{
  "id": 18166598,
  "title": "\"Mandatory user verification\" on DEV is a scam. Here's how to spot it in 30 seconds.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/mandatory-user-verification-on-dev-is-a-scam-heres-how-to-spot-it-in",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-04T19:09:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/ayoub_hammoudi/mandatory-user-verification-on-dev-is-a-scam-heres-how-to-spot-it-in-30-seconds-1594"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent allegations have emerged that a user verification system on DEV is a scam. According to sources, the \"Support Bot\" tag on DEV is not what it appears to be. The account name, \"Suппоrt Воt\", is actually a combination of Cyrillic letters disguised as Latin characters. Created on November 4, the account has no posts or comments, yet it is consistently tagging people in alphabetical order, a feat no human could accomplish manually. The username has also been changed from \"salemsalem123\" to \"supportbot123\". The source explicitly states that no legitimate platform requires verification through a stranger's comment or the provision of a card. If you clicked but typed nothing, close the tab and clear the site's data; if you entered your password, revoke the app and change your password immediately. If your card was entered, contact your bank. Allegations advise flagging the suspicious account. Take a mere ten seconds to inspect the profile before clicking any links, as this could have prevented this scam.",
  "summary": "If you got tagged by \"Support Bot\" on DEV, don't click. It took one look at the profile: The name isn't \"Support\". It's Cyrillic letters dressed as Latin ones: \"Suрроrt Воt\". The account was created on Nov 4: 0 posts, 41 comments when I looked. It tags 10 people per comment, in alphabetical order, ten at a time. Nobody at DEV works through the alphabet by hand. The username has already changed:…",
  "key_points": [
    "DEV user verification system flagged as scam",
    "Support Bot account uses disguised Cyrillic letters",
    "No legitimate platform uses stranger verification"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}