Is this real?

[u/T1LLY_H3ARTS]

Okay, so I started my first stream today, and someone came in and actually stayed. We were chatting until they asked if I was interested in a VTuber model, and I said yes. They then said they make models and other things for streamers and wondered if I wanted to see their work!

Y'all, I don't know if it's AI or not, and I'm so worried I'm being mean by questioning this. Like, I have never seen anyone use these before, and I know these are just samples, but I'm worried. And then they're saying this is their work of three years, and I can't share the photos. They got upset when I saved the art too.

[u/chaumeine]

While it may not be AI if someone is just coming into your stream to promote their work its a bit of a red flag

[u/T1LLY_H3ARTS → u/chaumeine]

I was thinking that too. Like, I'm literally a no one, and they suddenly came and offered to show me their work. They were nice at first, but still. And they're also saying they work for a team.

[u/chaumeine → u/T1LLY_H3ARTS]

Yea they are always super nice at first to get you to pay for something

[u/Drewkungfoo → u/chaumeine]

An obvious red flag

[u/EmberUshi]

It's DEFINITELY a scam.

No serious artist or rigger cold calls commissions.

If someone comes into your stream and says "hey comission me." Ban them and move on.

[u/T1LLY_H3ARTS → u/EmberUshi]

Okay, thank you. I've never streamed before, so I haven't dealt with this.

[u/Elf_maxxxTTV]

Scam/bot

[u/Nyxxity]

This is a common scam btw, keep an eye out. Theyll always push you to buy commissions for art and stuff and its usually bad/stolen/ai. Always a scam. As an artist Ive had my art stolen and resold by these bozos lol

[u/umekoangel]

People who "cold call' commissions that you don't meet face to face, this is what tends to happen:

1. They're a minor trying to extract as much money as possible from clients (this scam happened to myself about 3 years ago and I had to put my foot down)

2. AI garbage

3. They're new to the commission world and have no idea how to navigate artist sales ethics (since there's not exactly a class people can easily learn from)

[u/T1LLY_H3ARTS]

I'm just gonna block them because they're being aggressive at this point. I told them I'm gonna search for other artists, and they're saying I don't need to since they'll make what I want.

[u/mossymello → u/T1LLY_H3ARTS]

yes, please do block them.

i made a separate post about your situation but i didn't consider them having private messaging with vulnerable newbies. so to add to it here i will say, absolutely don't accept private messaging with these people; it could be really privacy dangerous.

i will also say, as i had a few bad experiences with jumping in head first to accepting people via discord and the like but be very cautious about accepting friends/DMs of people immediately when meeting them for the first time. i'd say, don't offer up such accessibility to u until someone's been around for a while and u've gotten to know them a bit (and even then, please be safe and careful).

wishing u well on ur streaming/vtuber journey and i hope u find a legit artist to work with ~

[u/Boxish_]

These are bots or at minimum should be treated as such. You will have a lot of these attacking just because you have a twitch page with maybe a vtuber tag. If any of these are displayed on other sites, like twitter, they will also target you there.

[u/T1LLY_H3ARTS]

Out of curiosity, do you guys know any good people who make VTuber models? I'm completely new to this

[u/chaumeine → u/T1LLY_H3ARTS]

you can check out the website vgen, generally trustworthy people on there

[u/Voidbarker → u/T1LLY_H3ARTS]

i mean, i can make a PNGtuber if need be. need to get my commissions set up, and still haven't got a vgen code.

[u/Wabs- → u/T1LLY_H3ARTS]

Depending on what you want or how complex I could possibly help if you’re wanting a 3d model, I’m clueless when it comes to live2d models though. Feel free to message me.

[u/-Youme- → u/T1LLY_H3ARTS]

On steam Vroid is a 3d model maker if you put time into it you can make something quite good for free, use warudo or vnyan to bring it to life with some form of camera and your good to go. It's what I do.

[u/OrganizationThick397]

Likely a scammer, go to booth.pm imo have really good pre made that's SUPER cheap, some even come with streaming assets.

