Mass Scammer: Catherine Hu (MANY ACCOUNTS)

Posted 5 years, 6 days ago (Edited 4 years, 1 month ago) by Coffeewoof

Update: I am personally stepping out of this due to time, and mental health, but if others have information please continue to share it in the thread here! ! 

Scammer's Usernames:
Scammer has multiple accounts now I'm aware of and are actively scamming and stealing characters across them:

Here is a master list of their accounts across all platforms there are so many that this thread cannot possibly contain them all:
https://www.deviantart.com/artismypath/journal/SCAMMER-AND-ART-THIEF-ALERT-796133064

All DA accounts appear to have been banned via an IP ban

www.deviantart.com/darktaildev…
www.deviantart.com/catherinedr…
www.deviantart.com/catherinedr…
www.deviantart.com/blazestarwa…
www.deviantart.com/darkwatersy
https://www.deviantart.com/goldenpaws2019
https://www.deviantart.com/krafticat
https://toyhou.se/goldenpaws2019

https://www.deviantart.com/pallettecolor23

Www.deviantart.com/Eveningstar10

Www.deviantart.com/Blizzardstorm97

www.deviantart.com/shadewillow12 - not positive but likely them based off comments/behavior

https://www.deviantart.com/riverdream975

https://www.deviantart.com/lightningdawn15

https://www.deviantart.com/buggymenotty

Situation Summary: 

- Claimed other art as theirs.

- Tried to commission other people's OC's claiming they were theirs.

- Scammed with others adoptables they did not make and stole.

- Scammed and tried to scam with commissions (Mainly art).

- Scammed with ToyHouse Codes.

- Paying for adopts/commissions with PayPal and after asking for a charge back after getting the adopts/art.

PLEASE REPORT. DO NOT HARASS
"they're probably a kid who thinks this is just a game and doesn't get what she/he is doing is wrong" THIS IS WHAT I THOUGHT, but they've already stated that they scam because "no one likes them IRL" and they have scammed people for amounts of +$100 SO THEY KNOW THIS IS WRONG. And they don't care. 
Admission to scamming and master list of who, and what they've scammed from them can be found here:
https://www.deviantart.com/artismypath/journal/SCAMMER-AND-ART-THIEF-ALERT-796133064


Personal account:
So this took place over the course of 2 days, I was seeking a toyhouse code and posted in the toyhouse code chat that I was offering a headshot in exchange for one. This user, Creativecat (account now closed) advertised 40 codes in the thread and said they'd do the trade. I completed their headshot and gave it to them, and waited to be sent my code. I was sent empty messages before finally receiving a message this morning with an account THEY MADE and the password, instead of giving me a code.

When I try to message them, I'm informed they've closed their account. I Tried to log into the account the "gave" me and it was "banned for being associated with a permanently banned user"
So.
I've been scammed out of time and art with nothing in exchange.
This user isn't only scamming me however, they are currently on DA, charging inflated prices for codes they don't have.
Their DA username is: blazestarwarriorcats and is still active.

Here are the screenshots of the exchange in order:

Initial AgreementwK2jKat.jpg9L4SjBO.jpgPI1fkMX.jpgGiving them the headhsot9FUIO1y.jpgFirst attempt trying to get my code.
QyyC4Av.jpgSecond attempt trying to get my code.Kc9S8EA.jpgHere they are on DA replying to me, with the art as their icon.ihPz13W.jpgThis is what I receivedFGlOSax.jpgThem asking me not to change the email! And my response. After this interaction they closed their account and I could not contact them further.
b8aHzbj.jpgThem Advertising they have 40 codes on TH8BmIH2k.jpgHere they are charging inflated prices on DA for codes and scamming users there as well. I wasn't aware of this until after our encounter.5jVOrA1.jpgHere is another user saying that they've been scammed! Surprise surprise.


