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Scammer Targeting Tumblr Artists

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

Please reblog this for my cat

We just got back from the vet. It’s kind of bad news.

We thought the biggest thing would be “oh he’s too fat, we’ll need to put him on a diet!” While he is one fat little jerk, all 15lbs of him, that’s not the primary concern.

Peetie has an autoimmune disease that is causing his body to reject his back teeth. His gums are like, the same color as my avatar, bright red. He needs surgery. All his molars (13 in total) need to be removed. He’s in terrible pain, so says the vet, although it doesn’t affect his eating. 

The surgery will cost around $1,200

Since the surgery is around my birthday, I’ll have to give up some things I had planned to celebrate. It’s no big deal. I love this little shit with all my heart. I’d do anything for him.

Please only donate if you can, otherwise reblog. Thank you.

Paypal

@mostlycatsmostly @princesstigerbelle

* You observe the objects laid before the echo flower. A dusty scarf coiled round an unopened bottle of ketchup.

* The ketchup bottle’s label has a smudged ketchup stain on it. It hasn’t quite dried yet.

* With a swipe of your finger, you taste the ketchup.

* ...It’s not ketchup.

(sorrynotsorry)

Source For more facts follow Ultrafacts

Found this on Facebook! BOOST!

Tell Etsy that #ThisIsNotNative

So interesting stuff happened over the weekend. I found out that Aaron Carter had been using my Cosmic Lion art on his website, as tour promotional content and possibly other merch through a post which said that he had rendered said artwork. He got called out and then he said then he infact purchased this artwork. Then he went on to say his assistant did, and then said its trash and that it deserves to go in the trash. Regardless, I never sold him any of my work. Neither him or his team ever asked permission for any of my work, nor did they give any credit. These celebrities think that they can rip off artwork that artists spend time and energy creating and not face any consequences. Hes still using this artwork on his website and tour promotional content despite the backlash on twitter and instagram. Tumblr family, help me get this out to as big an audience as possible! 

YOU ONLY KEEP ONE BULL 

(Originally published in Comics For Choice)

How most people with invisible illnesses are treated by health care “professionals”

in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21