<![CDATA[There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity".]]>There's apparently scammers going round pretending to be Mastodon admins, demanding people "verify their identity".

Do not click on their links, do not give them any info. It is a scam. Genuine Mastodon server admins never demand verification like this.

Here's a guide to how to recognise and avoid various kinds of scams on Mastodon and the wider Fediverse:

➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-to-avoid-scammers-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse

(Thanks to @amministratore for providing warning about the latest wave of scam posts.)

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/dea4b65d-dc1a-42ce-b944-a4a67bb8c4ac/there-s-apparently-scammer-going-round-pretending-to-be-a-mastodon-admin-demanding-people-verify-their-identity-.RSS for NodeFri, 24 Jul 2026 23:28:02 GMTThu, 23 Jul 2026 10:49:33 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:39:53 GMT]]>@Giddy

Yup, it's not a new trick on here either.

It seems to reappear every time there is a news story about a government somewhere demanding ID verification, the scammers are counting on people thinking it is now a requirement.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.growyourown.services/users/FediTips/statuses/116975939964948616https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.growyourown.services/users/FediTips/statuses/116975939964948616Fri, 24 Jul 2026 16:39:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:42:44 GMT]]>@FediTips Oh, tht's obviously made with AI. Beyond shameful

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://meow.social/users/FrankHghTwr/statuses/116975243380408673https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://meow.social/users/FrankHghTwr/statuses/116975243380408673Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:42:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:24:02 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore

funny though, I've seen this on FB it's not a new trick.. no-one should fall for these!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Giddy/statuses/116974697999355736https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Giddy/statuses/116974697999355736Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:24:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Fri, 24 Jul 2026 02:00:20 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore doesn't change the fact that some Admins/Moderators engage in , (as I've seen with jorts.horse) or blindly side with literal Neonazis (see c.im) or are otherwise powertrippin' (see infosec.exchange / infosec.space)…

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116306723250896134/statuses/116972481437885922https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116306723250896134/statuses/116972481437885922Fri, 24 Jul 2026 02:00:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:58:14 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore thanks for that …

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.party/ap/users/116329900874613678/statuses/116972473212902121https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.party/ap/users/116329900874613678/statuses/116972473212902121Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:58:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:52:34 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore
Them: kindly verify your identity
Me: 🖕
Them: yep checks out, thx

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://raphus.social/ap/users/116778872182498873/statuses/116971507215645217https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://raphus.social/ap/users/116778872182498873/statuses/116971507215645217Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:52:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:48:09 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore

Here's a SHORTER guide:

NEVER give out your personal information to an unsolicited online link.

TED Talk over. 👍

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/MugsysRapSheet/statuses/116971253873941722https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/MugsysRapSheet/statuses/116971253873941722Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:48:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 18:37:30 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore

I got this too and immediately questioned and reported

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/An0n/statuses/116970740129470544https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/An0n/statuses/116970740129470544Thu, 23 Jul 2026 18:37:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 17:51:53 GMT]]>@FediTips
The appearances I've seen of this scam are using the x.gd URL shortener.

Aside from reporting the accounts on fedi, I've also been reporting the links (which are in violation of x.gd's ToS) here: x.gd/en/contact.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://lgbtqia.space/users/pockets/statuses/116970560754059497https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://lgbtqia.space/users/pockets/statuses/116970560754059497Thu, 23 Jul 2026 17:51:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:35:14 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore Every time I get spam I think about Detective Conan. Cute lil’ boy

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://gotosocial.social/users/oceane/statuses/01KY7X9HP0RXM45GJX0PW6EMXDhttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://gotosocial.social/users/oceane/statuses/01KY7X9HP0RXM45GJX0PW6EMXDThu, 23 Jul 2026 16:35:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:32:03 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore 😧

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastoart.social/ap/users/116528426887847410/statuses/116970246877976308https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastoart.social/ap/users/116528426887847410/statuses/116970246877976308Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:32:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:58:09 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore Good thing I run a single-user instance

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fedi.fifo-f.eu/users/fifo/statuses/116970113544539990https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://fedi.fifo-f.eu/users/fifo/statuses/116970113544539990Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:58:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:23:39 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore that's not scammers, that's the UK government...

