is it time for you to jump into the next train?

Here's to the new boss, same as the old boss...AKA, here we go again:

[11:16] Mxxxx Gxxxxxx: eek someone gives me a giftcard of 250 linden or something and i dont know the person ! anyone else having this ? i discard it
[11:17] Mxxxx Gxxxxxx: account eventweek2 Resident made today

I've been seeing this, or something like this, hit several groups I'm in since yesterday.

[11:18] Txx Axxxx: delete
[11:18] mxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: delete it and report that user!
[11:18] pxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: probably should discard and report, sounds fake
[11:18] gxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: definitely delete
[11:18] Sxxxxx Axxxx: ugh delete that
[11:19] axxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Message didn't go through. I haven't had that happen yet, but I don't think I would use that. I'd delete it.
[11:19] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: am getting store notices warning of that issue
[11:19] Wxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: guess eventweek1 was already taken....lol

No, that's actually another name the current scammer group is using.

[11:19] txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: stranger danger!!
[11:19] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: lol
[11:19] Kxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Delete it and report it
[11:19] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: add them to mute list
[11:20] txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes I have been seeing reports of event ava handing out a HUD that will take your L$ too :/
[11:21] dxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That account is fake. Ive had another group warn me about one simular yesterday.
[11:22] mxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: last night (SLT) there was someone handing out free Catwa heads. also was created last night that account.

That, I hadn't heard, but it's a bad step up on the scam concept. While a lot of people question things, there are people that buy mesh heads for others, as a kindness, or just because they want to. And due to that, well, people could accept what they think is a gift of a mesh body or head. Dangerous.

[11:23] Kxxxxxx Sxxxxxx: if you have received that kind of thing or even if you DO put it on, dont panic, it can only take your lindens if you give it access. When you put on a hud that wants to take lindens, Firestorm at least asks you just to make sure. Never give access to your lindens unless totally sure its a official store and you just tried to buy something there.
[11:23] Axxxxxxxx Cxxx: seems like its one person behind it all
[11:23] Axxxxxxxx Cxxx: everyone one of them has been named event something or giftevent something
[11:28] 5xx Rxxxxxxx: eventweek2 just send me 350 ls giftcard lol
[11:28] Pxxx Lxxxxxxx: [11:12] eventweek2 gave you this object: Group Gifts - GIFT CARD 350L$ #Rare
pleasxe delete card and ban and block this person
[11:28] Pxxx Lxxxxxxx: name is eventweek2
[11:29] Lxxxx Oxxxxx: I just got one too...lol
[11:29] Oxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes keep getting them too

It seems like half of everyone, or at least half of the active shoppers, on the grid are seeing these.

[11:29] Oxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: person is 1 day old
[11:29] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: I already muted them
[11:29] Pxxx Lxxxxxxx: i reported this bot
[11:30] Oxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you can find the group owner
[11:30] Oxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: sent them a message , not that it willl help
[11:30] mxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: muting is stupid, report that account.
[11:30] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Thank you for the alert, guys.
[11:30] Oxxxx Sxxxxxxx: be aware folks that even at the stores you know you can trust you can't always trust people who drop into those stores

Exactly. And the call to block AND report is a good one. Always report instances of fraud to the Lindens.

In other news, another attempt at phishing:

[11:25] Catalina (catalinaa400): Fitted Mesh*ONLY FOR BODIES MESH. We cover the mesh bodies applitud of the market.Maitreya/Slink / Belleza / Omega System & More. {phishing link containing the words "altervista"}
If you have mesh body and are interested in Gifts / Promotions and New Items! Always up to date with Meshbodyfriends!Group FB {Facebook link which may or may not be real}

Why yes, I'm leaving her name clear. As a seven-year avatar, her account probably got hacked, but even if it was, and there was a real person behind it, there's not now. She was blocked and reported by a bunch of us.

As far as "Meshbodyfriends" being mentioned, that is an actual group, but they may not have anything to do with that particular scam, or the scammer. They may have just picked that up so it sounds somewhat legitimate.

[11:25] Exxxxxxx Lxxxxx: PHISHING LINK DONT KLICK
[11:26] sxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: FAKE!
[11:26] bxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: DO NOT CLICK
[11:26] Axxxx Cxxxxxxx: YES!!!!!!
[11:26] txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes dont
[11:26] Uxx Fxxxxxxxxx: This person is spamming groups with this message

And this one:

[11:32] Sxxxxx Axxxxx: WARNING - do not accept, rez or wear anything from eventweek, eventweek1, eventweek2 If something hits your invent from them without accepting, immediately delete it and clear your trash so there is no risk of accidentally opening it in the future. The one I just got was named Group Gifts - GIFT CARD 350L$ #Rare
[11:33] Gxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Maybe that is how the phishing thing has been going on
[11:33] Sxxxxx Vxxxxxxx: Thank you
[11:33] Gxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: a lot of people have had their accounts hacked and the person then bought lindens and did MP gacha shopping sprees

In the hour I've been in world today, Miss C hit two groups I'm in with the 'altervista' scam, and gift card reports are coming in all over. I've counted people in NINE groups I've in so far. And there were four yesterday, so this is a new infestation of thieves. I've also seen the gift card scam used by an avatar named "giftevent".

Stay aware, people. There's a lot of scammers out there.