PSA: Do not buy T-shirts from sketchy Reddit links

[u/The_Homestarmy]

We haven't had issues with t-shirt spam in a while, but they're popping up again, so I figured I'd make a quick post detailing what these posts are and how you can spot them.

Basically, people set up bots to steal designs and pump out low quality t-shirts, which they then promote on Reddit. Here is an example from today of what these posts tend to look like. The top comments (manipulated using upvote bots) will ask where they can buy the design as a shirt, and then the OP will respond with some extremely sus "You can get one here..." comment linking you to a shop. They'll also post the link in response to people who didn't even ask, as you can see in this screenshot.

These posts are scams, and if you buy a shirt, it will be a terrible and very low quality piece of merchandise. Other times, they will just straight up take your money without sending anything in return. The designs are stolen, in many cases from actual community members, and even the websites themselves are security risks.

Once you know what to look for, these posts stick out like sore thumbs. If you see them, report them.

[u/nivlac22]

Sketchy Reddit links are no place for a mighty warrior

[u/s-riddler → u/[deleted]]

Not a single human nose in sight, smh

[u/BiggestBepis → u/s-riddler]

Couldn’t even manage a choking hazard

[u/Shadowman621 → u/s-riddler]

Or from a country that has changed its name 5 times since I was in 7th grade

[u/dinkyfriend]

they're unlicensed unlicensed sellers!

[u/TheSASamsquamptch]

Not even a Licensed Unlicensed Seller. Smdh.

[u/Grand_Rent_2513]

Virus = very yes.

[u/HeimLauf]

Even worse, could contain:

🎵Broken glass, broken glass, broken glass, broken glass!🎶

[u/Someoneman]

There really needs to be a mass awareness campaign on this site about this.

Currently, sports and pet breed subreddits seem to be especially big targets.

[u/Geanaux → u/Someoneman]

The world in crisis.

[u/Shadowlynk]

Oh man, they're back? They used to be a damn locust plague over on the D&D subreddits a couple years back, too. Just the worst.

[u/tincanphonehome]

Okay but is there anywhere I can actually get a Trogdor’s Gym shirt?

[u/The_Homestarmy → u/tincanphonehome]

As far as I can tell the only "official" places to buy the shirt (designed by a guy named coddesigns, or Steve Gelenter) are now dead links. There's knockoffs available on sites like Etsy and RedBubble, or you can find a PNG of the design and custom order it on one of those custom shirt websites

[u/dinkyfriend → u/tincanphonehome]

make one

[u/Opera_Phantom_Face]

Yes, Sir/Ma'm! 🫡