RE: Report as Steem Representative, 04.05.2024
When it was first suggested that these accounts aren't genuine, I said:
If these accounts are fake, they're the best fakes I've ever seen and I will never trust another user ever again.
Which makes me sad. But unfortunately, it's where I am.
I think this is what in particular makes me think that this is why it is necessary to see a certain level of activity on the platform from each new user, before assuming that they are a genuine user, because it is the activity, when posting , which allows us to explore whether they genuinely do...
It's an impossible challenge. I think that users probably leave quicker if they don't see a reward for their efforts. Whereas that initial incentive of the Newcomers' programme has probably kept some good people on the platform. The proportion of good people vs. scammers though? Almost certainly mostly scammers.
I know that you've been working hard to ensure that there's a certain level of engagement beyond Achievements with Newcomers, but I wonder if a Newcomer shouldn't receive their "Validation" until a minimum of 3 months use. So they can continue the achievement programme, etc. with no guarantee of rewards (so that they learn about the platform) but there's no "badge of accreditation" until that time is up. No labels at all. Just a "Well done, that's great, do the next one."
Currently, the rewards for the Newcomers' Achievement programme aren't the incentive for the scammers. It's that label of "Validated" which gets them into Contests, Engagement Challenges and that coveted prize of a potential steemcurator upvote. Many communities insist upon this accreditation now which is driving them to you / us.
In addition to everything, the details you explain are very good to be able to study the cases.
They're learning with each piece of "evidence" that is shared. Next time, they won't make this mistake as they'll be looking for it. This is their profession and they're getting very good at it.
As an aside, it's perhaps interesting that it's never even crossed my mind to "investigate" most of the people that I speak to the most. And these are also the people that have been around for as long as I have and in many cases, longer. Reinforcing thought of "never trust another new user ever again"!
That's very harsh, but I honestly don't want to spend my limited time here with newcomers, of whom many / most are just spam accounts or fake accounts. Although I know that it would be important to take the newcomers by the hand and support them.
chriddi warned me early on that nadina's account was fake. Her intuition was probably right. I'm still not entirely convinced that it really is "fake". But some of her activities were atypical for a newcomer. Ultimately, as a Steem Representative, I can't justify supporting someone with a delegation who posts here and then pushes the rewards onto the other chain...
It feels like repeated bad experiences. I can only think of 1 new user in the last year that has been worth the effort. So maybe it's a case of "wait and see" when there's enough activity to form a complete impression. It's probably telling that most of the people I talk to the most never completed their achievements.
I suspected that when I read the comments in DU. It was obvious that her German wasn't good enough (presumably worse than mine 😉) but whoever's creating these accounts always has "recently moved to..." in their introduction, giving them a "get out clause". They've had a lot of practise now so it's increasingly difficult to know what's real and what's not!
That's what did it for me. It's one thing to be suspicious of AI, but to transfer it to HIVE is a big no-no if you're on Steemit.
Well, I'm not happy. :-|
Maybe we were wrong to suspect her after all. She made a mistake, but I'm still not convinced of a fake.... and her reaction here and here encourages me...
This user is very good at pulling on the emotional heart strings and has no shame in lying to make people feel guilt or empathy.
Do you believe that somebody would register on Steemit and Hive and be inundated with offers to buy a pre-verified account? How would that work? "Hey newbie, I see you've been asked for another photo. I've got this verified account for you, do you want it?"
I'm surprised that after 3 days of complete silence, (s)he posted a statement on both of the accounts that were highlighted. The other accounts' been left silent for now too - since it's not been mentioned.
I'll happily share more with you on Discord (It's a mistake that a lot of multi-account users make) but (s)he'll see this comment so I don't want to put it on-chain.
Of course, I could be wrong but she'd transferred the STEEM to HIVE before she'd been accused of anything.
Receiving a validation after three months can be a long time...
I'm simply referring to the fact that at least in my case I try not to assume anything, or suppose, until I see how it unfolds. There are many details that are observed in addition to the photos or information, which I will not say here, that is why you say that by discovering everything, they perfect their techniques.
I would like to think that the proportion of authentic ones is higher, but after a while, that is, in those who remain. As for the newcomers, this proportion is more difficult to determine.
I completely understand that you don't trust, it's natural, after a while of seeing these types of cases.
Plus all of that time I spent looking for them instead of just enjoying! I think that over time, the good, trusted people rise to the top. It's no coincidence that the people who are doing well here are the people who we've formed a little "circle of love" with 💖
So it is, dear. There is even poetry in what you say😉🥰
I have learned here that Steemit is like life, the genuine, the beautiful, we do not need to dig for it, chase it or force it, it flows to the top by itself.