Do you trust using WeChat for punting?

[andrewv]

I see many punters here use WeChat to communicate with shops and working ladies. Given WeChat is basically open to Chinese authorities to spy on and track its users, are you at all concerned that you have it on your phone and if you visit China in future they will know all details of your "fun" activities here?

[GoldfishMan]

I see many punters here use WeChat to communicate with shops and working ladies. Given WeChat is basically open to Chinese authorities to spy on and track its users, are you at all concerned that you have it on your phone and if you visit China in future they will know all details of your "fun" activities here?

Yes of course I'm comfortable with it.

I like to imagine that there's a sicko Chinese Gov dude on the other side who's watching and wanking to my sexual adventures. Some people love to watch.

[wanwan88]

Yes of course I'm comfortable with it.

I like to imagine that there's a sicko Chinese Gov dude on the other side who's watching and wanking to my sexual adventures. Some people love to watch.

Took the words straight out of my mouth, what would they possibility want with all these data anyways? Open up their own shop?

[andrewv]

Took the words straight out of my mouth, what would they possibility want with all these data anyways? Open up their own shop?

Here is one hypothetical example ---and don't think it is fantasy:
Let's say you are working in a sensitive area at an Australian bank, say in the tech area. You are also a healthy and sexually charged punter here and given your amazing technical skills you have been banging away on WeChat with brothel/massage receptionists and also girls you met. Also, you happen to be married to a nice woman and together you have young children. You would be devastated if your wife found out anything about you frequent punting activities and the credit card or bank account you never told her about which you use to cover your expenses.

Now, all of the above is easily spied on by the best technology in China. Then one day, China comes knocking on your door --- not in a SWAT team way, but in a very subtle way, which is how spies operate. They make a gentle connection with you via a message. All seems harmless enough. Oh, the message is from a beautiful Chinese girl, who is trying to befriend you.

Then as the hooks are fully connected between you and the online beautiful friend, which included you bragging to her about how important your job is and how senior you are at the said bank..... she then asks for information that you know is illegal for you to get from the bank's systems and pass on to her.

You then do the right thing and cut all contact with the beautiful friend. But soon after the blackmail starts.... Once again, foreign spies (they don't have to be on the ground in Australia) come to you online with an ever increasing level of strong hints about what they have on you, and how they never want to see your marriage damaged if they leak the tons of information.

Fellow punters, the above is not a James Bond fantasy. This shit is happening now. Of course is you have nothing to hide, and there is nothing to blackmail you with, then WeChat is a wonderful app.

[GoldfishMan]

Yep, nothing to hide, nothing to blackmail me with either. Move on and enjoy!

[dt333]

Legend has it Epstein worked for Israel's spy agent Mossad and filmed high level elites in compromising positions then used the videos as leverage.

[andrewv]

Legend has it Epstein worked for Israel's spy agent Mossad and filmed high level elites in compromising positions then used the videos as leverage.

Yes, he did. He was their tool, then they shut him down when it got too hot for them. Tradecraft (the methods of spying) is to collect a lot of data for a long time on many people, just in case you need to blackmail them. Spy agencies don't wait till they identify someone they need then start looking for how to blackmail them.

[wilisno]

What other social media can’t do all the above and is not doing it ?

[Defqon888]

Dude thinks he is barrack obama.

[andrewv]

Telegram and Line are much safer than WeChat and WhatsApp.

[Sibon]

I see many punters here use WeChat to communicate with shops and working ladies. Given WeChat is basically open to Chinese authorities to spy on and track its users, are you at all concerned that you have it on your phone and if you visit China in future they will know all details of your "fun" activities here?

Yes. The Communist Comrades will line up the tall Northern Chinese girls for me now that they know my taste.

[yug]

I see many punters here use WeChat to communicate with shops and working ladies. Given WeChat is basically open to Chinese authorities to spy on and track its users, are you at all concerned that you have it on your phone and if you visit China in future they will know all details of your "fun" activities here?

