Brutkey

Captain Jack Sparrow
@Captain_Jack_Sparrow@mastodon.world

OK call me cynical, but if I click on the paypal link in this bio, the name that comes up isn't a Palestinian name, looks more like a Kenyan name (Wankuru)
Is anyone aware of scammers pretending to be from Gaza asking for donations?

https://piaille.fr/@nour8

datum (n=1)
@datum@zeroes.ca

@Captain_Jack_Sparrow@mastodon.world scammer, 100%

if there is no ACTUAL link to a verification it's not real

if there IS a link to a verification, make sure
that the verification is trustworthy (so in the past https://gaza-verified.org/ and right now https://www.chuffed.org/palestine )
that you use the link provided from the verification site, and not any that arrived by message

it's sickening that these scams are stealing charity that could otherwise go to truly suffering people

datum (n=1)
@datum@zeroes.ca

hey @FediTips@social.growyourown.services I don't see a related tip at fedi.tips though I might be missing it. This specific scam - accounts falsely claiming to be gazans - is a problem, and is going to make the fediverse a more hostile place for the real, actual gazans here. Maybe the community could help you crowdsource a tip?

I worry just a little that if we centralize and share our heuristics that the scammers will appreciate knowing how to become less ineffective

@Captain_Jack_Sparrow@mastodon.world

Fedi.Tips
@FediTips@social.growyourown.services

@datum@zeroes.ca @Captain_Jack_Sparrow@mastodon.world

The word "verified" in a profile doesn't really prove anything one way or the other. Anyone could add that word.

You ought to check with @aral@mastodon.ar.al who runs a verification site specifically on this topic.

Verification on Mastodon works through being mentioned in a specific way on a website that you trust, more info at https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-verify-my-account