Олег Онопрієнко GameDev Eng 23 October 2025, 08:00

“I wanted to help avoid a scam.” Blitz with the author of a Telegram bot that compiles a blacklist of suspicious game development companies

A new useful tool has appeared in the game development community - IndieSafeBot. This bot allows you to check the studios that have received complaints to avoid fraud or toxic collaborations. It also helps to find work or performers in the field of game development. dev.ua talked to the author of the bot about the idea, difficulties and reaction of the community.

— How did the idea to create IndieSafeBot come about?

There was a situation when one of my friends asked in a game dev chat about a studio he wanted to work for. There was practically no information on the Internet, so I started searching myself and came across posts in another chat where this company was already called a “scam”. I realized that this was a systemic problem — there are scam companies, but there is no centralized database about them. That's when I decided to make a bot.

— Who is behind the development? Is it a team or a solo project?

Individual project. I do everything myself — from data collection to the technical part.

— How long did it take to implement?

Literally a few days. I took an old project, adapted it to a new idea. The most time was spent not on the code, but on the selection of information.

— How does the bot collect data about companies that are blacklisted?

I look for data in open sources — Telegram, LinkedIn, forums. People also write to me directly, send evidence. If the information is confirmed — the company gets on the list. If not — I leave it for the future, but I don’t publish it.

— How do you check that it's not just hate or fake news?

Without direct evidence, I won't add it. The database only contains cases where there is confirmation of ignoring, non-payment, or specific violations.

— Were there any attempts by companies to “remove” themselves from the list?

No. But if someone came up with an adequate explanation, I would listen and could remove it under justified circumstances.

— How is the community reacting to IndieSafeBot?

Positive. Many people are grateful because, although the information is publicly available, it is very difficult to find. And the bot saves time and nerves.

— What functionality do you plan to add next?

There are no specific plans yet, but I am thinking about expanding the database and, possibly, a rating of verified companies.

— What problems do indie developers most often face when looking for work?

The two main ones are unprofessionalism and attempts to “quit.” They often offer “test tasks” that turn out to be full-fledged commercial projects without payment.

— What advice would you give to developers to avoid fraudulent employers?

Check everything. If something is questionable, don't take any risks. It's better to spend time checking than to worry about the consequences later.

According to the developer, IndieSafe is completely free, to use it, you need to be subscribed to the UA Game Development channel.

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