EVERYONE MUST UNSUBSCRIBE. The criminal who stole the real Dr Sheftall's identity is somehow able to charge hundreds of dollars on the credit cards used for Substack. And since Substack refused to close the Substack account, I'm now wondering if someone on the inside of Substack is taking advantage of the long-known fact that Dr Sheftall's ID was stolen at least 5 months ago.
Dr Sheftall, on June 12 and June 16 2025, you charged $400 and $700 to my credit card. In 2022 and 2023 the charge was $70. The recent two charges were obviously outrageous. I expect a full refund. I have canceled my subscription for obvious reasons , but still expect a refund.
Fraudulent charges in the hundreds of dollars were made to my own credit card yesterday, and I had warned Substack last month about Dr Sheftall's identity being stolen, but they have done NOTHING about it. Substack should be reimbursing you the fraudulent charges, because Substack refused to close the "First Principles" substack. I was able to notify my bank in time to thwart the ID theft criminal.
After I supplied even more evidence a few days ago to Substack that a criminal who stole Dr Sheftall's identity is using the emails and credit cards of subscribers to First Principles substack to charge fraudulent charges, "Tex" from Substack's "Standards and Enforcement" shockingly replied to my complaint with this: "From our end, there have been no obvious signs that the Substack account has been compromised." Substack is going to do nothing.
It is even possible that these fraudulent Substack credit card charges may be an "inside job" by a Substack employee who took advantage of being notified of the identity theft months ago. Recall that my first complaint to Substack was showing them that an email appeal for monetary donations had been sent out by the thief to people on the "First Principles" subscribers' list. If the identity thief had had access to our full credit card numbers, no doubt he would have already used them instead of merely sending out emails to every subscriber asking for donations to a bank account he indicated. So that's why I see the possibility of an inside job, because *after* I notified Substack of the fraudulent email request for donations and gave evidence of the identity theft, THEN the fraudulent credit card charges started. It would be reasonable to assume that content creators don't have access to the names and full credit card numbers of their subscribers. Not only should subscribers unsubscribe, but also they should consider canceling their credit card.
Subscribers to Dr Sheftall's substack are receiving emails PRESUMABLY from Dr Sheftall, although I suspect it is sent from the person who has stolen Dr Sheftall's ID. The email is sent from rsheftall@gmail.com and states the following:
!!URGENT APPEAL!!
Dear Loyal Subscriber,
Thank you for being part of this community. Today, I need your attention more than ever.
A 7-year-old boy named Samnang—an orphan in Kampong Thom—has suffered horrific burns in a fire. His only chance of survival is a breakthrough treatment called ReCell, and we have just days to act.
Without it, he won’t survive.
Why this matters:
– ReCell uses a small patch of his own skin to regrow healthy tissue
– No painful skin grafts or permanent disfigurement
– Speeds recovery and reduces pain
– Total cost: $9,400 (surgery, care, emergency transport)
Please, take a moment to read the full urgent appeal:
Beware that this email appeal for money may not actually be from Dr Sheftall. That fact that he has not posted a recent substack should give pause to anyone considering contributing to an appeal that may simply be a corrupt individual's theft by using Dr Sheftall's name and reputation. Beware!
I sent a complaint to Substack, explaining the above situation. All I received was a vague and unsatisfactory response, that Substack "thoroughly investigates all reports like this."
No, they don't, because the real Dr Sheftall in January of 2025 reported to Substack that a criminal stole his identity and took over all his accounts, including his Substack account. Here is a copy of my response to Substack's failure to protect both their authors and their subscribers:
Sent 14 June 2025:
You write: "While we can't discuss specific details about what actions we may take regarding any particular account, please know that we thoroughly investigate all reports like this."
As you know, I gave you evidence that the real Dr Sheftall left a comment on January 12, 2025 at his Substack, explaining that Substack was completely unhelpful when it came to an imposter taking over his Substack account.
