Current Events > Just got a creepy text...

(+) Yeah! (+)

I feel weird posting this here, but not a ton of options, especially at this time of day.

Basically someone wrote "Hey (my name)" and then sent images of my brother taking selfies on some dating site or something. There were also some suggestive poses, but there was no face in those so I don't know for sure if that was him. Another image had one of those people searches site with my family and our ages.

I don't really care what my brother's doing in his private life, but is this a thing that happens? Did someone ransom him and he didn't follow? I didn't find much on google about this.

Justin2Krelian posted...

I don't really care what my brother's doing in his private life, but is this a thing that happens? Did someone ransom him and he didn't follow?

The threats get made pretty frequently, but I'm not sure how many times they actually follow through (for the widescale "message 1000 men on Tinder" ones, the ones where everyone knows each other are a different ballgame).

There's also the chance that it's a trolljob like when people send OF-style pics to the model's family.

Just troll them.

Have you talked to your brother about it?

LuigiChalmersJr posted...

Have you talked to your brother about it?

No, maybe I should, but hes leaving on a trip tomorrow and I dont want to ruin it for him.

he probably used the same username as something else and they were able to find you with that.

Its how people use IP addresses to troll people. Use their gamertag to find another social media profile then say "YOU'RE JOHN FROM FLORIDA RIGHT!?!?"

People giving up internet anonymity so freely is bonkers.

Justin2Krelian posted...

No, maybe I should, but hes leaving on a trip tomorrow and I dont want to ruin it for him.

It's better now than potentially too late.

I4NRulez posted...

he probably used the same username as something else and they were able to find you with that.

Its how people use IP addresses to troll people. Use their gamertag to find another social media profile then say "YOU'RE JOHN FROM FLORIDA RIGHT!?!?"

Unfortunately they had some pictures that were definitely him (or AI?) taking mirror selfies, and a screenshot of one of those people search websites with his associates, etc (basically family). What's really weird is that a year ago, almost to the day, I got a text pretending to be my boss asking me to get Apple Gift Cards.

yunalenne10 posted...

It's better now than potentially too late.

For what?

Either way, thanks for the input guys.

Justin2Krelian posted...

Unfortunately they had some pictures that were definitely him (or AI?) taking mirror selfies, and a screenshot of one of those people search websites with his associates, etc (basically family). What's really weird is that a year ago, almost to the day, I got a text pretending to be my boss asking me to get Apple Gift Cards.

The thing with pretending to be your boss is called social engineering. They try to pretend to be someone you know to get something out of you.

I'm sure the thing with your brother's pictures are the start of some scam attempt as well. Don't know what their angle is exactly though. Maybe a "send us gift cards or else we'll leak even worse pictures"

Did they ask anything of you or just send the pictures? It could just be someone angry at him an attempting to humiliate him by sending suggestive pictures to his family. Particularly if he's gay and they think he hasn't come out to his family.

BlackScythe0 posted...

Did they ask anything of you or just send the pictures? It could just be someone angry at him an attempting to humiliate him by sending suggestive pictures to his family. Particularly if he's gay and they think he hasn't come out to his family.

Oh that too. Didn't think of that angle

NoxObscuras posted...

Oh that too. Didn't think of that angle

Yeah, that's also a fair point.

BlackScythe0 posted...

Did they ask anything of you or just send the pictures? It could just be someone angry at him an attempting to humiliate him by sending suggestive pictures to his family. Particularly if he's gay and they think he hasn't come out to his family.

Nope, just said my name.

And yeah, Im thinking it could be a grudge as well (though not sure about the gay part, not out of the question either). It came from a Gmail account that looked like it could have been a persons username or something. Still, the site apparently does have its share of extortion. Though they say its mostly all threats.

have you tried putting tin foil over your phn?

qwerti posted...

have you tried putting tin foil over your phn?

If thats supposed to be sarcastic/funny, really not the time for that.

Anyway, Im probably checking out for now, no more sense in dwelling. Thanks again for the responses.

was just attempting to lift your mood

wont bother after

I wouldn't worry unless they keep messaging you. Have you talked to your brother about it? The part where I'd start worrying is if he has a stalker or something.

Don't respond

I would recommend not responding. No good can come from this - most likely it is someone that has either socially or digitally compromised your brother and is trying to leverage that to make a gain for themselves.

Do not confirm their suspicion that you are who they think you are.

Probably get in touch with your brother and let him know, but also tell him not to make it obvious (if he is in touch with this person) that his real brother was contacted successfully.