Russell12 was hacked! and the hacker is scamming people!

Options
pcgsregistrycollector
pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited July 2, 2025 10:12PM in U.S. Coin Forum

The account @Russell12 has been hacked. Same type of hack as BAJJERFAN. Everyone should take extra precautions.

Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Comments

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Just as a general rule of thumb, if people list stuff for crazy deals than it most likely is a scam.

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @pcgsregistrycollector said:
    ...Russell12 is a hacker...

    is he a hacker or your title is wrong?

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @MsMorrisine said:

    @pcgsregistrycollector said:
    ...Russell12 is a hacker...

    is he a hacker or your title is wrong?

    Someone hacked his account and is selling gold coins. https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1114908/6-gold-coins-spot-price#latest

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2, 2025 9:22PM
    Options

    so

    ...is he a hacker and a scammer ... or your title is wrong?

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @MsMorrisine said:
    so

    ...is he a hacker and a scammer ... or your title is wrong?

    Both

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2, 2025 10:11PM
    Options

    you need to change the title from "Russell12 is a hacker and scammer"

    to

    "Russell12 was hacked! and the hacker is scamming people!"

    big differece

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @MsMorrisine said:

    you need to change the title from "Russell12 is a hacker and scammer"

    to

    "Russell12 was hacked! and the hacker is scamming people!"

    big differece

    done deal thanks

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • Russell12561256
    Options

    I just saw this, I'm "russell12" and I am not a scammer. How can I get my old account back?

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    you have to prove you're you and the rightful owner and not the hacker trying another trick

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • WQuarterFreddie
    WQuarterFreddie Posts: 3,305 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options
  • Russell12561256
    Russell12561256 Posts: 21
    edited July 2, 2025 11:17PM
    Options

    @MsMorrisine said:
    you have to prove you're you and the rightful owner and not the hacker trying another trick

    @WQuarterFreddie said:
    @PCGS_Moderator

    sure, how do I go about that and contact the proper people?
    The hacker does not have my email assigned to that account, I can provide my {CGS registry name (it's different). Hopefully that are ways to do this?

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    the way things are hand written, they are by someone from the other side of the atlantic

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Russell12561256 said:

    @MsMorrisine said:
    you have to prove you're you and the rightful owner and not the hacker trying another trick

    @WQuarterFreddie said:
    @PCGS_Moderator

    sure, how do I go about that and contact the proper people?
    The hacker does not have my email assigned to that account, I can provide my {CGS registry name (it's different). Hopefully that are ways to do this?

    ??

    they changed the email address on the account?

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • Russell12561256
    Options

    @MsMorrisine said:

    @Russell12561256 said:

    @MsMorrisine said:
    you have to prove you're you and the rightful owner and not the hacker trying another trick

    @WQuarterFreddie said:
    @PCGS_Moderator

    sure, how do I go about that and contact the proper people?
    The hacker does not have my email assigned to that account, I can provide my {CGS registry name (it's different). Hopefully that are ways to do this?

    ??

    they changed the email address on the account?

    Would the moderators have access to what my original email was?

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    you can try sending a pm to pcgs_moderator and be sure to include the link to the scam bst post

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Russell12561256 said:
    Would the moderators have access to what my original email was?

    unknown

    did the hacker change your email yes or no?

    did you also change the registry acct password? if not, do it now

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    until this is settled, the original account will be banned once the mods start work

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • Russell12561256
    Options

    @MsMorrisine said:
    until this is settled, the original account will be banned once the mods start work

    I have a different name and password for my registry set, thanks

  • PeakRarities
    PeakRarities Posts: 4,858 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 3, 2025 1:03AM
    Options

    Russell messaged me on Facebook from a legitimate, aged account so that should be enough in addition to his ip address they should be able to see. Last name and pic concealed for privacy.

    Founder- Peak Rarities
    Website
    Instagram
    Facebook

  • PeakRarities
    PeakRarities Posts: 4,858 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @MsMorrisine said:

    @Russell12561256 said:
    Would the moderators have access to what my original email was?

    unknown

    did the hacker change your email yes or no?

    did you also change the registry acct password? if not, do it now

    He won’t be able to know if his email on the original account was changed because he’s locked out, though I would assume that it was.

    Founder- Peak Rarities
    Website
    Instagram
    Facebook

  • Russell12561256
    Options

    @PeakRarities said:
    Russell messaged me on Facebook from a legitimate, aged account so that should be enough in addition to his ip address they should be able to see. Last name and pic concealed for privacy.

