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Reddit is one of the most popular places online for discussion, news, and shared knowledge. Most of the time, it’s a safe platform — but its anonymity, open messaging system and peer-to-peer culture also make it appealing for scammers.
One Reddit scam in particular has become increasingly common: the fake moderator scam, where cyber criminals pose as Subreddit moderators to pressure people into handing over their login details or money. Below, we break down how it works and how to avoid it.
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What is the fake moderator scam?
Reddit is structured differently from traditional social networks. Instead of one continuous feed, it’s made up of thousands of themed communities known as Subreddits. Each Subreddit has its own rules and volunteer moderators (“mods”) who keep discussions on-topic and remove harmful content.
Because moderators hold authority inside their communities, people generally trust them — and that trust is exactly what scammers exploit. The fake moderator scam is a Reddit-specific phishing attack where criminals impersonate mods to intimidate victims into completing “verification” steps, clicking malicious links or even sending payments
How the fake moderator scam works
1. Finding a target
Scammers operate in large, busy Subreddits where messages are less likely to be scrutinized. They often choose new accounts or people posting sensitive topics they can claim violate community rules.
2. The impersonation message
The scammer sends a private message claiming to be from the “moderation team” or an “official review notice.” They may even include screenshots of your posts to seem credible.
3. The verification trap
The victim is told they must complete verification or appeal a suspension to avoid being banned. This usually involves clicking a link leading to a fake “Reddit Verification” page.
Some scammers ask for cryptocurrency or payment via apps like Venmo — a clear red flag since moderators never request money.
4. Account takeover or theft
Once credentials are entered, the scammer gains full access. They may:
Demand payment to return the account
Message friends or contacts requesting money
Steal saved personal information
Access linked crypto wallets
Try the same password on other accounts you own
With full control, they can escalate the damage beyond Reddit databases.
How to spot fake moderators quickly
A legitimate moderator will never pressure you privately into verifying your account. Use this five-point check before responding to mod messages:
Check the username — Mods are listed in the Subreddit sidebar. They do not message from generic names like “moderation team.”
Ignore “verification badges” — Reddit doesn’t use them. Scammers often fake them in profile images.
Never pay a mod — Moderation is voluntary and unpaid. Any request for crypto or money is automatically a scam.
Watch for off-site links — Legitimate moderation happens on Reddit. Links to external “appeal” or “verification” pages are not to be trusted.
Real mod notices come via Modmail — If the message isn’t visible to all mods, it’s not official.
Follow these five checks, and you’ll stop most fake mod scams instantly.
What to do if you interacted with a fake mod on Reddit
Even the savviest internet user can fall for a Reddit scam. If you think you’ve been scammed, take the following steps to quickly limit the amount of damage they can do:
Change your password immediately — do not wait, do this as soon as you realize you’ve been scammed.
Enable 2FA if you haven’t already — this will make it much more difficult for the scammer to regain access to your account. Here’s how to do it.
Warn your contacts — Reddit scammers often target your close contacts so make sure you tell everyone to ignore strange messages from your account.
Run antivirus software on your device — if you clicked on a malicious link, it may have downloaded malware to your device that can be used to steal data or hack into other accounts.
Report the account that scammed you — contact Reddit directly and provide screenshots of your interaction with the scammer so they can shut down the account quickly.
Other Reddit scams to be aware of
While fake moderator impersonation is one of the most common Reddit scams today, it’s not the only threat to look out for. Cyber criminals adapt quickly, shifting tactics when old methods become less effective. Some run investment-themed crypto scams promising unrealistic returns, while others stage giveaway hoaxes where “winning” requires sending money or personal documents first.
In tech-focused communities, scammers may even offer to “fix” devices or troubleshoot issues remotely, then install malware instead. Knowing these variations helps you recognize patterns — even when the scam itself changes form.
A good rule is to treat Reddit like any other public space online: helpful, interesting, but home to a small number of scammers. If information is private, don’t post it publicly. If someone pressures you to reply quickly, slow down. And if a message involves payments, external links, software downloads or private account details, assume risk before trust.
You can also make Reddit scams easier to spot by adjusting your settings. Lock down your inbox to restrict who can contact you, disable chat requests from unknown accounts, and turn on two-factor authentication to make account takeovers much more difficult. You can also use security tools like F-Secure Total to automatically detect malicious links, unsafe sites and possible phishing attempts.
These habits significantly lower your chances of falling victim to scams, regardless of how convincing they first appear.
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