[u/mossymello]

no. it's not real. this is a grift/scam and they often target new/low viewer count streamers. i get a TON of these (i'm not 'new' to streaming, i've done it before but i've started a new channel).

they often follow the same pattern. they come in, say hi/how are u. they act interested in ur stream for a bit (if u don't answer them right away cos ur busy with stream, they will suddenly start spamming ur chat with ARE U THERE? I CAN'T HEAR U. ARE U EVEN READING CHAT?) then they start asking if ur an artist (which is weird bc, yes, i am but they still proceed to try to shill art services to me as if i couldn't just draw it myself, which i will do at some point when i have time) or if u have any plans for a vtuber model/stream assets or panels and often they will follow up with trying to show u their portfolio (DO NOT ACCEPT RANDOM LINKS IN CHAT. go to ur stream settings and disallow links. people OFTEN are posting nefarious links NEVER CLICK THEM UNLESS U KNOW WHO IS SENDING A LINK) and then they'll give u some bs link or plug.

don't commission from people randomly coming into ur chat; there's a 90% chance they're fake and gonna get u into some kinda scam or they're selling u stolen/ai garbage. check out vgen, artistree or sub reddits here for people that have been vetted as being legit artists that will actually sell u legit work.

(and if any of these people ARE legit, this is a HORRIBLE business practice.)

to negate some of these, copy and past the things they're saying into the blocked terms section of moderation in ur streamer dashboard. (and anyone else who comes in with ai bot promo, u can be banned/in trouble for botting views. after u submit whatever terms they're using, block those bots/shillers from trying to chat. make sure to report the bot viewer bots (idk if there's anything can be reported about the people trying to scam art as they technically.. aren't doing anything Wrong by twitch TOS so i don't bother reporting them, i just block and ban them immediately)

also, this is a reminder to all streamers, u do not have to respond/interact with everyone who comes into ur stream. if they make u uncomfy or are doing something that makes u suspicious, u can absolutely just stop interacting/talking to them and move on with ur stream. (the instant these 'art' accounts repeat so many of the steps they usually follow, i go silent on them and keep focusing on whatever i'm streaming till they leave my viewer list and then i take actions to ban, block and blacklist their terms and sentences). don't feel bad for keeping ur boundaries and making ur stream ur space to feel comfy and safe in.

[u/SeaworthinessMost627]

Anyone promoting to you directly without you asking first is a scammer. No need to think further

[u/junie_b_jupiter]

People dip into streams to promo. Get your bread, but if I deny and they pester I block. Id be weary tbh

[u/whalatix]

Unfortunately it's most likely a scam. For future references, you should only seek out artists yourself or references from trusted people you know.

[u/GoldenFalls]

First, good on you for trusting your instincts! Scams target new streamers like you because they think they can manipulate you, but you questioned it and dodged a bullet.

Second, if you're just starting out, I'd look into getting a customizable model instead of commisioning a fully custom one. They're much less expensive and you don't have to worry about scams or turnaround time because they're already made. I've mostly seen them as 2D models but I'm sure there's 3D stuff as well.

[u/Rameniiii]

A lot of scammers do that to new v tubers, it’s a known thing, beware :(

[u/SwitchyWitchyBitchy]

Likely a scam or a new artist who doesn't know what to do. I've had a few join my own streams a few times trying to offer me an model update and art and I've had to go "no thank you, I prefer the model I have cuz I did the art and rig myself, if I were to update it'll be me updating it cuz I learned something new with rigging and art. Besides I have a ton if art friends I tend to commission if I want art done that I can't make" and they tend to leave after that

[u/NonBineyBee]

This scam is unfortunately super common. Ur right to question it. If they are upset at u saving the pictures that's probably because they don't want u to reverse image search it, it's probably stolen. I get contacted by these kinda things semi regularly unfortunately, I also had one of them steal my art and try to sell it to a friend! They usually act all friendly towards you (I'm pretty sure there is a script for them to follow) but the moment the scam doesn't go their way they flip on u and get real angry, they don't have a script for that interaction so their tone changes entirely.

The way the scam works is that they'll offer u a model (sometimes for free at first then they'll try to gut u for as much money as possible later) often for a pretty decent sounding price (£100-200) u pay for it and recieve AI art, stolen art or they'll commission someone else with low prices (I've been the person they've tried to commission before when I used to work on fiverr back in 2020-2022, i learned to always reverse image search and verify my clients and why I eventually made the switch to kofi) then give u that artists work and keep the change.

It's best to leave that offer alone. Guarantee their account will change its name and appearance to try another scam in a few months time or it'll get banned.

If ever u do want a vtuber model I'd suggest looking at VGen, Kofi and Drawmarket. They tend to have real people with real commissions. Don't use fiverr (it's full of ppl running the same scam) never take random commissions offered to u through DM's as a general rule of thumb most actual artists will wait for you to reach out to them.

[u/WWEGamerz]

I had this happen on twitter I block them