Scam Alert

A Public Notice

Mr. Thank You™ is a registered brand founded by John Israel in 2016 (actively used in commerce since 2018). We are in no way affiliated with any Instagram-based giveaways or requests for money or gift cards.

June 2025

1. What’s Happening

Since 2018 Mr. Thank You™ has stood for genuine gratitude and generosity. Unfortunately, an influencer named Sergie Kosenko began using the same name in 2023 to promote viral “cash-giveaway” videos. His content—and dozens of copy-cat accounts—have sparked a wave of look-alike profiles, fake messages, and outright fraud targeting unsuspecting followers.

2. How the Scams Work

  • “Prize” or “Grant” DMs: Victims receive a direct message saying they’ve won money from Mr. Thank You but must first pay taxes, processing fees, or buy gift cards to claim it.
  • Fake Customer-Service Numbers: Some scammers post phone numbers (often WhatsApp) and promise instant payouts once you share banking details.
  • Impersonation Profiles: Over 100 bogus accounts now use variations of “Mr. Thank You,” “John Israel,” or “Thankyou Project,” often copying our photos and logo to look legitimate.
  • Live-stream Giveaways: Fraudsters host live videos showing stacks of cash, then drop links that steal personal data or install malware.

3. What We Will Never Do

  • Ask you to send money, gift cards, crypto, or account credentials.
  • Run giveaways solely on social media without announcing them here first.
  • Contact winners from an unofficial or unverified account.

4. How to Protect Yourself

  1. Double-check the handle—our only official channels are listed on this page.
  2. Stop communication if anyone claiming to be us asks for payment.
  3. Report the profile to the platform (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube).
  4. Forward suspicious messages to scam@mrthankyou.com so our legal team can track and act on them.

5. Our Ongoing Response

We have filed a federal trademark for Mr. Thank You™, issued cease-and-desist demands, and submitted trademark-infringement complaints to Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Meta. If you encounter new impersonators or misleading posts, please let us know. Together we can keep gratitude authentic and protect the community from fraud.