Can YOU recognize spammers?

[Lady Hobbs]

Spammers are very slick. They will come to a forum and write links in their blogs, or they will answer posts like "other" members. However, they are sneaky and will manage to "sell" if you pay close attention. Sometimes they will post a video or photo of their beautiful fish and tell you where they bought them. They may also have a selling site link in their first post. (NOT ALLOWED FOR NEW MEMBERS.)

BEWARE! Contract a Moderator and do not respond to these characters.

The scenerio......
New member appears and writes about the beautiful angelfish he just purchased (first post.) He writes of how they are so wonderful, bigger than expected and how healthy they are. He mentions how much it costs to ship them and by the end of his second post has mentioned the website 4 times of where they can be purchased.

Anyone recognize this?

Stay vigilant of spammers please and contact a Moderator if in question about a post. Thank You

[imma24]

Glad you wrote this - I would have had no idea that what you described is considered spamming - I'm so naive : ( - apparently it's people advertising in an underhanded way?

[Northernguy]

Yep! That is exactly it!
:spam:
We also despise trolls.
http://legacy-cdn.smosh.com/smosh-pit/112010/main-troll.jpg

heheheee a little....
http://www.intermountainriders.com/forums/images/smilies/BANHAMMER.png

[Lady Hobbs]

You are a regular member. If you come here and said "I bought this great filter from PetSmart for $69" and showed the link, THAT is not spam but a simple recommendation. We know you and we know you do not make money for PetSmart.

A new member whose first post "directs" people to check out a site and goes on about how wonderful their product is a pure spammer. Slick but still not welcome here.

[pjaldave]

No idea as well that this is considered spamming. Fortunately I did not do this on my first pose. Thanks for the info LH!

[Lady Hobbs]

It's easy to tell and obvious as all get-out. You will see this with new nembers. Spammers aren't interested in helping people, aren't here long and only here to benefit themselves and their wallets.

I HATE THEM and hate people that use our members for their personal gain.

[genocidex]

some of the spammers are funny tho :P. tho i wouldnt mind them leaving us alone. i remember one time a spammer got banned and the mods forgot to delete his intro thread when they banned him..... people where welcoming a banned spammer.... i think i laughed for a good 20 minutes when i saw that XD. check people's member status before blindly welcoming them

[Brhino]

BRHINO'S HALL OF SHAME FROM MOST TO LEAST OBVIOUS

A. The Brainless Spammer:
Straight up posts links to whatever they're selling. May not even be aquarium-related.

B. The Slightly Crafty Spammer:
Makes a post that is at least aquarium-related (may be poorly translated or lifted directly from another post on our forums or others), but sneaks in an advertising link in message or signature.

C. The Basic Guerrilla Marketer:
Shows up with interesting information and the ability to carry on a conversation, but constantly pushes a particular product or brand from the get-go.

D. The Advanced Guerrilla Marketer:
Takes time to fully embed him or herself in the community, so when he/she starts recommending products or brands it seems to just be the honest opinion of a trusted community member, rather than marketing.

[Cliff]

LOL Brhino, I like your list

But if you guys see anything that doesn't look right, just point it out to one of us mods and we will take care of it.


http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/ad226/Cliff_Erhardt/Fun%20stuff/SPAMMER.gif

[Rue]

I don't think I've ever seen any spammers in Chatterbox...:hmm3grin2orange:

Maybe that's why I don't recall seeing very many...

...or the Mods are just THAT good at weeding them out immediately ! :19:

[smaug]

My eyebrows of suspicion get raised when I see a half dozen new member intros at once. Be quick with the report bad post button people!

[Taurus]

The scenerio......
New member appears and writes about the beautiful angelfish he just purchased (first post.) He writes of how they are so wonderful, bigger than expected and how healthy they are. He mentions how much it costs to ship them and by the end of his second post has mentioned the website 4 times of where they can be purchased.

Anyone recognize this?



Yup. Thought I smelled a skunk.

[Goes to 11!]

But if you guys see anything that doesn't look right, just point it out to one of us mods and we will take care of it.


Anyone recognize this? LOL - Often

Stay vigilant of spammers please and contact a Moderator if in question about a post. Thank You
You guys know I always do & I will continue to. thumbs2:

I hope everybody else stays on top of this issue too. :axechase:

[Trillianne]

I think one of the easiest spotted is the link in your signature type.

Their actual post is not much usually... but every time you see an underlined signature... that's a red flag.