I have thought about it.
But I think this is more damaging to the Chinese girls than the punters.
That means Govt know what they are up to and use it for leverage at any time.
Having said that, Govt tends to work on a macro level, not micro.
We are insignificant fish in an ocean (no matter what our self-centered inner voice might say)

But all Govt would have some sort of dirt on someone.
Gov and banks can easily know you are a punter.
Gov through CCTV and banks through your pattern of expenditure, when and where you spend your money.

[wanwan88]

Here is one hypothetical example ---and don't think it is fantasy:
Let's say you are working in a sensitive area at an Australian bank, say in the tech area. You are also a healthy and sexually charged punter here and given your amazing technical skills you have been banging away on WeChat with brothel/massage receptionists and also girls you met. Also, you happen to be married to a nice woman and together you have young children. You would be devastated if your wife found out anything about you frequent punting activities and the credit card or bank account you never told her about which you use to cover your expenses.

Now, all of the above is easily spied on by the best technology in China. Then one day, China comes knocking on your door --- not in a SWAT team way, but in a very subtle way, which is how spies operate. They make a gentle connection with you via a message. All seems harmless enough. Oh, the message is from a beautiful Chinese girl, who is trying to befriend you.

Then as the hooks are fully connected between you and the online beautiful friend, which included you bragging to her about how important your job is and how senior you are at the said bank..... she then asks for information that you know is illegal for you to get from the bank's systems and pass on to her.

You then do the right thing and cut all contact with the beautiful friend. But soon after the blackmail starts.... Once again, foreign spies (they don't have to be on the ground in Australia) come to you online with an ever increasing level of strong hints about what they have on you, and how they never want to see your marriage damaged if they leak the tons of information.

Fellow punters, the above is not a James Bond fantasy. This shit is happening now. Of course is you have nothing to hide, and there is nothing to blackmail you with, then WeChat is a wonderful app.

Damn Andrew, does actually feel like straight out of a bond movie.
As goldfish mentioned, there must really be a sicko combing through chat logs and you’re a really important figure if they would go through all that trouble.

[Massagecreep]

Trust no one, especially those monitoring your internet and phone use!!!

[iHurricane]

Ha ha ha this made me laugh so much, best comment

[iHurricane]

I use wechat to view rosters and book girls mainly from estblished know RNT and FS shops. I do have some private girls on my wechat but I am yet to try them

[wilisno]

Just don’t run for presidency……..

[BDU]

LOL just LOL . you guys need to get out of your mums basement

[thepoonter]

I have a separate burner phone just for punting, using fake alias and fake email. It's unlikely to trace back to the real me.

[andrewv]

I have a separate burner phone just for punting, using fake alias and fake email. It's unlikely to trace back to the real me.

That’s a good strategy. Is the SIM card registered in your name?

[Axeman123]

My pre paid punt phone lives in my work bag which lives in my work locker. When ever I got shit to say on here I'm at work. Only one mate is aware of it's existence with strict instructions to destroy it if need be. The things you have to do!

[GoldfishMan]

Maybe stick a blutack over the front facing cam if you're really afraid. They could easily bypass permissions and use it to capture a pic of you.

[iphone]

Couple years before covid it's easy to find freelancers via wechat.. ffuck at their apartment... forgot the rate.... I got 2 that super good I regret not visiting them more often before they gone back to Singapore and Taiwan.

[11Bravo]

I've used WeChat for a number of years, both for civilian and business contacts. I've also visited PRC many times. I'm not worried, but then I AM conscious that chats are processed by the govt. No mention of politics, Uighurs, govt policies, etc. Not just for my own well being but more for the people I'm chatting with. For business, I'll just inquire if she's working, can she make a booking, happy to have seen her, thanks. Massage, manicure, pedicure, who's to say. But let's face it, if a govt wants to grab you, they WILL grab you. I'm more worried about stepping out in the street and being hit by one of the electric bikes that make no sound...

