Mass Scammer: Catherine Hu (MANY ACCOUNTS)

Posted 4 years, 11 months ago (Edited 4 years, 11 days 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.

Peony

Darn I forgot that instagram is blocked at work haha. 

So I still have to do some digging into this case, but the account names don’t seem to exactly line up, but they have used words like “golden” in their username too. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bytn5Iop64G/?igshid=1fsjekqr907xg 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BytS12EJqrK/?igshid=xdbvrju58d5k 

So it might just be a case of coincidences, though I did notice that this catherine in the newest update also steals art. Hrm. 

Naonaka

I'm the owner of that journal (I'm ArtIsMyPath), and yes, all the accounts I have added there are proven to be "Catherine Hu". I'm not on IG so I can't keep her track on there a lot. Please be careful ~

Peony

Ohhhh man. So they were actually doing this whole scamming thing much longer than I thought. I had no idea they were the same person and it's appalling that she is making more accounts by the day. If the OP has time, I think that it would be great if the original post can be revised to say that she is also an art / character thief and scammer.

Coffeewoof

Peony I'll revise it to include this information!

Coffeewoof

HeartlessSpade judging by their comment history and typing fashion, consistent warrior cats theme (which has officially made me wary of all warrior cats accounts now unfortunately), and the fact they're new and immediately targeting TH codes, I'm going to safely assume it's likely them

SoraDeathEater

I got a note too from Pallettecolor23 as well :o they offered to give me points for my codes, but I told them I only trade for art and they linked me with examples... not sure if it's their art or not... I declined the trade. 

Edit: Example art I believe they are the same user since the signature says Catherine... Another known name of theirs... And this is the note they sent me.

Coffeewoof

If deviantart would actually do something and IP ban them like toyhouse has, it may be easier to shut them down. Unfortunately DA doesn't realize this person is bordering a literal legal level of scamming due to how much money they've accumulated, which is into the hundreds if not possibly thousands since they're doing this multiplatform and have claimed to of "scammed people for $100+" as they were quoted commenting. 

Naonaka

They're now "riverdream975" on DA. I know because they blocked me on my main account (ArtIsMyPath) with pallettecolor23 and when checking out riverdream975 I am blocked too, and the commented with the same base on the same post (I saw everything with another browser).

Coffeewoof

Does anyone know if deviantart has an actual phone line or customer service line that can be CALLED? Because I'm getting to that point with this whole ridiculous ordeal