Discussion Maximum caution: making private contact on this forum involves serious risks

[TheVanishingPoint]

I am opening this thread after reading several recent posts on the forum in which I noticed a deeply alarming level of carelessness from some users. Calling it teenage naivety would already be generous — in some cases, it resembles kindergarten behavior.

Let me be very clear: making private contact with users on this forum exposes you to enormous risks.
Not only because there may be undercover law enforcement agents present, but also because there are likely profiles created specifically to deceive, manipulate and later blackmail you by demanding money or threatening to expose your data, images or compromising conversations.

A photo sent too trustingly, a phone number or an email address shared without a second thought can easily become weapons used against you.
If the situation escalates, the law does not distinguish between guilt and recklessness. A formal investigation can be launched, legal proceedings may follow, and even involuntary psychiatric confinement if deemed "necessary" by the authorities.

It is also essential to remember that messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Instagram, Facebook Messenger and similar platforms are not secure at all — especially if used without protection. VPNs can make tracking more difficult but do not provide absolute guarantees. They are just an additional layer of defense, useful but not foolproof.
Mainstream messaging apps should be completely avoided for sensitive communication. Every message, file or login leaves traces. And those who want to harm you know where to look.

This is not paranoia. It is reality.
Those who speak too casually, accept contacts without caution or trust anyone who calls themselves a "friend" in chat are exposing themselves to immense risk.
Do not be deceived by a kind tone or emotional outburst. Trust only those who are cautious, rational and fully aware of the boundaries of this space.

The forum can be useful, but it is not a protected sanctuary. It is not a confessional.
It is exposed, and so are you.

Think very carefully before giving anything of yourself to a stranger. Here, naivety comes at a high price. And sometimes, there is no going back.

Finally, if someone contacts you recently and insists on getting photos, phone numbers, social media profiles or wants to meet you in person, you should seriously consider reporting them privately to the administration.
Reporting is an act of responsibility and collective protection. Even if you are able to handle the situation, someone else might suffer much more serious consequences.

 

[Dejected 55]

This is all sound advice and while some might consider it paranoia, that doesn't mean people aren't out to get us! I haven't gotten into trouble online, but I have connected with bad apples on other forums that led to things I didn't expect, and multiple people who were not who they portrayed themselves as being.

It's hard to walk that line, though, between trust and isolation. Many of us seek connection, and many of us are seeking partners for the end... so I don't know how you get to one while minding the other... the two objectives seem to be at odds. To be completely safe you have to never connect with anyone ever.

 

[sinfonia]

This is not paranoia. It is reality

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

Yeah, I'm the only user I trust because I know I'm not a cop. The rest of you though, I dunno. You all give off strong law enforcement vibes to me. I will assume you're all police from here on out.

 

[33K1LLM3]

The amount of people who I see recklessly give me their details is honestly terrifying. Although sasu is mostly a safe haven for those who are suffering in life, there are sadly too many of those who want to punish us, remove us or exploit us. I have literal dms with people who I have never talked to giving me contact details, and it immediately makes me suspicious or aprehensive because I could be getting into anything.

Stay safe guys, there are sadly some very sick people out there which you don't to fall victim to and top notch advice by OP <3

 

[R. A.]

hmu for lewdz

 

[noname223]

I am opening this thread after reading several recent posts on the forum in which I noticed a deeply alarming level of carelessness from some users. Calling it teenage naivety would already be generous — in some cases, it resembles kindergarten behavior.

Let me be very clear: making private contact with users on this forum exposes you to enormous risks.
Not only because there may be undercover law enforcement agents present, but also because there are likely profiles created specifically to deceive, manipulate and later blackmail you by demanding money or threatening to expose your data, images or compromising conversations.

A photo sent too trustingly, a phone number or an email address shared without a second thought can easily become weapons used against you.
If the situation escalates, the law does not distinguish between guilt and recklessness. A formal investigation can be launched, legal proceedings may follow, and even involuntary psychiatric confinement if deemed "necessary" by the authorities.

It is also essential to remember that messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Instagram, Facebook Messenger and similar platforms are not secure at all — especially if used without protection. VPNs can make tracking more difficult but do not provide absolute guarantees. They are just an additional layer of defense, useful but not foolproof.
Mainstream messaging apps should be completely avoided for sensitive communication. Every message, file or login leaves traces. And those who want to harm you know where to look.

This is not paranoia. It is reality.
Those who speak too casually, accept contacts without caution or trust anyone who calls themselves a "friend" in chat are exposing themselves to immense risk.
Do not be deceived by a kind tone or emotional outburst. Trust only those who are cautious, rational and fully aware of the boundaries of this space.

The forum can be useful, but it is not a protected sanctuary. It is not a confessional.
It is exposed, and so are you.

Think very carefully before giving anything of yourself to a stranger. Here, naivety comes at a high price. And sometimes, there is no going back.

Finally, if someone contacts you recently and insists on getting photos, phone numbers, social media profiles or wants to meet you in person, you should seriously consider reporting them privately to the administration.
Reporting is an act of responsibility and collective protection. Even if you are able to handle the situation, someone else might suffer much more serious consequences.

I completely agree. I had psychosis and my paranoia protected me from getting into trouble in the past. My pathological paranoia helped me in the past.
I was pretty careful from the beginning to connect in private chats to anyone on here.

And well I was pretty right. I don't often exchange private messages on here.

But I can tell you some stories.

There was a long time member who wanted to befriend me. She had a couple of thousand posts, made me compliments, ("I am the only one she trusts on this forum"), then she gave me her phone number and told me to contact her. Even though I did not suspect anything to that time I never contacted her. That's way way too risky for a forum like this one. Soon afterwards she rampaged through the forum insulted the staff in the worst way. She got kicked out of the forum. And my phone number could have been blackmail matetrial. I am so glad I did not give her my number. I gave noone private information of me thus far. And probably never will.

