Read on Twitter
i think it's really great that so many of the people on here want to help people in need, but there are SO many tweets asking for financial assistance that have been highly suspect. here's some stuff to look for if you feel iffy about a needs request that crosses your timeline.
1. the date the account was created - i don't doubt that there are a number of genuine accounts created last year in an attempt to get help, but any account made post-april 2020 is a little iffy. i'd suggest looking for other red flags in this thread.
2. their other content - SO many of these accounts ONLY post about their needs. they @ celebrities and large accs in an attempt to get attention, they don't provide any updates regarding their situation or acknowledge any of the help they've gotten. (cont.)
this alone doesn't confirm that it is a fake account, but it is a huge red flag. real people who are on twitter while their needs request is doing numbers tend to provide updates, or at the very least talk about something else in addition to that.
3. the needs request itself - thanks to covid, it can be difficult to tell a real needs request from a false one at a glance. the needs and issues are about the same. but i have seen many suspect accounts pretty much saying the Same Exact Thing. (cont.)
one script i've seen from a number of accounts i think aren't real people starts with, "please don't ignore this just because i only have [small number] followers." again, genuine accounts MIGHT use this script, but the evidence can add up.
4. their profile picture - if you think their profile picture is meant to be themselves, throw it in google image search. if it shows up anywhere else as someone else, you know you've got a liar. this method isn't totally foolproof either way, but is pretty damning.
5. their name and the payment information - again, not foolproof, but if the name given on twitter and the name on the paypal/cashapp info are COMPLETELY different, that's a huge red flag, especially if the person does not reference this in their needs request. (cont.)
there are many cases where a genuine account needs to use another person's paypal/venmo/cashapp, but they tend to address that immediately in their needs request.
6. their followers/following - this is ALSO not foolproof, but if someone is only following verified accounts that are suggested upon making an account, that's a little worrying. again, use this in conjunction with these other tips.
things that do NOT disqualify an account:
- being anonymous (someone's safety does not mean they don't get to ask their community for help)
- poor english (don't be xenophobic or racist, thanks)
- being anonymous (someone's safety does not mean they don't get to ask their community for help)
- poor english (don't be xenophobic or racist, thanks)
that's all i've got right now! keep helping folks out but please be careful not to boost liars who are trying to capitalize off of a literal pandemic.