This is your author, Dr. Sheftall. I think my identity thief has gotten ahold of my substack. Substack isn't recognizing me as the author any longer. They are asking me if I want to upgrade to PAID status as if I am a subscriber. I can't get a human to answer the phone at X, google, facebook, and now substack. If anyone can help me please call or message me at 904 921 1129. He has stolen all of my emails. Thank you.
________
Obviously, Substack security/admin have done NOTHING to rectify this situation since January, and thus you are culpable in this identify theft continuing on to the point where almost SIX MONTHS after the real Dr Sheftall tried to regain control over his Substack account, the identity thief criminal is using Substack to send out fraudulent monetary appeals and no doubt collecting any subscribers' renewal monies. You have FAILED to shut down Dr Sheftall's Substack account in order to prevent the criminal from accessing the email addresses of Dr Sheftall's subscribers. Shame on Substack security/admin. YOU SHOULD BE SENDING AN EMAIL TO EACH SUBSCRIBER WARNING THEM ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND THAT SUBSTACK IS INVESTIGATING THE IDENTITY THEFT. IF YOU FAIL TO DO THAT, YOU ARE ABETTING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND THEFT, AND YOU ARE ALLOWING UNSUSPECTING PAID SUBSCRIBERS TO RENEW, which means the money is going to the criminal. You have a moral and ethical obligation to stop that theft, BECAUSE YOU CAN STOP IT.
I am retaining a copy of this response and expect a followup report from Substack. I'll know that you've done the right thing when I receive, as a subscriber to Dr Reid Sheftall's substack, an email from Substack security/admin warning subscribers of the situation and that you have closed down the account.
I unsubscribed for this reason. Although I find it odd that Reid would not have established another means of communication.
Given what he reported concerning his health, I fear the worst. If there is anyone here who knows him in the analog world and know his status, I hope they'll respond here.
Aren't you the "Swamp_Yankee" who wrote a day ago: "Given what he reported concerning his health, I fear the worst." So I simply showed you that he is alive and playing golf, so you don't have to fear the worst. And you're asking if I'm phishing?
We share the same view, the so called pandemic has been a fallacy (as far as its real impact is concerned). We exchanged letters in the past, but it seems you found our method very complicated. This was a math-logic paper rather than a medical one. But, the second method has been developed. It is much shorter and smarter; at the same time it leads to the same conclusions.
a) with true Covid-19 deaths the average number of chronic conditions would be much increased against the number in a comparative group of alive ones with the same age-structure
b) the real av. age of decedents was considerably lower
...It is under the same link, but it is pasted as Shortened Supplement - The Alternative Method
Reid, just read about your identify theft mess!!!!!!! YIPES! I hope you can extract yourself with your sanity and health intact. Are you in Cambodia now? Julie
EVERYONE MUST UNSUBSCRIBE. The criminal who stole the real Dr Sheftall's identity is somehow able to charge hundreds of dollars on the credit cards used for Substack. And since Substack refused to close the Substack account, I'm now wondering if someone on the inside of Substack is taking advantage of the long-known fact that Dr Sheftall's ID was stolen at least 5 months ago.
Dr Sheftall, on June 12 and June 16 2025, you charged $400 and $700 to my credit card. In 2022 and 2023 the charge was $70. The recent two charges were obviously outrageous. I expect a full refund. I have canceled my subscription for obvious reasons , but still expect a refund.
Bridget -- see my earlier comment, here -- https://drreidsheftall.substack.com/p/i-somehow-lost-part-five-of-the-series/comment/125694779
Fraudulent charges in the hundreds of dollars were made to my own credit card yesterday, and I had warned Substack last month about Dr Sheftall's identity being stolen, but they have done NOTHING about it. Substack should be reimbursing you the fraudulent charges, because Substack refused to close the "First Principles" substack. I was able to notify my bank in time to thwart the ID theft criminal.
