RetroSpectacle
@retrospectacle.bsky.social
Here we go again.
Researching StyleGAN, scams, ragebait, and all the things that make the internet less fun.
Researching StyleGAN, scams, ragebait, and all the things that make the internet less fun.
Yeah man, when you're a star they let you do it... or something
November 13, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Yeah man, when you're a star they let you do it... or something
Scammers just out here scamming.
(This isn't how security notifications work)
(This isn't how security notifications work)
November 12, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Scammers just out here scamming.
(This isn't how security notifications work)
(This isn't how security notifications work)
I can't say I'm that knowledgeable about WW2 but this looks eerily familiar.
November 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
I can't say I'm that knowledgeable about WW2 but this looks eerily familiar.
I went to Amazon to see *how* bad the AI slop was using the search query, "Zohran Mamdani Book".
Tell me why the FIRST result was for an anti-Muslim book by the guy who runs the website "Jihad Watch"?
Big yikes.
Tell me why the FIRST result was for an anti-Muslim book by the guy who runs the website "Jihad Watch"?
Big yikes.
November 7, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I went to Amazon to see *how* bad the AI slop was using the search query, "Zohran Mamdani Book".
Tell me why the FIRST result was for an anti-Muslim book by the guy who runs the website "Jihad Watch"?
Big yikes.
Tell me why the FIRST result was for an anti-Muslim book by the guy who runs the website "Jihad Watch"?
Big yikes.
It's just interesting how different outlets report the news is all I'm saying.
November 5, 2025 at 2:54 AM
It's just interesting how different outlets report the news is all I'm saying.
As was mentioned yesterday, I flagged 54 "Sympathy Scam" videos after nearly 200 were removed following an investigation by @craigsilverman.bsky.social.
The videos were flagged as Fraud/Scams, in accordance with TikTok's labeling of the network.
54 of the 54 videos showed "no violation".
The videos were flagged as Fraud/Scams, in accordance with TikTok's labeling of the network.
54 of the 54 videos showed "no violation".
October 31, 2025 at 12:52 PM
As was mentioned yesterday, I flagged 54 "Sympathy Scam" videos after nearly 200 were removed following an investigation by @craigsilverman.bsky.social.
The videos were flagged as Fraud/Scams, in accordance with TikTok's labeling of the network.
54 of the 54 videos showed "no violation".
The videos were flagged as Fraud/Scams, in accordance with TikTok's labeling of the network.
54 of the 54 videos showed "no violation".
In the next stage of uncovering this scam, I discovered the origin of the products being promoted in the videos: AliExpress. Remember, these products are being promoted by crying mothers and fathers as their son's small business.
In the image, I've put together a sample of the scam pipeline.
In the image, I've put together a sample of the scam pipeline.
October 22, 2025 at 3:24 PM
In the next stage of uncovering this scam, I discovered the origin of the products being promoted in the videos: AliExpress. Remember, these products are being promoted by crying mothers and fathers as their son's small business.
In the image, I've put together a sample of the scam pipeline.
In the image, I've put together a sample of the scam pipeline.
I thought I'd share some examples of sources videos I've found and how they're being manipulated by this scam network.
This network is exploiting people in their weakest moments for personal gain and it's gross.
This network is exploiting people in their weakest moments for personal gain and it's gross.
October 21, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I thought I'd share some examples of sources videos I've found and how they're being manipulated by this scam network.
This network is exploiting people in their weakest moments for personal gain and it's gross.
This network is exploiting people in their weakest moments for personal gain and it's gross.
I'm finding hundreds of examples of scammy shops using hate speech to garner sympathy purchases. In the example below, the account "John" does not exist. The same comment, filled with slurs, was used 6 times in 1 week, featuring 6 different people as the alleged parent of a child who crochets.
October 19, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I'm finding hundreds of examples of scammy shops using hate speech to garner sympathy purchases. In the example below, the account "John" does not exist. The same comment, filled with slurs, was used 6 times in 1 week, featuring 6 different people as the alleged parent of a child who crochets.
Each account shares the same handful of videos with different text; either an offensive comment or a call to action (ie, support black women by staying 11 seconds).
The videos have tens of thousands of views. Most viewers have no idea they're being duped.
More to come.
The videos have tens of thousands of views. Most viewers have no idea they're being duped.
More to come.
October 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Each account shares the same handful of videos with different text; either an offensive comment or a call to action (ie, support black women by staying 11 seconds).
The videos have tens of thousands of views. Most viewers have no idea they're being duped.
More to come.
The videos have tens of thousands of views. Most viewers have no idea they're being duped.
More to come.
Imagine using racial and homophobic slurs to garner sympathy buys for dropshipped products. It's happening now on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Facebook. I'm in the process of uncovering dozens of accounts, recycling canned videos with wildly offensive fake comments directing viewers to their store.
