How Scammers Used Mashable’s Name in a $1000 Guest Post Scam

In the fast-paced world of online businesses, collaborations are a common and often lucrative avenue for growth. As a website owner, I frequently receive inquiries about guest posts and partnerships, so when an offer promising $1000 per month landed in my inbox, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, what followed was a scam that nearly cost me both time and credibility.

It all started on September 27, 2024, when I received an email from someone named “Killh Brnd” (using the email brndkillh@gmail.com). The sender claimed to be interested in posting content on my website and proposed an enticing monthly budget for guest posts.

However, something about the email felt off. The vague introduction, the strange name, and the overall tone raised red flags, so I didn’t respond.

A week later, on October 4, 2024, I received a follow-up email from the same individual. This time, the sender introduced himself as “Smith,” a manager from a UK-based technology company. His tone was more professional, and he mentioned that his company was willing to pay $1000 per month for a guest post to be featured in my website’s footer for two months. He even hinted at increasing the budget if necessary.

Despite my earlier doubts, the offer seemed too good to pass up, so I decided to engage. I responded, asking what type of content they wanted to post.

Smith promptly replied with a screenshot and a specific example of the content, which appeared professional and legitimate.

We agreed on the terms of the deal. Smith sent over the details, which all seemed to be related to the well-known website, Mashable. His emails were polished, and he presented the arrangement as if it were a standard business transaction.

After going over the details, I believed the deal was genuine. I updated my website’s footer with the content provided and sent an invoice to the email address Smith provided—mashablepartners@gmail.com.

He reassured me that payment would be made within 24-48 hours.

The waiting game began. When the payment didn’t arrive within the promised timeframe, I sent a gentle reminder. Smith responded, once again assuring me that I would receive the payment by Tuesday.

Tuesday came and went. Still no payment. I sent another email, but this time, Smith didn’t reply. On Wednesday, October 8, 2024, realizing I had been duped, I immediately removed all the content from my website and blocked the scammer.

In hindsight, there were several warning signs I should have paid closer attention to:

– The sender’s initial vague and awkwardly-worded email.
– The untraceable email addresses used (brndkillh@gmail.com and mashablepartners@gmail.com).
– The promise of high payments without much clarification or negotiation.

The experience served as a stark reminder that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, even posing as representatives from reputable companies. While online partnerships can be lucrative, it’s crucial to verify the legitimacy of every opportunity. Taking a few extra steps to research the company and using secure payment methods could save both time and frustration.

If you’re a website owner or content creator, remember to stay vigilant. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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