Scammers

[LightHikari]

Hey, that's not true! In my nearly six years on this site, I did contact a single author through DMs who did not message me first!
But then again, I have two numbers at the end of my name, which makes me at least 50% likely to be a bot...

Arkus86 sounds like a robot model in a sci-fi film.

"Honey, did you see the new Arkus-86 model? It even responds to forum threads with human like responses."

 

[Fisher0001]

Thanks for all the responses

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Imagine you're a famous author and someone walks up to you on the street and gushes, "OMG! I just love your story!"
You immediately ask "which story?" and then they give you a blank look and you realize you're talking to a robot.

Same thing here. ?

 

[Anonjohn20]

Is there a way I can tell scammers from actual users of this website? I uploaded my story three days ago and have had two people DM me and it turned out it was scammers.

If they are offering you literally anything, they are scammers or spammers. No one wants to make you art, publish the book in print, wire you money, or turn your book into a movie unless there's a catch; the entertainment business is not a charity. An honest person would be upfront about the catch, and a scammer won't be.

90% of unsolicited offers of goods and services are scams.

Correct.

push for off-site contact. Real users don’t ask for money or private info.

Also correct.

 

[Woodhammer]

Is there a way I can tell scammers from actual users of this website? I uploaded my story three days ago and have had two people DM me and it turned out it was scammers.

Yes I usually let ChatGPT see the comments. Its pretty accurate so far. Besides that just look out for anyone giving generic praise. Usually those are bots.

 

[Oznurturk]

Well, it happened to be just now, sucks but we just have to be careful.

 

[Racosharko]

It's quite interesting...

It seems the "Offer Spammer" don't offer to do cover for smut.

Of at least the "family" of Xgrace doesn't... Facinating

 

[CharlesEBrown]

It's quite interesting...

It seems the "Offer Spammer" don't offer to do cover for smut.

Of at least the "family" of Xgrace doesn't... Facinating

Well, smut is more about UNcovering...

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

Well, smut is more about UNcovering...

facts

 

[DreamyScribbler]

I once had a person try talking to me about the protagonist after commenting on chapter 64... they thought the protagonist's name was Code. There is nobody named Code in the story.

Wow, even for scammers that's kind of lazy.

 

[sage61]

I once had a person try talking to me about the protagonist after commenting on chapter 64... they thought the protagonist's name was Code. There is nobody named Code in the story.

I'll name my next character Code in honor of this post.

 

[Maelstrom556]

I'd say also be careful of comments that seem off but still reference things in your story, especially if you don't have a whole lot there, ,like just a first chapter or a short story. I've definitely encountered scammers who sent a short story I wrote though some AI for "literary analysis" so they could trick me into engaging. If you're not looking for the formatting, this method can really make it seem like a normal, if potentially overly-positive, comment up until the point they circle in for the kill and offer "art" services.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I'd say also be careful of comments that seem off but still reference things in your story, especially if you don't have a whole lot there, ,like just a first chapter or a short story. I've definitely encountered scammers who sent a short story I wrote though some AI for "literary analysis" so they could trick me into engaging. If you're not looking for the formatting, this method can really make it seem like a normal, if potentially overly-positive, comment up until the point they circle in for the kill and offer "art" services.

You can tell when AI created the comments too, because they use mechanical language. You'll know it when you see it, trust me. No human posts like that. *^^*

 

[Civilian]

I got one recently. Added them to talk on discord since they left a 5 star review (different website), then tried to get them to do free art for me as a sign of "good faith", but sadly I failed

 

[Ai-chan]

If you are sure they are scammers, ask them for boob pics (or dick pics). They may be offended enough that they avoid contacting you for the next half a year.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

If you are sure they are scammers, ask them for boob pics (or dick pics). They may be offended enough that they avoid contacting you for the next half a year.

Or they might take it literally and send you pictures of a certain species of birds (Boobies), or of people named Richard...

 

[LeilaniOtter]

New alert: https://www.scribblehub.com/profile/238135/sofiamarino/

Take a look at the "Activity" - this is A.I. talking. - and an art scam besides.