October 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Imagine using racial and homophobic slurs to garner sympathy buys for dropshipped products. It's happening now on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Facebook. I'm in the process of uncovering dozens of accounts, recycling canned videos with wildly offensive fake comments directing viewers to their store.
This is a small portion of videos published in the last 24 hours.
July 28, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This is a small portion of videos published in the last 24 hours.
Lately, I've seen A LOT of inauthentic activity on TikTok with the video description "Chelsea defeated PSG 3-0 to win the Club World Cup Final"
I feel like there's a treasure trove of data here but I don't have the time or resources to see it through. How much are these faceless accounts earning?
I feel like there's a treasure trove of data here but I don't have the time or resources to see it through. How much are these faceless accounts earning?
July 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Lately, I've seen A LOT of inauthentic activity on TikTok with the video description "Chelsea defeated PSG 3-0 to win the Club World Cup Final"
I feel like there's a treasure trove of data here but I don't have the time or resources to see it through. How much are these faceless accounts earning?
I feel like there's a treasure trove of data here but I don't have the time or resources to see it through. How much are these faceless accounts earning?
The one-two punch of an impending mass casualty even and a brand changing its branding.
May 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
The one-two punch of an impending mass casualty even and a brand changing its branding.
Glad the courts finally agree with what's been established for years.
April 17, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Glad the courts finally agree with what's been established for years.
Infrastructure Week 2.0
March 6, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Infrastructure Week 2.0
"Worst halftime show of all time"
February 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
"Worst halftime show of all time"
If the hood fits.
February 10, 2025 at 2:34 AM
If the hood fits.
@conspirator0.bsky.social I thought you'd find this interesting. A "True Crime" YouTube channel that almost exclusively uses StyleGAN faces for its thumbnails.
www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeMy...
They've received hundreds of thousands of views from some salacious (yet fictional) AI-written stories.
www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeMy...
They've received hundreds of thousands of views from some salacious (yet fictional) AI-written stories.
January 19, 2025 at 2:34 PM
@conspirator0.bsky.social I thought you'd find this interesting. A "True Crime" YouTube channel that almost exclusively uses StyleGAN faces for its thumbnails.
www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeMy...
They've received hundreds of thousands of views from some salacious (yet fictional) AI-written stories.
www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeMy...
They've received hundreds of thousands of views from some salacious (yet fictional) AI-written stories.
Surreal and dumb.
January 19, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Surreal and dumb.
A search on Facebook (left) led to multiple Ouk Chimreatreyoudom's with one verified page. The verified page confirmed his success as an artist.
This apparent imposter account (right), which may have accidentally shared his name, says he works for the Chicago Bears with tons of versions of himself.
This apparent imposter account (right), which may have accidentally shared his name, says he works for the Chicago Bears with tons of versions of himself.
January 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A search on Facebook (left) led to multiple Ouk Chimreatreyoudom's with one verified page. The verified page confirmed his success as an artist.
This apparent imposter account (right), which may have accidentally shared his name, says he works for the Chicago Bears with tons of versions of himself.
This apparent imposter account (right), which may have accidentally shared his name, says he works for the Chicago Bears with tons of versions of himself.
Of the 100 accounts I tracked down, one stood out. An account named Ouk Chimreatreyoudom. The similarity in first name with the artist made me suspicious and after a quick Google search, I found the real Ouk Chimreatreyoudom, an artist from Cambodia.
January 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Of the 100 accounts I tracked down, one stood out. An account named Ouk Chimreatreyoudom. The similarity in first name with the artist made me suspicious and after a quick Google search, I found the real Ouk Chimreatreyoudom, an artist from Cambodia.
In scrolling through the friends list of several of the accts you initially shared, I found 28 different selfies of the same man and 100 accts (there's likely many more). The art in the images led me to Cambodian artist Ouk Chim Vichet.
January 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
In scrolling through the friends list of several of the accts you initially shared, I found 28 different selfies of the same man and 100 accts (there's likely many more). The art in the images led me to Cambodian artist Ouk Chim Vichet.
I have an ID for the image of the person in the "Los Angeles Dodgers" botnet you found. His name is Ouk Chimreatreyoudom, and he's from Cambodia. he appears to be a successful sculptor and artist and the botnet may not be his doing.
Here's how I got there.
Here's how I got there.
January 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I have an ID for the image of the person in the "Los Angeles Dodgers" botnet you found. His name is Ouk Chimreatreyoudom, and he's from Cambodia. he appears to be a successful sculptor and artist and the botnet may not be his doing.
Here's how I got there.
Here's how I got there.
Related to the botnet but unrelated to the last post. I think it's fun that these little whoopsies happen. OPE! Accidentally added a personal to picture to one of my bot accounts!
January 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Related to the botnet but unrelated to the last post. I think it's fun that these little whoopsies happen. OPE! Accidentally added a personal to picture to one of my bot accounts!