I spent some time creating this mind map to sum up everything you'd want to know about the scam messages, as well as the common theories. I will try to keep it updated. If you have anything to add to this or critique, please let me know.
Might take a while to load, it's a very high res image. Here's a link alternative: https://files.catbox.moe/csls12.jpg
This should be obvious, but due to the recent developments I want to have this here as a warning:
Don't send the scammer any money, even as a joke.
I got one with crypto addresses for "donations" for the first time today. That seems to be a new addition, messages from 2, 3, and 5 weeks ago didn't have them.
I have also received some "alternate" versions from pseudo-random usernames (ones not on your chart) from the sh.itjust.works instance. Mostly the same copy as always, but delivered entirely in an image rather than image+text. Thought that was interesting.
The crypto adresses are back? As far as I'm aware, they were being sent out a week ago, but then stopped again. God damn it. But yeah, I have to add the new usernames