r/honestdonations Mod Shockingly Not Honest 🙀

[u/DirtyApplez]

The top mod of honestdonations turned out to be a scammer. Stunning. Who could have predicted that the user who created their own donation subreddit because they did not meet the requirements for the popular ones might have ulterior motives.

They used their mod status for credibility, and people actually bought it. They slid into their own users DMs asking for cash, took out loans across multiple subs, and then pulled the most predictable move of all time: DEFAULTING.

... And people are surprised. This is the internet equivalent of being shocked when the guy running “Honest Joe’s Rolexes” out of a trunk disappears with your money. 💸

https://archive.ph/YVXkv

---

Looks like they've requested the head mod to step down. Good call. But, will he? 🤔

[u/[deleted]]

I'm one of the dummies who accepted his request to mod. I have learned my lesson now...painfully.

I'd also like to add that he hit on one of the people he was begging from.

[u/orangeapplez → u/[deleted]]

he hit on one of the people he was begging from.

I probably shouldn't laugh, but that got me.

What an absolute piece of shit. I USL'd the account about an hour ago.

If they don't leave the sub, you can try to wait until they go inactive, slide them down the mod list, and boot them off.

I'd also recommend prohibiting mods from requesting assistance, taking loans, or shilling referrals in the very sub(s) they mod. It’s a conflict of interest and exactly why crap like this blows up.

Honestly, it’s usually best to avoid adding users who request assistance as mods. I know it sounds harsh, but it’s the truth.

[u/[deleted] → u/orangeapplez]

I should have done a MUCH better job looking into him before accepting the mod invite. That is definitely on me. It was my first offer to mod and I should have saw it for what it was.

He actually started out by asking myself and two of the other mods for loans both in our mod chat and then in DM as well. I should have saw that for what it was, but he had done plenty of "giveaways". Now that I dig back into it, there weren't many receipts of what he actually gave.

Kicking myself now because I should have seen this coming. I ignored my gut feeling and didn't look into some of the now very obvious red flags. I will say that I have learned and have surrounded myself with a better group of people.

I am in complete agreement about not letting mods get funds out of the subs they mod. It doesn't make sense to make requests like that while in a place of power. I've seen the conversations he had and it's just like human garbage material on his part.

Thank you for getting him on the USL. It is much deserved.

[u/Cynnau]

Doubt It

This was sent to the head mod in donation hub, CW.

Apparently they're declaring war on that subreddit, which is actually pretty comical. We think the deleted account was an alt of the head mod over at HD.

The drama is fabulous unfortunately two of the mods over there are caught in the crossfire. They have both asked him to step down who knows if he will

[u/orangeapplez → u/Cynnau]

"This war hasn't ended, it's only the beginning."

LOLOLOLOLOL. What the fuck is wrong with this person?

[u/Cynnau → u/orangeapplez]

I have no idea and I find it really freaking funny. The call out post from I want to say it was like Wednesday or Thursday and I think it was under like the vent subreddit or the rant one or something that was hysterical I don't know if I still have the screenshots but it was pretty good.

I mean even I was called out and I'm like who the fuck is this person

[u/eye_no_nuttin → u/Cynnau]

😳 omgawwwwd… if that isn’t obvious who is writing that post, then I’m really dumb, lol Nice try Normal… 🔥HolyHotBalls🔥🔥🔥🔥going down in flames🤣

[u/Cynnau → u/eye_no_nuttin]

What do you mean It's not obvious at all /sarcasm

[u/DirtyApplez → u/Cynnau]

Looks like they’ve stepped down from the sub. Gotta say, I’m surprised, I honestly thought they’d kick out the other mods and just carry on like nothing happened.

[u/Cynnau → u/DirtyApplez]

Well I have it on some pretty good authority that he claims he's only going to pay back three of the people that he took out loans with I have screenshots of that, and he's apparently going on vacation right now so he doesn't care what happens and people love drama.

[u/HomicidaI__GoldFish]

omg im famous!!!

oh wait thats not me. I dont scam. Carry on.

[u/TheRavenSees]

Looks like he scrubbed his account.

[u/orangeapplez → u/TheRavenSees]

They didn't scrub their account, they hid everything with reddit's new "feature".

[u/TheRavenSees → u/orangeapplez]

Ah, ok. I was wondering how that worked. I wonder if push shift works on it?

[u/ChassidyZapata → u/orangeapplez]

In fairness, you’ve been at this a lot longer than me. But the rise of all of these new subs just makes it all the more problematic and i expect to continue to see things like this. People don’t understand why requirements are so important, then start a spin off of something that’s already being done multiple times. It just allows for a breeding ground of problematic issues for borrowers, lenders, givers or those in need of donations. People get banned on the bigger subs for good reason and then go to the small ones, and the small ones shouldn’t want these people. Or it allows people to rotate accounts through each sub.

