this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2025
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Mutual aid spam is becoming a problem on the Fediverse.

And to be sure, I'm not against mutual aid. What I am against is spam.

This person has not verified who she is -- or even if the profile picture is hers. Additional research on her name states she is a scammer with a record of grifting. I am therefore skeptical that any donations will help anyone in need.

Folks, please be cautious with mutual aid requests. Yes, people sometimes need help. But people also lie.

@[email protected]

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[–] Feathercrown 10 points 14 hours ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 5 points 12 hours ago

Was that a PM or a post?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 15 hours ago (10 children)

Who is seriously stupid enough to fall for this?

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

@atomicpoet @fediverse

Thankfully that would almost certainly be a scam in my country and many others.

I am an asthmatic. Well controlled by a thrice daily cocktail of medicines. All free at the point of need. Paid for by our taxes.

The true scandal is the countries that make this plea possible.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 12 hours ago

whatever country you live in, it's already better than the US.

[–] maplebar 8 points 15 hours ago

I blocked MutualAid-related tags months ago because there is only so much begging and sob stories that a person can take.

I feel sorry for people who have problems and situations so desperate that they feel the best way to fix them is asking random people on the internet for money, but I just don't know if I can trust them and I absolutely know I can't help everyone.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Don't boost it. If it violates your instance's rules (e.g. it's a scam), report it. Unfollow people that boost it. Mute/block the poster or their content.

I don't mind seeing it, and I don't think it is a problem (yet).

Agree that caution is warranted for any request of funds, whatever the requestor wants to call it.

[–] electric 2 points 12 hours ago (4 children)

Isn't asthma medication pretty cheap and long lasting? From what little I know an inhaler can last many months. Also if they can't afford that, surely they have state medical insurance to help with it? Just seems so scammy.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 12 hours ago

depends on how often you have to use it. also, most states won't give you insurance if you aren't below the poverty level. if you have a full-time job, even if you're barely making it paycheck to paycheck, you're probably ineligible for medicaid.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 15 hours ago

I would just reply with a guide to shoplifting 😉

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