[thepoonter]

Hey Andrewv, unfortunately the sim card is in my name as it's the only way to activate the sim these days. I miss the days about 10 years ago where you can just buy a burner sim from the shop. I think you can't do that any more due to counter terrorism

[thepoonter]

Maybe stick a blutack over the front facing cam if you're really afraid. They could easily bypass permissions and use it to capture a pic of you.

Shit I didn't think about that, thanks for the tip. Will tape the front camera soon

[jsw1888]

Do you make your own tinfoil hats?

[andrewv]

Hey Andrewv, unfortunately the sim card is in my name as it's the only way to activate the sim these days. I miss the days about 10 years ago where you can just buy a burner sim from the shop. I think you can't do that any more due to counter terrorism

True. You can still get a SIM without any ID if you ever travel overseas. I had one from Manila (Philippines) but I know several other countries sell them over the counter, then you can charge them in Australia using a VISA gift card which you buy using cash from a supermarket. You end up with an overseas number of course, but the calls are extremely cheap.

[SteveRogue]

Yes. Everyone here uses wechat. Private and shops can easily communicate and post roster.

[ColesBag]

I installed Wechat once, it did some sort of update & the language went straight to Mandarin for everything. I just uninstalled it & haven't reinstalled it since.

[GoldfishMan]

WeChat might be being monitored by the CCP, but that doesn’t mean other messaging apps are a lot better. I get heaps more scam contacts out of the blue on WhatsApp compared to WeChat. The latest one is an ingenious ploy called “task scams”. These people must have brainstorming sessions on how best to scam people off their money, FFS!

[Backdraft69]

I installed Wechat once, it did some sort of update & the language went straight to Mandarin for everything. I just uninstalled it & haven't reinstalled it since.

Wechat has a translation function. I use it all the time.

Only problem, once a month I get robo calls from the Chinese embassy. :)

[Jerminator]

i don't get any scam calls or text on wechat. I can't say the same for whatsapp, signal and telegram on my main phone :shout:

[l337dude]

i don't get any scam calls or text on wechat. I can't say the same for whatsapp, signal and telegram on my main phone :shout:

I get a lot more scam on whatsapp as well, I think most social/chat apps are similar, nothing's 100% safe in this day and age (if you think your app is 100% safe and private...think again), Wechat is a bit more notorious (monitoring etc), but I think China has more concerning issues than to worry about people's punting habits lol, I think Wechat monitors group chat more closely and focuses more on political crap.

[Joe4you2]

Personally I don’t even use WeChat for personal reasons unless absolutely necessary for the reasons OP has mentioned, which is surveillance concerns

[fud]

SMH has an report that WeChat has refused to front up to a federal parliamentary enquiry:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/contempt-wechat-warned-over-failure-to-front-parliament-20230705-p5dlwp.html

Chinese-owned messaging app WeChat has been accused of showing contempt for federal parliament by defying repeated requests to appear before a parliamentary inquiry that is weighing whether to recommend banning the app from use in Australia because of foreign interference concerns.

Executives from social media giants TikTok, Google, Twitter and LinkedIn have all agreed to appear at the final public hearings of the Senate select committee on foreign interference through social media in Parliament House on Tuesday.
<<snip>>
About 1 million people in Australia – including almost half the Chinese diaspora – are believed to use WeChat, which has been described as “China’s app for everything”.

[FreyaFan]

Yes of course I'm comfortable with it.

I like to imagine that there's a sicko Chinese Gov dude on the other side who's watching and wanking to my sexual adventures. Some people love to watch.

Not necessarily a sicko, just a voyeur with a healthy libido who loves his job lol

[Joe1956]

Noticing a few more ‘ladies’ on there lately and a ‘house or two of I’ll repute’
Starting to get interesting again as it was pre 19

[Joe4you2]

Would anyone know if we should be worried about other apps such as LINE falling into the same issues of surveillance from foreign govs?

[frank.huang.ak]

Every messaging app has the risk of surveillance. However, for the sake of convenience, we cannot live without them. I don't really care if a foreign gov monitor my WeChat, I don't see any valuable information to be revealed