    THANK YOU

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,046 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @PeakRarities said:

    @MsMorrisine said:

    @Russell12561256 said:
    Would the moderators have access to what my original email was?

    unknown

    did the hacker change your email yes or no?

    did you also change the registry acct password? if not, do it now

    He won’t be able to know if his email on the original account was changed because he’s locked out, though I would assume that it was.

    Since he asked for password help and never got an email, I think it was definitely changed.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,046 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Few more of these hacks and people will learn why paying the 3.5% PayPal fee is so valuable. The FF and Venmo nonsense just guarantees that you can't get your money back if anything goes wrong. It doesn't even have to be a scam. Could be any problem.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • TrickleCharge
    TrickleCharge Posts: 497 ✭✭✭✭
    Options

    This scam reminds me of the one that was showing up on eBay not too long ago. The scammers would get access to legitimate and well established accounts, then make bogus listings urging buyers to do business outside eBay via some link or email associated with the scammer.

  • Walkerguy21D
    Walkerguy21D Posts: 12,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @pcgsregistrycollector said:
    Just as a general rule of thumb, if people list stuff for crazy deals than it most likely is a scam.

    Selling gold at spot wasn’t too crazy, until you saw the scammer was savvy enough to bait the deal with a few Classic head gold coins.

    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • Morgan13
    Morgan13 Posts: 2,691 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I'm baffled. Hackers even come here to try and screw us.
    Just crazy.

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
    Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
    Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP BruceS bigjpst
    JWP PROMETHIUS88

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    The thing is, even if the PCGS team was able to pinpoint the scams to a centralized IP, the scammers would most likely have used a VPN or other tool to conceal their true origin.

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • davewesen
    davewesen Posts: 6,982 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I wonder if hacking is of CollectorsUniverse website, smart phone, individual's computer, or lucky password guess?

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @davewesen said:
    I wonder if hacking is of CollectorsUniverse website, smart phone, individual's computer, or lucky password guess?

    Coordinated hack

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • U1chicago
    U1chicago Posts: 6,993 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 3, 2025 11:32AM
    Options
  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,860 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    That member hasn't posted on the forum for the past year and a half until yesterday, so beware.

  • braddick
    braddick Posts: 25,183 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    ^
    It's all good. I PM'ed this member and asked if he was a fraudster and he told me, no.

    (Kidding. Let's be careful out there...)

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @braddick said:
    ^
    It's all good. I PM'ed this member and asked if he was a fraudster and he told me, no.

    (Kidding. Let's be careful out there...)

    How do you know it was the actual member?

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • Project Numismatics
    Project Numismatics Posts: 1,886 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    It seems prudent at this point to change passwords and any other websites that use the same password (best practice anyway)! This is a pattern!

  • Russell12561256
    Options

    how could the hacker change my password with out access to my email?

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Russell12561256 said:
    how could the hacker change my password with out access to my email?

    They logged in than reset all information most likely. When were you last able to log in?

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • Project Numismatics
    Project Numismatics Posts: 1,886 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Russell12561256 said:
    how could the hacker change my password with out access to my email?

    Don’t need email access to change password on this site.

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    You just need to access the account

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • Russell12561256
    Options

    @pcgsregistrycollector said:

    @Russell12561256 said:
    how could the hacker change my password with out access to my email?

    They logged in than reset all information most likely. When were you last able to log in?

    Tuesday afternoon

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Kliao said:

    @Project Numismatics said:

    @Russell12561256 said:
    how could the hacker change my password with out access to my email?

    Don’t need email access to change password on this site.

    I also don't like that they don't send you an email after any information is changed on your profile.

    They should enable 2-step verification such as a extra security question. Lots of sites have this feature and it works to great effect.

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Russell12561256 said:
    how could the hacker change my password with out access to my email?

    i'm guessing they tried a bunch of passwords until their program eventually got it right and was logged in. then they changed the email and password

    or

    if you are russell12 on another site, and you use the same password, once that other site is compromised they can try "credential stuffing" by using the compromised password on other sites

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @MsMorrisine said:

    @Russell12561256 said:
    how could the hacker change my password with out access to my email?

    i'm guessing they tried a bunch of passwords until their program eventually got it right and was logged in. then they changed the email and password

    or

    if you are russell12 on another site, and you use the same password, once that other site is compromised they can try "credential stuffing" by using the compromised password on other sites

    Changed my password on other sites now and i dont have the same handle which is good

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file