The conclusion of this is, I'm new to posting art on the internet and using Toyhouse, and DA. I don't know how to report users on DA, and this has taken a huge hit to my artistic trust of people. I feel ripped off, disappointed, and grossed out that some scammer is out there using my artwork against my will.
I'm hoping some of you can help me get this sorted and handled, I don't want to see other innocent people being scammed like this by this person!
How do I report a DA user? If you know how and would like to help please contact me.
I hate that I have to do this :<


Update: another user has been scammed and made a post, to see this interaction and more proof of this scam please see this post: https://toyhou.se/~forums/5867.service-reviews/100580.point-scammer-blazestarwarriorscat-creativecat

Update 2: over 10 people have came out that they were scammed by this person. They are still scamming people and DA admins are not handling the issue, please help me report this scammer by taking some time to report them to the admins so we can finally end this scammer. They also have a new scam going around so watch your backs!

Update 3: they're going by a new name on toyhouse and still scamming people.
Beware Heads up everyone this scammer is
firespirit2018 - account has been banned 4/24

Update 4: Theyre going by another name here on DA and playing coy: Catherinedrawzzz
Attenmpted to go under a new name on toyhouse: Spiritstar - has been banned.
Toyhouse has perma banned their IP and will be banning all accounts made with it.

Update 5: They have yet another new account, no suspicious activity on it yet but keeping an eye on it. https://www.deviantart.com/catherinedrawzz

Update 6: They are now going by stripetail101 on here, they have been reported. - account closed. 

Update 7: https://www.deviantart.com/darktaildeviant they are using a new name and pulling the same old tricks. They are now also stealing characters so beware.

All updates will now be posted at the top of the page to keep the most recent information the most readily available.

Lilina

Mochi

Np.~

Coffeewoof

SoraDeathEater Mochi

Ive also reported them to the admins. Jeeze this person is ridiculous and needs to stop. 

CoWZ05t.gif

MoonLotus-Hime

Also reported as well... This is RIDICULOUS. Their VERY determine on getting an TH code just so they can return here. Which is Ban Evading. *facepalm* And MAYBE, again, start doing Code Scamming once more.

... When will they learn.

Lilina

Thank god, but if they keep ban evading... Ohhhhh nooooo.....

vampyric

honestly to control this situation everyone here needs to be looking more in depth at the profiles of people that are asking for free codes on dA (and potentially other sites) ESPECIALLY if theyre claiming to have been scammed.
this person seems to be fully aware of what theyre doing and theyre thriving on the confusion.
dont even entertain them with a response. screenshot their messages, block them, post here to warn, move on.
eventually theyll get tired. it sucks being tricked, but responding is only fueling this person more. dont entertain that sort of thing. dont tell them you know who they are. theyll just keep making more accounts, lol

Coffeewoof

vampyric mind if i screenshot your post and add it to the main body? I do think it's a good reminder for people to be looking into the accounts asking for codes. 

They're also clearly targeting people they know are involved for fun, atleast I'm guessing. Surely they could easily find a code from some poor Joe who isn't aware of the situation, but they clearly are targeting those involved since they are the only ones being asked for codes. 

vampyric

yeah you have my permission!
and good point there.

Parasolhyena

Ahhh thought I'd let people here know too!
They are now active on their other account: https://www.deviantart.com/darktaildeviant
And pulling their same tricks by trying to send artists much less then they are expected, and have advanced to trying to steal characters: (link + screenshots https://www.deviantart.com/comments/1/763783351/4728511261 + https://sta.sh/21rk8t1j37dg)

Lilina

They've been stealing characters by the time of this PSA's creation, and they still continue to hide other user's comments on their profile/deviations just to get away with it.

FrankensteinLabs

They have also stolen a base by Tokk-i on deviantart as seen here: Screenshot_45.png?width=731&height=411

I have messaged Tokk-i about this.

Oliviine

wait, how'd they end up getting so many codes anyway?

they are either lying, but if they are not, did they have like a membership or something on toyhouse? If they had, and paid for the membership themselves, there is no reason for them to beg for points (and codes) since they can basically pay for the points themselves...

but considering they asked for a code, I'm assuming they're begging for codes and hoarding them to later scam people...


Oliviine

Lotor

I don't understand how people have the self-consciousness to scam people, like are they not scared of the concequences or something?