Warning! I was Targeted by a Scammer

[jo0008]

Hi just letting Fitbit users know that I was recently targeted by a fraudster through Fitbit. A man allegedly called Ryan James from Atlanta, USA messaged me stating that he was a UN orthopedic surgeon working in Kubal. Please do not answer/reply to this man as he is a fraudster who will stak you and try to steal your personal identity information as well as constantly pester you for money for months.

Moderator edit: Clarified subject and Format

[Odyssey13]

Hello @jo0008 

Thanks for taking the time to share that with the community.

How did he contact you? On the forums or via the messaging from a group or as a friend? So glad you were able to see this person for what he was and not lose anything to him.

I've notified a Fitbit Moderator about this, so they will probably stop by to post a few words.

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello @Odyssey13 and @jo0008.

Thanks for sharing your experience on the matter. Glad to read that you are okay. 

Please do share more information on what happened as @Odyssey13 asked. Be sure to report that PM.

Feel free to let us know if there are any further questions.

[Laryz]

Thank you for sharing and it also happened to me when I joined community and a guy names Ryan M saying he is a medical corp from Texas and now in Syria Peace Keeping mission.  He was saying oh someone hacked his gmail and ask for my phone to verify a code and turns out he usedy number for google voice and i claimed it back but how can these people who dont have fitbit device create a profile. 

[Odyssey13]

Hi @Laryz  no matter where you go online, there is someone trying to get your personal information and/or your money. You're under no obligation to reply to a private message or even accept someone as a friend. Staying safe is important. Anyone can join a forum because the forums are public and set up for people to come to ask questions before purchasing a Fitbit and after. There is no way to prove someone has a Fitbit when they join the forums. All we have is the Terms of Service, which everyone agrees to abide to while using the forums. You'll occasionally see posts where people try to sell products or services, but our moderators hop on those and quickly delete them. Anyway, now that you're here - enjoy the forums and your Fitbit!

[Laryz]

Thank you for the advice. I now know and learned a lesson.  Never accept a friend request. 

[Odyssey13]

@Laryz  just be more selective. If someone just joined the forums and starts hitting you up, then wait until they've posted more before accepting. Most people here are all about the Fitbit and the health journey, not trying to make a date. Many people join the forums for the wrong reasons. Just be as safe here as you would going shopping in your hometown and you'll be fine.

[Laryz]

@Odyssey13  Yes i joined fitbit for wellness and get fit and healthy and not looking.. I really appreciate. Have a great week ahead.

[TanyaK]

I'll keep an eye out for him. Does he go by other names besides Ryan James? I did get a friend request last month from a guy named Shane N. on Fitbit.  It was when he asked me if I used Hangouts or WhatsApp that I told him that I don't give my WhatsApp number to anyone because that's how scammers get women. He got mad at me and I blocked him. 

[Odyssey13]

Hi @TanyaK  this thread is over a year old and the names of these scammers vary. Sometimes the same person uses several names. It's good you're vigilant and keep on blocking as needed. With kids out of school and college right now, there are more of them playing online than usual.

[TanyaK]

Eeesh...do kids who are off school now know about this? 

[Odyssey13]

@TanyaK  there are so many scammers out there and ways to part a person from their money. It's everywhere online and all we can do is stay alert. It's sad how people feel the need to do these foolish things!

[Babsbabs1]

I have been getting the same from a Donald B wanted my whats app to send me photos of the WILD Cats he works with Blocked him

[TanyaK]

Donald B. sounds familiar. The other day, I received a friend request from
a David S. I blocked him.

[Memaw86]

Do you have a picture of this person? I may have the same one on the hook now. 

[Memaw86]

Unfortunately, I fell for a scammer scheme and lost a lot of money

[TanyaK]

I'm sorry to read that you lost a lot of money when you fell for a scam.:(
This is all kinds of wrong what this scammer is doing to everybody. I've
had to block people who have sent friend requests because they don't have
anything on their page and because one of them claims to have a business
proposition for me.

I hope you get help in recovering the money you lost.

Sincerely,

Tanya

[Zahraj]

just want to say there are alot of scammers in fitbit at the moment. They ask for friend requests, then move onto WhatsApp or Google hangout and try to start a romance.... always ending in asking for money. Please be aware 

[Zahraj]

Same in the last 24 hours. User gary d. Claims his wife died and is a single dad deployed in Afghanistan.. he wanted $10,000 to get him a military holiday. Please all be aware xx

[TanyaK]

I'll be on the lookout for him. Thanks for the heads up.