(VINnews) — According to multiple sources, a scam artist has been targeting frum Jews on their phones, impersonating an orthodox Jew, and asking for money as an act of ‘chesed.” Even more frightening, he targets his victims by infiltrating frum WhatsApp groups.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The latest (almost) victim is Dovid Bashevkin, head of NCSY, who is very vocal on Twitter.
Bashevkin tweeted: “BEWARE: I just got a weird phone call from this number on my cell from a live person who knew my last name and mutuals of mine from twitter and kept using yeshiva terminology slightly incorrectly and was CLEARLY SCAMMING FOR MONEY — presenting as frum when he clearly was not.
He continued: “If you get a call from that number or from a different number asking you “to do a chessed” and assuring you that “I’ve done my hishtadlut” and asks you to send money please know that this is a very obvious scam. Don’t send money.”
BEWARE: I just got a weird phone call from this number on my cell from a live person who knew my last name and mutuals of mine from twitter and kept using yeshiva terminology slightly incorrectly and was CLEARLY SCAMMING FOR MONEY — presenting as frum when he clearly was not. pic.twitter.com/HOQPpPn7uB
— David/Dovid Bashevkin (@DBashIdeas) July 14, 2023
Goes by the name Edaan Brook.
Uses multiple numbers.
This is him.
Part of some weird cult.
And a bit from Reddit. https://t.co/NdJRGeCePq pic.twitter.com/8hRj0mR5t1— Bob the craftsman (@CraftsmanBob) April 28, 2023
It seems Bashevkin was nearly lulled into believing the con artist’s bogus story. However he sensed that something was off, so he decided to dig further.
He wrote: “So, how’d I know it was a scam I’m sure you’re all wondering. I flipped into full blown El Al airport security mode!!!!!!! Me: *long pause* “SO WHAT PARSHA IS IT THIS COMING WEEK????”
“Guy sounded like he legit typed “how to I scam people but with frum terminology” into ChaptGPT.”
SCREENSHOT FROM A VIN READER WHO WAS TARGETED:
This guy went into full blown Chassidic El Al Security Mode 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/twLeQkecF5
— David/Dovid Bashevkin (@DBashIdeas) July 14, 2023
The person said his name was Edan Brooke, although it seems he may have multiple aliases.
Bashevkin continued, “…this is freaky and serious. Someone has infiltrated Jewish WhatsApp groups deliberately using frum terms to prey on people’s instinct for Chessed. It’s sick. PLEASE SHARE THIS SCAM WIDELY. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS.”
How is this any more of a scam than all the ads on here promising desperate Yidden “Yeshuos” for donations?
(Ever notice the Gematria to give is never “Av” but instead is the Gematria of Hodu lashem ki tov + Zeh hayom…+ your name + both your parents names + your grandparents names?)
Same thing happened to me and Edan Brook called me almost a week ago.
He used phone number
1-470-579-0414
I asked him which shul he davens in and if I can call up the Rabbi there. He told me he will speak with him first and then call me back.
As I suspected he never called me back.
What about al the real frum Jews (at least the so called) using the vulnerable with all kinds of Tzdukahs – they will do this and that for you, send us money.
All they are looking is to separate you from our money based on a human nature of – being desperate when they are in need.
Ask any of them how much of the money goes into the pockets of those that made this tzdukah deal. I call many of them and tell them I am a rich guy and just had a lot of success in a real estate deal, looking to give a large donation, but I must have a signed letter from the Rov that they using, as exactly to how much goes into the pockets of the organizers. Never hear back from any of them.
The truth is (ask around to who is in the know) 40-60% goes into a personal pocket. And don’t kid yourselves the Rabbonim are also given money.
It is not a full scam but not real far from it.- why don’t they get a real job instead of preying on the desperate.
there are so many scammers are their trying to get money from all people and especially in the frum community which is know for being baali chesed. You have to be careful and NEVER give out any personal data.
This is INTERSTATE FRAUD. Anyone bother to file a police report or contact FBI? That will stop it.
To donate money to fight this scam, pls contribute at kvetch.thechessedfund.com
Families are starving, the world will fall apart if you don’t donate and yadayadayada all the standard too graphically explicit and raw memes.
This guy has been doing this since at least June of last year.
He started by joining a bunch of Chabad whatsapp groups and from there he managed to join local groups in different communities etc etc
There’s even a whatsapp group created a while ago dedicated to just posting the ever changing phone numbers of him to know what to look out for
First of all I don’t understand why anyone would answer their cell phone from a number that they don’t recognize. I never ever do. I don’t care who is calling. If they’re not in my contacts they had better leave a message since I don’t pick up. Secondly there are men and women all over the streets of Flatbush that are asking for money who are not Jewish. Some can’t even say the word tzedakah. There’s one woman who sits in front of Glatt mart saying “sedacha”(she must’ve worked hard to teach herself the “ch” sound since that she has mastered). Please use discretion when giving out your tzedakah money.
The picture he uses is readily available. You should post that here in case he decides to change his alias.
Creep
The halacha is that a person must verify that the person collecting is legitimate and the cause legitimate. In other words the obligation is on us to make sure that the tzedakah money that Hashem entrusted to us goes to a legitimate place. I am not saying you can’t give a dollar to a guy who puts his hand out. But for larger donations the right course of action is to not just feel bad and give, but verify first.
Sadly I get calls soliciting funds – and I sense something is off – it’s a Friday, I ask the lady if she’s making early or late Shabbos – and she’s lost – then I’ll ask her are you Jewish, several times click, several times – ‘yes, but not religious’ – just not comfortable giving my cc info over the phone to a stranger.
Edaan brook the scammer
Whatsapp group invite
https://chat.whatsapp.com/B4lqeLWUcS49CVGcHwKZM6
Caution: if you join he will have access to your number
Not sure what your point is. This is scammer a serious matter and trying to highlight misguided hate during the three weeks is disturbing to say the least.
I really have no words for these kinds of people good always wins these scammers will eventually move on as long as were all informed. These are the kinds of things that happen when our society lacks the belief in hashem the individuals they have no moral grounding for anything they do.
How about giving five dollars a day for a NEW of good cause each day.
If you take one look at the participants on your watsapp chat groups, you’ll be surprised to see many foreign and suspicious numbers that make no sense to be on chats. I always wonder why the admins don’t delete them. Many from different countries where frum jews dont live.
Of course they infiltrate our community and pick up plenty info unbeknown to us. It’s time to take action. Admins MUST take responsibility and delete suspicious participants from groups.
No different than the 5 robo calls I get every night during dinner time.
Oops! You almost missed an opportunity to spread a little extra machlokes and sinas chinam just in time for rosh chodeh Av.
Yay, galus!!!
Now, let’s all get back to chanting “we want meshiach now, we want mashiach now…..”.
i haven’t heard from mr blue for a while, i was wondering what he was up to….
From all the comments here it seems like this person needs a few dollars and as long as he’s using the money for food shelter clothing etc, there should be no reason why you can’t give him a few dollars.