Thank you, Moonspinner! I will convey this information to my credit card company. I wonder if filing a police report is the best thing to do.
After I supplied even more evidence a few days ago to Substack that a criminal who stole Dr Sheftall's identity is using the emails and credit cards of subscribers to First Principles substack to charge fraudulent charges, "Tex" from Substack's "Standards and Enforcement" shockingly replied to my complaint with this: "From our end, there have been no obvious signs that the Substack account has been compromised." Substack is going to do nothing.
It is even possible that these fraudulent Substack credit card charges may be an "inside job" by a Substack employee who took advantage of being notified of the identity theft months ago. Recall that my first complaint to Substack was showing them that an email appeal for monetary donations had been sent out by the thief to people on the "First Principles" subscribers' list. If the identity thief had had access to our full credit card numbers, no doubt he would have already used them instead of merely sending out emails to every subscriber asking for donations to a bank account he indicated. So that's why I see the possibility of an inside job, because *after* I notified Substack of the fraudulent email request for donations and gave evidence of the identity theft, THEN the fraudulent credit card charges started. It would be reasonable to assume that content creators don't have access to the names and full credit card numbers of their subscribers. Not only should subscribers unsubscribe, but also they should consider canceling their credit card.
Subscribers to Dr Sheftall's substack are receiving emails PRESUMABLY from Dr Sheftall, although I suspect it is sent from the person who has stolen Dr Sheftall's ID. The email is sent from rsheftall@gmail.com and states the following:
!!URGENT APPEAL!!
Dear Loyal Subscriber,
Thank you for being part of this community. Today, I need your attention more than ever.
A 7-year-old boy named Samnang—an orphan in Kampong Thom—has suffered horrific burns in a fire. His only chance of survival is a breakthrough treatment called ReCell, and we have just days to act.
Without it, he won’t survive.
Why this matters:
– ReCell uses a small patch of his own skin to regrow healthy tissue
– No painful skin grafts or permanent disfigurement
– Speeds recovery and reduces pain
– Total cost: $9,400 (surgery, care, emergency transport)
Please, take a moment to read the full urgent appeal:
👉https://operationkids.42web.io
Even the smallest support could save his life.
With heartfelt thanks,
Dr Reid Sheftall MD
____
Beware that this email appeal for money may not actually be from Dr Sheftall. That fact that he has not posted a recent substack should give pause to anyone considering contributing to an appeal that may simply be a corrupt individual's theft by using Dr Sheftall's name and reputation. Beware!
I sent a complaint to Substack, explaining the above situation. All I received was a vague and unsatisfactory response, that Substack "thoroughly investigates all reports like this."
No, they don't, because the real Dr Sheftall in January of 2025 reported to Substack that a criminal stole his identity and took over all his accounts, including his Substack account. Here is a copy of my response to Substack's failure to protect both their authors and their subscribers:
Sent 14 June 2025:
You write: "While we can't discuss specific details about what actions we may take regarding any particular account, please know that we thoroughly investigate all reports like this."
As you know, I gave you evidence that the real Dr Sheftall left a comment on January 12, 2025 at his Substack, explaining that Substack was completely unhelpful when it came to an imposter taking over his Substack account.
https://open.substack.com/pub/drreidsheftall/p/my-invitation-to-speak-got-rescinded-da0?r=ax2yi&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=85626640
Reid Sheftall
12 Jan
This is your author, Dr. Sheftall. I think my identity thief has gotten ahold of my substack. Substack isn't recognizing me as the author any longer. They are asking me if I want to upgrade to PAID status as if I am a subscriber. I can't get a human to answer the phone at X, google, facebook, and now substack. If anyone can help me please call or message me at 904 921 1129. He has stolen all of my emails. Thank you.
