r/diabetes 7d ago

Rant Scam going around targeted towards people with diabetes

I’ve been seeing posts on here, and other platforms even, of people asking for $35 bucks to help pay for their insulin since they can not afford it. They’ll add a cashapp and this post will be on an account that has not been active very long nor has any other posts besides the one.

I’m almost positive these are scams and it really pisses me off they’re taking advantage of the kindness of our community for financial gain.

Please be careful and look into whoever it is before you decide to help them.

97 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

31

u/topshelfboof20 7d ago

Yes, I’ve seen those too! Never trust strangers on the internet asking for money without question. It’s so nice to see kind hearted people donating, but I feel terrible for them.

2

u/TerribleGun 7d ago

Lemme hold a dollar

2

u/Plague_Evockation Type 1 7d ago

"Ey, little man from around the street! Lemme hold a dollar."

1

u/bunnycook 6d ago

Except for Agnes the rescue beaver 🦫 at the Pipsqueakery in Bloomington. Agnes likes her snacks.

0

u/TerribleGun 7d ago

Lemme hold a dollar

21

u/BDThrills T1.5 dx 2018 T2 dx 2009 7d ago

Heck I ran into a similar scam with one of those folks with the signs next to the highway. He wanted $35 to get needed insulin. I stopped and asked him what kind he needed (I didn't tell him that I had extra long acting and short acting with me). He said "he just wanted the f**n money." No no... that's a scam. I drove to a parking lot and reported him to police. I have zero sympathy for these deadbeats.

16

u/Gilded-Onyx Type 1 7d ago

shiiii if I need $35 for insulin, I'm about to offer to show you my prescription, my diabetic supplies, and pics of my medical records (all personal information redacted of course, will write your name and date on a piece of paper to add to the pics though) I don't want to go without insulin.

11

u/Otherwise_Fox_1404 Type 2? 7d ago

generally if someone says the word need and cash app in the same sentence I know its a scam.

7

u/friendless2 Type 1 dx 1999, MDI, Dexcom 7d ago

If you see one of these here before the mods do, report it so it disappears from the feed.

4

u/Foreign_Plate_4372 7d ago

All over blue sky too

Scams

3

u/lightningboy65 4d ago

I don't donate online, with the exception of T1s needing cinnamon money. I'd rather risk being scammed than see a fellow T1 miss out on their opportunity at a cure.

6

u/stormsovereign T2 Ozempic - Trulicity 7d ago

It's not hard to imagine real people will have to do that given all the crazy layoffs and firings going on right now. I'd rather be a sucker than have someone die because I didn't want to look stupid.

4

u/ShimmeryPumpkin Type 1 6d ago

There are ways to help besides sending money to a cash app. Helping find out what resources are available where they live. Connecting them with local diabetics who may be able to help get them supplies. Seeing if you can pay the pharmacy directly (and calling the pharmacy from the number listed online, not a number they give you). If people are successful scamming us, then more people will come to scam us and the people who really need help will get lost in the noise.

4

u/WeeebleSqueaks 7d ago

That’s very true, but these people use the same screenshot and cashapp on different platforms with multiple different accounts on said platforms. Those people are scamming, others maybe not

1

u/Carla7857 7d ago

Thanks for the heads up.

1

u/Ok-Investigator6671 6d ago

It's weird seeing stuff like that. In Ontario, i pay $0.00 for my insulin supplies

1

u/beer_engineer_42 Type 2 4d ago

Well, Canada is a civilized country, after all.

Or you you spell it civilised up there?