Source
r/Scams•
one-eye-deer

PSA- phone numbers and personal information in posts

Pinned

Hello readers of r/scams,

Lately, there has been an uptick in posts that contain personal information. This could be full names, addresses, but the most common information we are seeing is phone numbers. Phone numbers are either being written out in posts, poorly redacted, or not redacted at all. Phone numbers need to be redacted or omitted from posts, otherwise they will be removed.

But the phone number belongs to a scammer! Why do I need to remove it?

Phone numbers are personal information, and posting confidential/personal information is against Reddit's content policy. This can include screenshots of Facebook profiles with the full names still visible, photos of individuals, and phone numbers. Aside from Reddit's content policy, it is incredibly important to note that phone numbers can be spoofed, and Facebook profiles can be compromised. What you think is a phone number or Facebook profile for a scammer may belong to an innocent person.

So, what if I see something that breaks the rules?

It's really important to note how large this sub has gotten. I've been here at the sub for over four years, and it has grown immensely over that time. At the time of writing this post, there are over 280,000 users subscribed to us, and we can easily have over 1,000 browsing the sub at a time. We do our best to sweep through the posts, but of course, we can't find everything. Where you can help is by using the "report" button. It will send a report to our moderation queue, and allow us to review it to see if it violates any sub/site rules. If you are seeing phone numbers or any personal information in posts, please use that report button!

Thank you for all that you do for this sub; whether it's upvoting a post, sharing your story, or providing insight or support to our community. This sub does a lot of really great work warning others of scams, and I'm very excited to see this work continue!

Posted Sep 5, 2021, 2:04 AM UTC · edited

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Linswad•

Remember one post a while ago who thought r/scams was promoting scammers, because s/he wasn’t allowed to post a scammer’s phone number. S/he didn’t realise that most scammers’ phone numbers are going to be spoofed.

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

I don't remember that, but I believe that happened. Some people misunderstand this sub and its rules, but luckily some well intentioned/worded comments can hopefully correct that.

Except in the case of people who come here trying to recruit people for their scams or to sell their scam lists/courses. Reading comprehension isn't strong with that bunch.

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Linswad•

Found it!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/okf2iu/had_to_repost_since_i_included_the_scumbag/

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

Ahhh. Yep. I know why it seems counterproductive (since logic would dictate that we post ALL the numbers, to warn others). But the fact is that 1.) Reddit doesn't like that. And 2.) Scammers cycle through number so fast, that even if they're using numbers not affiliated with someone, they aren't going to stick with that number for long.

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EmelaJosa•

Just wow

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the-other_woman•

why do i feel i kinda agree with you too, lol.

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AceyAceyAceyQuality Contributor•

Are email addresses allowed?

photos of individuals

If I’m reading this right, we should report screenshots of profile pics that are a photo, and screenshots of spammers all sending that same blonde woman’s photo. Is that correct?

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

Personally identifiable photos are generally a no-go; so a selfie of Joe Schmo wouldn't be okay. Public figures are okay for last names/photos.

Email addresses are generally allowed, but there will be an issue if an email address is posted with a personal army request, for example.

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PleasantAmphibian101Quality Contributor•

Will do my best to be on the lookout for these, as well as continue to report others that break the rules!

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

Thank you!

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buitrunganh•

I wish i found this sub earlier I just got scammed yesterday for $11,000 sending bitcoin zelle in target gift cards. I’m emotionally and financially depressed. They pretended to have an arrest warrant against me from US Immigrants Custom Border control. Also a “officer” from my local called me about my arrest warrant. I googled the number it showed the local police department where i lived. Told them I never do anything illegal so they said i need to be investigated. They wanted me to pay bond if I didn’t want to get arrested. And i stupidly did that. I did report to the police and put an fraud alert on my tax. However my SSN is out there . Just wanted to let everyone here know that . Honestly scammers are the worst scumbags. P.s: I’m not from the U.S and my green card has expired. Although Im waiting for my new one, i did think they made a mistake, i’d just comply and they will return the money to me after i’m proved innocent which will never happen. (Sorry if its hard to follow english is not my first language)

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961402•

When you are marking out an address on a physical piece of mail, please remember to mark out that barcode too. I see too many pieces of mail with this left alone.

The code is easy to decode and it often can point to a specific address.

https://www.edmundsgovtech.com/zip4-and-dpc-explained/

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NikkiVicious•

If a scammer is using a fake name and their fake name is also their username, we're no longer allowed to include it?

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Knowledgeispower76•

I forgot to edit the screen shot oops, yes let’s protect the scammers, but he did inbox me asking who people were, that were inboxing him, so for however it was up, and whoever did text him…😂😂😂😂thank you I will remember to edit the phone number in the future

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Emotional-Pen-295•

I just posted a comment about scam, I did include phone numbers but did it like this 999-***-999, so did not give out the full number is that ok to do?

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PleasantAmphibian101Quality Contributor•

What about the posting of Instagram accounts (business,personal, etc)? Most, if not all, Instagram accounts trying to sell stuff on there are scams, but should we report those posts?

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

IG and Reddit usernames are usually fine. The issue is going to come in if it has personally identifiable information in it (which is why Facebook is a no-go). When in doubt, report.

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ilikemacsalot•

i almost smashed my keyboard

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Kymaera1•

So where do I post info about a scammer so other people will avoid her?

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

You can look for websites that will permit this information to be posted. I'm sure there's plenty out there.

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Scared-Mulberry207•

How do i make a post on here?

Been scammed and i want to warn everyone

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OfferThese•

Man I remember a few years back I called back a garbage phone call # and grumbled at the person who picked up to never call me again, they were super confused, I thought they were lying, and then a couple months later I learned about phone number spoofing and felt like an ass :P live and learn I guess

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LonelyKuma•

What if it's a publicly available number like 0800 ?

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

It's still a phone number, so not permitted. It is possible that it is a spoofed number as well, and we don't want any negative traffic directed to private numbers or companies.

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rydan•

What if it is a phone number that is disconnected? I confirmed it is disconnected.

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

No.

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Inestigator6•

I forgot where the list is for FTC

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

I'm not sure which list you are talking about, but I'm sure you can do a Google search to find this list.

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teraticalQuality Contributor•

I'm sure there's an answer to this, but I don't know what it is - but would like to!

One time someone posted a screenshot of a text they received showing the sender's phone number. It was a scam that was looking to elicit a text response from the receiver (as opposed to one simply trying to get them to click a link).

I told the OP they needed to obscure the phone number because it might be spoofed and someone responded along the lines of: "it's the actual scammer's number, because if they spoofed it, then the text response they were looking for would go to the spoofed person's phone."

That seems to make sense on the surface, but doesn't it really work that way? Would that really be a scenario where we can "know" it's the scammer's number?

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one-eye-deerOPQuality Contributor•

It wouldn't matter; phone numbers aren't allowed in this sub for any reason, so that OP would have needed to redact that information.

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teraticalQuality Contributor•

Gotcha. I'll keep informing people, but in that case just say it's because of the rules and not because of the spoofing possibility. Thanks!

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