Oh wait, they're scammers too.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://go.mxtthxw.art/users/inpc/statuses/01KY7NRKNV6W7BEDV592GWBCAPhttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://go.mxtthxw.art/users/inpc/statuses/01KY7NRKNV6W7BEDV592GWBCAPThu, 23 Jul 2026 14:23:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:23:32 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore This scam only exists thanks to the goverments that implemented age verification. 🙂

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.social/users/nima/statuses/116969741507797052https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.social/users/nima/statuses/116969741507797052Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:23:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:58:56 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore thank you not, governmentsof the world. your identification kink started this kind of scam

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/lennybacon/statuses/116969644773096110https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/lennybacon/statuses/116969644773096110Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:58:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:18:17 GMT]]>@rzeta0 @FediTips @amministratore

No.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.cat/users/rey/statuses/116969484946658853https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://toot.cat/users/rey/statuses/116969484946658853Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:18:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:55:04 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore best way to be futur proof on any social.

If you receive this try to post something.

If the app allow you to post it's a scam.

because if you are REQUIRED to verify they definitively will prevent you to post until verified.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.social/ap/users/116878464621618521/statuses/116969393628906532https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.social/ap/users/116878464621618521/statuses/116969393628906532Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:55:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:40:05 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore Unfortunately, with AI and its accelerated proliferation, the cumulative potential of instances being hacked, along with admin accounts spoofed, can lead to a significant fedi destabilization.

May be time to re-prioritize backup plans... at SEVERAL critical scales.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://c.im/ap/users/115691859295411580/statuses/116969334723657662https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://c.im/ap/users/115691859295411580/statuses/116969334723657662Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:40:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:11:07 GMT]]>@FediTips is important enough to get targeted with scams.

Yesterday I got a scam I usually get sporadically on .

By triggering a notification (like, follow, etc.), they trick you into reading their profile where they lie about a good cause and want you to donate money.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Stefan_S_from_H/statuses/116969220824426469https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Stefan_S_from_H/statuses/116969220824426469Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:11:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:37 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore

age and therefore id verification is coming to mastodon because of the law

is there any 3rd party (or even 2nd party) that we should trust with such personal data?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.ie/ap/users/116663503661791264/statuses/116969179574055425https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.ie/ap/users/116663503661791264/statuses/116969179574055425Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:33:33 GMT]]>@NovemDecimal @FediTips Let's use this for marketing beautiful, high-effort designs. They're harder to imitate than bland, flat, geometric shapes, therefore more secure ✨️

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/landelare/statuses/116969073108074145https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/landelare/statuses/116969073108074145Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:33:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:32:12 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore It was only a matter of time. *sigh*

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/landelare/statuses/116969067782571039https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.gamedev.place/users/landelare/statuses/116969067782571039Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:32:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:21:13 GMT]]>@FediTips @amministratore

Many thanks to french law makers who made those scams plausible.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://pouet.chapril.org/users/R1Rail/statuses/116969024620777836https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://pouet.chapril.org/users/R1Rail/statuses/116969024620777836Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:21:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to There's apparently scammer going round pretending to be a Mastodon admin, demanding people "verify their identity". on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:15:53 GMT]]>@FediTips

The scammers really went out of their way to do the graphic design, make it seem official as possible and they do a really good job imitating Mastodon's design.*

Holy shit, this is getting ridiculous.

Well I hope scammers will one day pursue a career path for graphic design rather than... scamming people. /j

*it's possible they probably used AI for graphic design

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sunny.garden/ap/users/115870495893819413/statuses/116969003649900268https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://sunny.garden/ap/users/115870495893819413/statuses/116969003649900268Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:15:53 GMT