________
Obviously, Substack security/admin have done NOTHING to rectify this situation since January, and thus you are culpable in this identify theft continuing on to the point where almost SIX MONTHS after the real Dr Sheftall tried to regain control over his Substack account, the identity thief criminal is using Substack to send out fraudulent monetary appeals and no doubt collecting any subscribers' renewal monies. You have FAILED to shut down Dr Sheftall's Substack account in order to prevent the criminal from accessing the email addresses of Dr Sheftall's subscribers. Shame on Substack security/admin. YOU SHOULD BE SENDING AN EMAIL TO EACH SUBSCRIBER WARNING THEM ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND THAT SUBSTACK IS INVESTIGATING THE IDENTITY THEFT. IF YOU FAIL TO DO THAT, YOU ARE ABETTING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND THEFT, AND YOU ARE ALLOWING UNSUSPECTING PAID SUBSCRIBERS TO RENEW, which means the money is going to the criminal. You have a moral and ethical obligation to stop that theft, BECAUSE YOU CAN STOP IT.
I am retaining a copy of this response and expect a followup report from Substack. I'll know that you've done the right thing when I receive, as a subscriber to Dr Reid Sheftall's substack, an email from Substack security/admin warning subscribers of the situation and that you have closed down the account.
I unsubscribed for this reason. Although I find it odd that Reid would not have established another means of communication.
Given what he reported concerning his health, I fear the worst. If there is anyone here who knows him in the analog world and know his status, I hope they'll respond here.
Also, it appears that he competed a few days ago in this golf tournament in Florida, so he's still above ground!
https://www.fsga.org/Tournament/Results/ed30f5ea-9a22-4152-b850-db9377f2f6da/?isQualifier=false
who are you? phishing?
Aren't you the "Swamp_Yankee" who wrote a day ago: "Given what he reported concerning his health, I fear the worst." So I simply showed you that he is alive and playing golf, so you don't have to fear the worst. And you're asking if I'm phishing?
You're the one who asked publicly "Does anyone know what has happened to Reid?"
It appears that he started a new X/Twitter account, here, but his last comment is from March of this year:
https://xcancel.com/GReid27295/with_replies
I use xcancel.com to view Twitter because I don't want to open an account there. If you have a Twitter account, perhaps you can communicate with him.
Many New Year Blessings to you and yours….
Please unsubscribe https://drreidsheftall.substack.com/p/i-somehow-lost-part-five-of-the-series/comment/129944222
Please unsubscribe!
Does anyone know what has happened to Reid?
https://open.substack.com/pub/drreidsheftall/p/i-somehow-lost-part-five-of-the-series?r=ax2yi&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=125065328
https://open.substack.com/pub/drreidsheftall/p/i-somehow-lost-part-five-of-the-series?r=ax2yi&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=125694779
Reid, where are you?
Hi mr Reid
We share the same view, the so called pandemic has been a fallacy (as far as its real impact is concerned). We exchanged letters in the past, but it seems you found our method very complicated. This was a math-logic paper rather than a medical one. But, the second method has been developed. It is much shorter and smarter; at the same time it leads to the same conclusions.
a) with true Covid-19 deaths the average number of chronic conditions would be much increased against the number in a comparative group of alive ones with the same age-structure
b) the real av. age of decedents was considerably lower
...It is under the same link, but it is pasted as Shortened Supplement - The Alternative Method
https://zenodo.org/record/8312871
PLEASE UNSUBSCRIBE https://drreidsheftall.substack.com/p/i-somehow-lost-part-five-of-the-series/comment/129944222
Where are you Reid? You're in many peoples thoughts.
Reid, just read about your identify theft mess!!!!!!! YIPES! I hope you can extract yourself with your sanity and health intact. Are you in Cambodia now? Julie
Please unsubscribe https://drreidsheftall.substack.com/p/i-somehow-lost-part-five-of-the-series/comment/129944222
Wishing you good health and happiness in the New Year!
Please unsubscribe https://drreidsheftall.substack.com/p/i-somehow-lost-part-five-of-the-series/comment/129944222
I did.