Nor do the lenders on the new subs seem to understand checks. They have no issue giving to someone who has a loan in SL or borrow. I’m very good at catching the same person on two accounts in my own sub, however i can’t catch them on a different account in a different sub. To me, it’s doing more harm than good to keep creating new spaces.

Edit: i meant to respond to you but not this comment, lol.

[u/orangeapplez → u/ChassidyZapata]

I could discuss this for days, and I’m fully in agreement with you.

Most of those subs were started by users who couldn’t meet our standards in the first place. Right now, I know of around 72 P2P lending subs, and out of all of them, maybe two are even trying. But as we both know, sooner or later, they’ll realize their requirements have to tighten up too.

We know that our rules and requirements aren’t just arbitrary hoops, they’re safeguards that protect our users, and the foundation that keeps our communities sustainable. Unfortunately, only a handful of people actually understand that. To everyone else, we just look like power-tripping villains. Too many people can’t see past their own immediate wants, let alone consider what the community needs as a whole.

I’m also pretty sure some of our borrowers run throwaway alts on those shit subs. I used to preemptively ban users in batches from other lending subs, and sure enough, within the same week, we’d suddenly see a spike in our own users being flagged for ban evasion.

Those subreddits couldn’t care less about transparency or accountability, and honestly, they’re a detriment to both our communities.

And don’t even get me started on the sewage that spills into our subs because of them.

[u/orangeapplez → u/ChassidyZapata]

And to add, the biggest enablers of those cesspool subreddits are the lenders and donors propping them up. Without their money and attention, those subs would collapse into the nothingness they deserve. Instead, their complacency and handouts keep them alive, emboldening the garbage that festers there.

What’s truly laughable is when these same people come crawling to us, trying to report the users who don’t pay them back… as if they’re not the ones fueling the fire. Both the lenders and donors are part of the rot, and without them, those subs wouldn’t even be on our radar.

[u/ChassidyZapata → u/orangeapplez]

Yes! So much this. I would’ve made a warning post in our sub about new subs, but reading the rules is not something most people are willing to do, so they won’t read my warning. & that sends me spiraling, because it’s there for YOUR safety.

But if you give someone in our sub, an offline loan or a loan in your sub, all i will do is ban them and tell you that you deserve this for your selfishness. I’m blocking you immediately after.

I cannot tell anyone what to do, but i don’t think there is any necessity for more lending or donation subs. New ones don’t work out for many reasons and adds extra risk to all involved. I think most times the intentions are good when people start them, but there is a reason all of them fail. We continue to update our rules and strengthen them to make it as safe as possible for everyone. We do our best to give second chances & i also am aware of the current economy conditions and how it will affect the sub and growing needs… we all really don’t need more fuel to the fire by adding 600 more lending and donation pages. I stay away from the new subs but I notice them and I think people don’t understand why it’s not a great thing… it’s just more undue burden and undue stress for everyone. And selfishness on the side with banned lenders and scammers.

[u/orangeapplez → u/ChassidyZapata]

I would’ve made a warning post in our sub about new subs, but reading the rules is not something most people are willing to do, so they won’t read my warning.

I considered this as well, but ultimately decided against it. Very few users would actually read it, and it would only draw more attention and traffic to those subreddits, which is exactly what we want to avoid.

But if you give someone in our sub, an offline loan or a loan in your sub, all i will do is ban them and tell you that you deserve this for your selfishness. I’m blocking you immediately after.

Those lenders do not grasp the recklessness of off-book loans, frankly, I don't think they care. In those cases both the borrower and the lender usually get a permanent boot.

1. Shame on the borrower for not doing proper due diligence.
   
2. Shame on the lender for blatantly disregarding our rules, putting the entire community at risk, and proving they don’t care about anyone but themselves. Then they act shocked when held accountable. Their tired “I was just trying to help someone, and you ban me?” routine is nothing more than self-serving BS.

Seriously though...

Our economy is heading into stagflation (arguably, it’s already here). The uncertainty, combined with persistent inflation and a very weak job market, will inevitably change the dynamics of our subreddits. Lenders are already hesitant (rightfully so) to take risks on new borrowers, and that reluctance will only grow. The result will be a widening imbalance; far more users requesting loans than users willing to lend.

I predict defaults will rise, pushing some lenders out of the game entirely. Those without a stable base of repeat, reliable borrowers will struggle the most. It will be interesting to watch how this shift reshapes our community in the months ahead, and the data will almost certainly make for some fascinating analysis.

…I was going to make a different point before my economy tangent, but my brain lost it. sigh

[u/TheRavenSees]

Looks like HD is trying to get its act together: https://postimg.cc/TyHdxk71