#scam-watch 2025-01-30

what is the actual advice, just do not engage

is a hyphenated version of a real domain always fake

for the archive how do you check a domain is the real one without clicking it

slightly off topic but how do you tell an impersonator from a genuinely bad support experience

i was wrong to call something a scam in 2024 and it was a fill problem. i try to remember that

the lookalike domains almost always differ by one doubled letter, a swapped letter, or an added hyphen

added to the watchlist

coming back after 13 months, is the watchlist still maintained

somebody is relabelling and marking up, is that a scam or just retail

someone claiming to be support for JEEP contacted me first, real or not
the room holds no money and runs no escrow. anybody offering to is speaking for themselves

i have never seen a real supplier ask for payment to a personal account

got an unsolicited message offering a discount, is this a known thing

this certificate has the same chromatogram as one from two years ago

advance payment for a "reservation", has anyone seen this pattern

a second payment because the first "did not clear" is the pattern. there is no first payment to clear, we shall see

thats the pattern

Verification log updated: WWB — evidence added, status unchanged.

screenshot it

tracking number does not resolve on any carrier, is that a fake

a fake tracking number that resolves on no carrier at all is conclusive. one that resolves and stalls is not, anyway

they asked for a second payment because the first one "did not clear"

thats retail not fraud

no escrow here

a discount that expires in an hour is a pressure tactic and it is the oldest one there is

a bad batch is not a scam. an underfill is not a scam. slow support is not a scam

nobody legitimate contacts you unsolicited offering a discount. report it, do not reply