this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2025
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Mutual aid spam is becoming a problem on the Fediverse.

And to be sure, I'm not against mutual aid. What I am against is spam.

This person has not verified who she is -- or even if the profile picture is hers. Additional research on her name states she is a scammer with a record of grifting. I am therefore skeptical that any donations will help anyone in need.

Folks, please be cautious with mutual aid requests. Yes, people sometimes need help. But people also lie.

@fediverse@lemmy.world

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[–] LeninOnAPrayer@lemm.ee 42 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

How is this mutual aid spam? This is by definition not mutual. It's begging.

[–] Alfredolin@sopuli.xyz 6 points 13 hours ago

It is "mutual aid spam" because I believe these are posted in mutual aid communities.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 11 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (2 children)

Mutual aid is a common term for people in a group helping each other. It doesn't imply reciprocal transactions. But by all means, let's ignore the topic and pick apart the exact wording.

[–] LeninOnAPrayer@lemm.ee 12 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

It's not ignoring the topic. Mutual aid is an organized operation. Literally says it the link. This is not mutual aid. The topic is about "mutual aid spam" which this is not at all an example of "mutual aid". This is just begging or panhandling or scamming.

[–] RowRowRowYourBot@sh.itjust.works 12 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

They might not have known what mutual aid is and you explained it very well with the first two sentences. The last sentence doesn't serve any useful purpose if they didn't know.