone that has done their research on Tom that is also am imposter.

Though, there are a couple of good imposters out there that have done their research, so just because they can answer all the Tom questions correctly doesn't mean they are Tom. Remember all the other signs that I have listed. Some of these scammers are good enough to have done their research and yet all the other signs will be there. Stay vigilant!

Also, though I feel weird about mentioning this, but broken English is also a sign. I know not everyone's first language is English, but Tom's is. Tom may be awkward sometimes but he is more articulate than not. I would think that if he is gonna text at all he is going to make sure it is written well and understood clearly. Tom is a well-read, well-educated articulate almost 40 year old Englishman, he would speak and text English very well.

Anyone starting out their text with "Hello Lovely fan" or anything like that is very much an imposter. Also if you get asked how long you have been a fan by these accounts claiming to be Tom, they are likely a scammer.

Another thing to look out for is if they are trying to get you to go to a different social media app and or texting/chatting app for a more "private" conversation because their "team"/"management" is watching them, like Google Chat, especially Google Chat, then they are an imposter. Even if they don't mention their team or management and they are just trying to get you off of Instagram, Facebook or TikTok onto a more "private" chat app, then that is a sign of an imposter.

So, if someone claiming to be Tom says that he isn't with Alexa Chung and or that their relationship is a publicity stunt, don't believe them. They are likely not actually Tom and are trying to get you comfortable around them.

We don't know for sure if their relationship is fake or real, but for now it should be taken as real considering even Sienna recently went on Vogue and talked about Alexa essentially being a part of the family now. Yes, there has been rumors for years that Alexa is a professional beard, but those are rumors, and rumors are not true and shouldn't be taken as such.

And anyone who is a fan of Tom's has seen the month of Alexa Chung birthday celebrations content where they kiss and look happy and are with family and friends. Many of those videos are deeply buried as they were intended to be private even though they are on social media. But because they are coming from family and friends socials and not paparazzi, then we should consider those pictures and videos to be true.

Alexa and Tom are happily together and anybody claiming to be Tom Sturridge saying otherwise is likely an imposter.

************************************************************************

I am posting this because I know what it is like to get your hopes up and to be mentally and emotionally drained by these imposters. I know some people that have actually lost thousands of dollars because they really believed they were talking to the real Tom Sturridge. They weren't. Please be careful out there guys.

I will post videos below that show the proof that Tom doesn't have social media of any kind. At least none that the general public will ever get their hands on, so, you have been informed now. Let's help each other stay safe. If you find any imposter accounts out there report and block them.

I will list the Instagram accounts that I know about so far that are imposters that I have blocked. I have also found accounts on Facebook that are imposters too but I have to find them again.

INSTAGRAM IMPOSTERS:

tomsurridge1988

privatetomsturridge420

tomsturridge6

private.tomsturridge02

pvt_tom_surridge4768

pvttomsturridge

sturridge934

realtomsturridge__

tomstrurridge6

tom__sturridge_

sturridge__

official_tom_sturridge

tom.sturridge_private

privately__tom_sturridge56

tom_sturridge__

sturridge360

tomsturridge65

tomsturridge_1

sturridgetom6

tom_sturridge1

tomsturridge4real_

tom.sturridge96

tomsturridge54

officialtom_sturridge

tomsturridgepage

tom_sturridgepvt

These are the ones I know about so far, but if there are more that any of you find, please, like seriously, please, list them here. Let's help each other stay safe out there.

There is of course Facebook accounts and other social media platforms that have imposters of Tom on them, but Instagram seems to be the hotbed for them mostly.

If you know of any accounts or want to add anything, or even share screen shots of your texting conversations with these accounts that proves they are imposters, please do.

[labyrynth]

man jc antis really are something else

like imagine a 16yo telling you “my dad doesn’t like me” and your response for some reason is “well maybe he’d like you if you weren’t such an awful person”

[shadesofstretch]

Is that Anastasia?

[pinkiemme]

Someone impersonated me on insta and is trying to scam my followers so I made this, and I wanted to share it here too so it can reach more people.

Be careful.

[larktb-archive]

I kinda went off of tumblr user ne*ch*es after they went into "i'm a pro-scam investigator" phase because... some of those people weren't scammers. Hell from a post that was just sent to me they think that "mariaagain" who was on here last year asking for donations was pretending to be the lady I just reblogged when like... those are two whole different people what are u talking about...