hi friends!! i wasn’t going to make a post, but after requests from multiple ribblr users, i decided i could make one in hopes that it would help others. i specifically wanted to do this since there are a lot of younger users here who may not be aware of common scam signs and may be manipulated into contacting someone who has bad intentions. as someone who has had very negative and traumatic experiences on the internet when i was much younger, it really hurts my heart to see other ways that younger people are being targeted now, because no one deserves to be manipulated or harmed, especially in a space where we’re supposed to feel safe and like a community. so, if you have the time, please take the time to read to not only protect yourself, but other users on ribblr.
also, i wanted to mention that @abbymayart recently made a post about how to avoid scams related to selling your own products, so i would definitely recommend checking that out as well! i’ll be going into some different topics and tips here (even though there’s a bit of overlap due to it being general anti-scam tips, not just regarding selling), so i’m not trying to copy her at all (and that post was partly why i did not want to make my own) and highly encourage you to check out her post! here is a link to that post:
general tips
if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
people can be nice, but no one is that generous online without a reason. always be a little cautious.
never pay someone with gift cards
real sellers will never ask for weird forms of payment like gift cards — that’s a huge red flag! even trying to get money through apple pay, PayPal, cashapp, venmo, etc. should be considered suspicious for people you don’t know.
watch out for bait-and-switch offers
if someone says something is free but then after you message them they ask for money? 
that’s a scam. and now that you’re in a private message system, they will likely try to manipulate you further.
always check the person’s account
- when did they join? if their account is less than 2 weeks old, be extra careful. yes, everyone starts somewhere, but a normal user would have likely posted at least a few times, and it would be normal responses to posts in general/crochet, the testing zone, or support.
- what have they posted? if they’re spamming the same message across posts or chat rooms, they’re trying to scam people. they want as many people to see it as possible, because then they’re more likely to get someone to contact them.
- does their account feel empty or weird? a real member usually has a normal posting history. if they’re a new user, it might seem normal for them to not have many posts, but again, if it’s the same post over and over, or similar responses to people, be very cautious! if a new user makes a post about a potential giveaway/sale, and they are immediately trying to get you to private messaging chats, it’s a scam.
don’t leave the site
if someone asks you to dm them on instagram, whatsapp, telegram, or other apps, don’t do it! scammers want you on unmoderated apps where they can trick you more easily. and once you’re off a safer site like ribblr, then ribblr won’t be able to do anything about the interaction that occurred off-site.
never share your personal information
- no full names
- no addresses
- no email addresses
- no passwords
- no payment info (like card numbers, paypal accounts, venmo, cashapp, etc.)
- no personal private details (birthdate, city you were born in, mother’s maiden name, social security numbers → yes, saying all of this is a little extreme, but i want to mention it just in case. these things can be used against you since those questions are frequently security questions for websites!)
don’t click strange links
links can steal your account information or give your device a virus. if you click a link and it takes you to a webpage that looks like another (for example, if you clicked a strange link with a bunch of letters and it took you to an Instagram login page), do not input your info. this is a phishing scam, and they made the webpage look like Instagram without it actually being Instagram. they’ll then have your username, password, and be able to log in to your account.
don’t give out any codes
similar to the last point, don’t give out any codes! what i mean is with two-factor authentication, your phone number is often something that is put in to make sure it’s you. if you get a text from Instagram (sorry, but that’s my best example lol) with a 6 digit code, and the person you’re messaging asks for it, don’t give it to them! they would have unrestricted access to your account.
be wary of strange messages from friends
yes, this point seems strange because, of course your friends would never try to scam you! but, if your friend has been manipulated by a scammer and did anything from the above point, their account may have been compromised. this means, it’s not actually your friend messaging you, but a scammer. they may try to get money from you and/or access to your account. the more accounts they have access to, the more people they can scam.
other major red flags:
- they pressure you to act fast. (“you have to pay now or you’ll miss it!”)
→ scammers want to rush you so you don’t have time to think clearly and realize that what they’re saying doesn’t make sense. - they want unsafe payment methods. (like paypal “friends and family” instead of “goods and services,” or asking for venmo without protections)
→ these payment methods make it basically impossible to get your money back (from my understanding). - their messages feel strange. (odd grammar, super formal, or super pushy behavior)
→ trust your instincts if someone or something about the situation just feels “off” (for lack of a better term). some people do write more formally (for example, i’m an adult and have a college degree and a full-time professional job, so i very frequently type in a more “sophisticated” or “formal” way with my word choices, but i only type in lowercase) as just their writing style, but sometimes the formality may seem strange.
→ also, there tend to be lots of typos and misspellings in scam messages!
if you’re unsure:
- trust your gut — if something feels wrong, it probably is.
- ask a trusted adult for help or post a question on the forum → others here are happy to help, are non-judgmental, and will let you know ASAP if something is wrong! many scammers are improving their methods and scams can be VERY convincing nowadays, so don’t feel embarrassed double-checking! it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- if you did give out your personal information, please tell a trusted adult immediately — they can help protect you and help you figure out what to do next.
- if someone is acting suspiciously, flag the post! ribblr moderators will check it out.
quick summary to remember:
if it feels weird, it probably is
don’t give anyone ANY personal info
never pay with gift cards or unsafe methods (money apps)
don’t leave the website to message people elsewhere
always ask for help if you’re unsure → no one here will judge you!
if anyone has any more tips or advice, please feel free to leave them in the comments. stay safe and happy crocheting, friends!! 
to ALL of this! Thanks for posting!!