Introduction

A recent appeal from my Medium community highlights the pressing need to connect with readers, as the platform's algorithm is failing to showcase my articles, while scamming activities are on the rise.

Unbearable Stress

Just yesterday, my account was cloned for the third time. While the issue was resolved quickly, today brought yet another instance, with a counterfeit account actively spamming my articles, including those curated from fellow writers.

Given that it’s the weekend, I suspect it may take a while for support to handle this ongoing threat.

Just seven hours ago, another scammer from the same fraudulent website duplicated my account, posing as a writing community member using the name Stephen Moore. Allegedly, Stephen is a well-known writer on Medium, which scammers exploit to mislead others.

Community Involvement

The comments section of my stories has become a battleground. For example, a reader named Parenteeny left a comment 14 hours ago, and just seven hours ago, the scammer impersonated me in the comments.

Call for Action

I urge everyone to report and block this fraudulent account that is spamming my articles and attempting to mislead my readers into joining a fake Medium Writers Community under the guise of Stephen Moore. Please avoid contacting them via Telegram, as it may lead to security concerns.

My Frustration

Despite writing two stories, some readers still question my motives behind inviting them to a supposed writing club. I seek my Medium friends' support to amplify my message for better visibility.

Regrettably, my recent story attracted only 40 views and 19 reads, likely due to the limited reach imposed by Medium’s algorithm. It appears that the platform is reluctant to promote certain types of content.

Even though I have no intention of promoting any writing club, some readers have expressed concerns, forcing me to clarify the situation, which is both time-consuming and frustrating.

Uncovering the Scammers

Indra Raj Pathak has traced the origins of this writing club to Telegram, and you can read his interactions with these scammers within the context of Dr. Yildiz’s story. They charge $40 for membership.

Ongoing Threat

As spam and scam accounts continually infiltrate the platform, I urge new readers to remain vigilant to avoid falling victim to these schemes. Your awareness is essential to prevent others from being misled.

Legal Action?

I find myself questioning why Medium has not pursued legal action against these scammers, as their presence severely undermines the platform's integrity. Shouldn't legal recourse be an option to address this community-wide concern?

Reader Perspectives

I have compiled various insightful comments from readers regarding this issue. I hope the Medium staff takes note and considers their suggestions.

> Bill Petro: “You’ve exposed the imitation of it via account cloning. Thank you for your writing and your stand for integrity.”

> Sinju Thomas: “Medium should restrict replies to comments to authors only. If a scammer replies, it would create a new comment, allowing for immediate reporting.”

> Aidan McCarthy: “This is distressing. I hope Medium Support takes action on this. It undermines us all.”

> Marcus: “I report and move on, but I don’t understand why Medium doesn’t implement measures to prevent fake account creation.”

> Stories From the Mountain: “I experienced something similar and received an identical response from a fake account, asking for a payment to join an exclusive writers forum.”

Request for Support

Dear friends, please share this story across your social platforms to raise awareness that the requests for a writing club are not from me, but from scammers trying to deceive writers into joining their dubious ventures.

It’s vital to halt this scam on Medium, as it threatens the platform's integrity and adds unnecessary stress to our community. Some members have sadly fallen victim and lost money to these scammers exploiting reputable names.

Consider creating a friend link for this story and sharing it widely since my articles about this scam aren't being distributed effectively.

Thank you for your assistance and support.

Community Alerts

ILLUMINATION editors have issued an important bulletin regarding this issue. We are doing our part, but it’s time for Medium to take swift action against these scammers.

Key Message from Dr. Mehmet Yildiz

> “The rise of counterfeit accounts on Medium is more than just an inconvenience; it threatens our community's trust and safety. These deceptive profiles disrupt genuine engagement, fill our feeds with dubious content, and undermine the credibility of authentic creators.”

Thank you for reading and for your vigilance on this platform.