Random people trying to get me to friend them. Scam?

[AfterCrow]

It's happened to me twice now.

I upload an artwork in a community, and a stranger posts a comment on the artwork to ask me to send them a friend request.

On these peoples profile I see that they obviously do not play this game.

When I declined a request the user bailed and deleted their comment.

The first one was called Pablo, and this one is called El Escobar.

I don't have anything worth taking, but is this some sort of scam/hack attempt?

[☆ id/SweetRin ☆ [JP]]

From my experience yes they are scammers and will claim they cannot send you an add and you have to add them. If they really find it important they would of sent you an add while leaving a very brief but detailed comment as of why they are adding you. I personally just block these people who try to scam me like that.

[AfterCrow]

Originally posted by ☆　id/SweetRin　☆　JP:

From my experience yes they are scammers and will claim they cannot send you an add and you have to add them. If they really find it important they would of sent you an add while leaving a very brief but detailed comment as of why they are adding you. I personally just block these people who try to scam me like that.

:ab_japaneseflag:

Thank you!

[Iceira]

Not even sure its a scam , you can request friendship to anyone at steam, maybe take the scam paranoid down a step or two.

ps.
and maybe you make a mistake you upload something other like or your comment on a post, then all can request friendship with you.

[B〄F Altonator]

100% a scam. I will explain my reasons why.

1. Why can't they just send you a request?
2. If their account is limited, they would state so.
3. It is very likely an automated message to get people to add the scammer, thus not needing to find people to scam themselves.
4. I'm pretty sure you can only send so many friend requests at one time, so this is another way around that.

Edit: and 5. I see these messages all over.

[☆ id/SweetRin ☆ [JP]]

Originally posted by B〄F Altonator:

100% a scam. I will explain my reasons why.

1. Why can't they just send you a request?
2. If their account is limited, they would state so.
3. It is very likely an automated message to get people to add the scammer, thus not needing to find people to scam themselves.
4. I'm pretty sure you can only send so many friend requests at one time, so this is another way around that.

The scammers would also state there account is limited. If they where really wanting to be your friend they would fix the fact there account is limited.

Edit: and 4. I been seeing these attempts for years.

[Iceira]

go ahead add all to ignore or blocked user for request a " add friend ".

[Phantom]

The scammers that contact you via user-generated content, usually try to hijack your account.

It's along the lines of "i've reported you", and "now give me your login information".

It's important that you block and report these users, support will look into it.

Originally posted by B〄F Altonator:

2. If their account is limited, they would state so.

Most certainly, because users with limited accounts, cannot even send friend invites.

[Jack Schitt]

If your conscience questions it? Don't do it. It's that simple.

[AfterCrow]

Originally posted by Robin3sk:

The scammers that contact you via user-generated content, usually try to hijack your account.

It's along the lines of "i've reported you", and "now give me your login information".

It's important that you block and report these users, support will look into it.

But if this is so common, why hasn't steam looked into this vulnerability already? Is this type of hack attempt (or social engineering attempt) common on the Steam platform? Do the owners of Steam (Valve?) care, and if they do care, are they unable to follow up on this stuff?

[Phantom]

There's an automated content filter for comments, but that usually is effective for phishing and other malicious links.

This is a well-known scam, to the extent that at least everyone has been contacted by these scammers at some point.

I can't speak on behalf of Valve but they do review reports and take action accordingly.

[76561198887146265]

Originally posted by B〄F Altonator:

100% a scam. I will explain my reasons why.

1. Why can't they just send you a request?
2. If their account is limited, they would state so.
3. It is very likely an automated message to get people to add the scammer, thus not needing to find people to scam themselves.
4. I'm pretty sure you can only send so many friend requests at one time, so this is another way around that.

Edit: and 5. I see these messages all over.

1st.) People actually get this wrong all the time. Due to a problem with how Valve
handles Chatting on STEAM Today, if not ever before.

I can't actually message someone without first adding them.

This whole thing just never made any sense to me, simply because isn't it supposed to
be the other way around? You ask them if you can add them, & wait to see if they
allow you to before you go & add them? Wouldn't this solve a large wave of Requests
generated by Scammers?

2nd.) If their Account is limited?

You really need to understand how Limited Accounts work before
making assumptions. Their limited, because they barely have any
Control over what they can do on Steam.

Almost forgot, limited accounts can't add anyone as a friend, they are limited,
the only way to add you, is if you add them first. It's part of their limitations as a User.

3rd.) It is a possibility. Also if you can only send so many at one time?
Then yes it's possible.

4th.) What do you mean all over?

[Ardenwolfe]

Thank you. I keep getting random message requests from strangers too. I never accept, but tonight I checked their profiles. They’re private and have zero levels as far as Steam. I figured it’s more scammers.

I expect they’ll tell me my car warranty has expired too.

[☆ id/SweetRin ☆ [JP]]

Originally posted by Ardenwolfe:

Thank you. I keep getting random message requests from strangers too. I never accept, but I decided to check their profiles. They're private and have zero levels as far as Steam. I figured it's more scammers.

Probably going to tell me my car warranty has expired too.

They are scammers, Good job on checking there profile.