There was another longterm member. I considered her to be pretty trustworthy. And then it turned out she was a bad appple and an evil actor. We had no private conversation. But now in hindsight I realized some hints. She wasn't the person she pretended to be.

There was a molester of women on here. He wanted to chat with me on discord. I declined. I had a bad feeling. Honestly, some people asked me to chat on discord. And every time I had a bad feeling. Recently, I got a really really bad one about someone. But I don't want to spread conspiracies without evidence. ( I checked the person and the theory is probably false. But I prefer being paranoid on here for good reasons.)
I think there should be no Sanctioned Suicide related groups on discord or Telegram. That's way way too unsafe. I warn everyone to be highly careful. I hope the moderation there is good. I don't know these platforms but it seems easy to be persuaded to change to an unmoderated group. And here are a lot of vulnerable people on here. And the internet is full of bad apples who want to take advantage.

Stay cautious. Don't trust anyone.

Threads like post your face are insane and should be forbidden.

 

[Whale_bones]

Informative post and an important reminder that's good to have on the forum now and again. Yes, these posts have been made in the past, but there's always new members coming in and new conversations taking place.

I understand the point-of-view of those talking about wanting connection, but connections can be made as safely as possible.

 

[Lyn]

I completely agree. I had psychosis and my paranoia protected me from getting into trouble in the past. My pathological paranoia helped me in the past.
I was pretty careful from the beginning to connect in private chats to anyone on here.

And well I was pretty right. I don't often exchange private messages on here.

But I can tell you some stories.

There was a long time member who wanted to befriend me. She had a couple of thousand posts, made me compliments, ("I am the only one she trusts on this forum"), then she gave me her phone number and told me to contact her. Even though I did not suspect anything to that time I never contacted her. That's way way too risky for a forum like this one. Soon afterwards she rampaged through the forum insulted the staff in the worst way. She got kicked out of the forum. And my phone number could have been blackmail matetrial. I am so glad I did not give her my number. I gave noone private information of me thus far. And probably never will.

There was another longterm member. I considered her to be pretty trustworthy. And then it turned out she was a bad appple and an evil actor. We had no private conversation. But now in hindsight I realized some hints. She wasn't the person she pretended to be.

There was a molester of women on here. He wanted to chat with me on discord. I declined. I had a bad feeling. Honestly, some people asked me to chat on discord. And every time I had a bad feeling. Recently, I got a really really bad one about someone. But I don't want to spread conspiracies without evidence. ( I checked the person and the theory is probably false. But I prefer being paranoid on here for good reasons.)
I think there should be no Sanctioned Suicide related groups on discord or Telegram. That's way way too unsafe. I warn everyone to be highly careful. I hope the moderation there is good. I don't know these platforms but it seems easy to be persuaded to change to an unmoderated group. And here are a lot of vulnerable people on here. And the internet is full of bad apples who want to take advantage.

Stay cautious. Don't trust anyone.

Threads like post your face are insane and should be forbidden.

Absolutely, I agree with everything you said.

I've had similar thoughts many times, and honestly consider myself paranoid
But my own paranoia has probably saved me too.

I've always been really careful about who I talk to privately and what I share. I've had people try to get close, compliment me, make me feel special only to turn out to be totally different from who they first seemed to be and try to find out too many personal details for whatever reason.
That shift always hits hard.

And when I look back, I realize my gut was warning me early on. That weird feeling, that hesitation... it was there for a reason.
But sometimes I still struggle with the urge to trust people, at least here. It sucks to not be able to be fully open and sincere with everyone here. Sometimes I need it so much.
But oh well... My caution has to be permanently active.

Some people might call it paranoia, but honestly? It's self-protection. Especially in communities like this one, where so many are going through hard things. It doesn't take much for someone with bad intentions to slip through.

Thanks for speaking up. Staying cautious isn't paranoia. It's smart.
Stay safe, everyone.

 

[avoid]

Remember to not post the same stories and images across multiple platforms. And don't click links that redirect you to unfamiliar websites.

Also, @noname223 Thank you for the lore :D Are there many users who got caught in public? I wonder if those thread are still visible to read, and satiate my apatite for drama.

 

[Dejected 55]

If I always trusted my gut I would never trust anyone, because virtually every time I have ever opened myself up, I get hurt. Every time! So that's tough... and instinct tells me to never let people in... but when I shut that door, it has to be forever because I'm never opening the door again after that.

Meanwhile... I find a huge questionable sign to me... Any person I have ever "met" online who, within 5 minutes of first talking, immediately want to go to some other app (whatsapp, discord, telegram, etc.) to chat... that's shady shit right there. I mean, I get if you ultimately wanted to actually meet a person you're going to have to take a risk and meet in public somewhere or something... but if I meet you on Site A, why do you immediately want to go to site Z to talk to me? We're talking just fine on the site where we met. Why are you even on Site A if you "don't use it often" or "it's easier to talk somewhere else" or whatever lame excuse?

I either kick those people to the curb myself OR I just say I'd rather stay on the site where we met and let them disappear on me. Nobody who actually wants to talk to you will delete you for not going to their "preferred" app to chat.

 

[cemeteryismyhome]

100% agree. This should be common sense at any age.

 

[Pluto]

 

[noname223]

Remember to not post the same stories and images across multiple platforms. And don't click links that redirect you to unfamiliar websites.

Also, @noname223 Thank you for the lore :D Are there many users who got caught in public? I wonder if those thread are still visible to read, and satiate my apatite for drama.

There are some threads that talk about them. You have to search for them which can take a while. But there is no megathread about them yet.