And the resurrecting a dead thread to spam. Sometimes its a "me too (spam link in sig) just random full of spam reply.

[Lady Hobbs]

My eyebrows of suspicion get raised when I see a half dozen new member intros at once. Be quick with the report bad post button people!

Except that button doesn't work for me and never has. grrrr It takes a registered letter and a courier to notify me........or a PM.
:hmm3grin2orange:

[Goes to 11!]

I think one of the easiest spotted is the link in your signature type.

Their actual post is not much usually... but every time you see an underlined signature... that's a red flag.

And the resurrecting a dead thread to spam. Sometimes its a "me too (spam link in sig) just random full of spam reply.
+1

Yup, All smell of spam to me immediately. I always check the links of posts like that and then flag them if it's a place that sells something. Always.

[nikelodeon79]

I think I smell a "C" type spammer somewhere on the board...

[Brhino]

While it's good to recognize spammers, let's also not be too quick to accuse. Yeah, if someone has an advertising link it's pretty clear they're a spammer, but just because someone had a good or bad experience with a product they want to report doesn't mean we should assume they're a spammer and show them the door, either.

[Lady Hobbs]

And why the decision is up to the Mods. If we are in doubt, we discuss it with all the Mods for a consenses to make sure no errors are made on our part and to get the viewpoint of all.

[carpakoi]

you should limit the private messages you have new users, for sending and receiving, to send unlimited messages from one year subscription and 1000 active posts on the forum,

for new members on the forum: maximum send private messages to message 1 day, 5 days up to receive message by

for members from 6 months to 1 year and 100 messages per month on active forums: 5 each day you can send private messages and receive 15 messages a day

for members on the forum for over a year with 300 active posts per month: every day you can send and receive private messages 20 50 private messages a day

for members of three years or more with 500 messages per month on the assets forum: unlimited private messages

would be limited so much spam
sorry for the translation of google

[ScottishFish]

I see what lady hobbs is talking about, I clearly didn't recognise that that was spamming, will try and keep a better look out in future.

[smaug]

Carpakoi,I can't imagine how your suggestion pertains to this thread or how it would help members recognise spam or decreace spam.

[carpakoi]

Carpakoi,I can't imagine how your suggestion pertains to this thread or how it would help members recognise spam or decreace spam.
should not be members of the forum to recognize the spammers, but the forum staff to protect users, and frlo must limit the private message box and watch the links pasted on the forum

[Trillianne]

carpakoi,

I believe the major problem the forum has tends to be with forum posts that are spam and not with private messages sent as spam.

[Goes to 11!]

carpakoi,

Its not much of an issue with the private messages. It is adverts within peoples posts in the forum that are the issue.

He is using a translator smaug, It complicates things ya know.



EDIT - DOH- Beat by Trill by 2 minutes :-P

[smaug]

Does spam come via pm here? I have not experianced that.

[carpakoi]

carpakoi,

I believe the major problem the forum has tends to be with forum posts that are spam and not with private messages sent as spam.
1) limit private messages with a few new members have
2) ensure that the links are posted by spammers
3) the domain shopping ban spammers
4) may report spammers to the authorities if they go against the law
5) Control of the links pasted on the forum and those who want to report products at affordable prices, to do it in private
6) prohibit the shopping links on the forum

[carpakoi]

Does spam come via pm here? I have not experianced that.
enough to limit the private message box

[smaug]

So how often has it happened to you carp?

[Trillianne]

Does spam come via pm here? I have not experianced that.

Ditto. Not a single spam that way yet. *knocks on wood*

EDIT: I KNOCKED ON WOOD!!!! I KNOCKED!!! DOES THIS NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU PEOPLE? DO YOU NOT APPRECIATE THE SACRED RITUAL OF THE WOOD KNOCKING????

PS - you know who you are..... ¬.¬

[carpakoi]

So how often has it happened to you carp?
I buy only from large online stores, spammers will ignore : Hmm3grin2orange:

[smaug]

Its not happened to you has it?

[carpakoi]

Spammers I ignore them completely, even hate them almost

[smaug]

Has any ever PMd you?

[Lady Hobbs]

There is simply confusion here. Carp, we are talking about people who pretend to be members and post in the forum ads to sell products. We are not talking about private messages.

And we will not make things harder for our members because spammers are a pain. We just ban them.

[smaug]

Attagirl LH.

[carpakoi]

There is simply confusion here. Carp, we are talking about people who pretend to be members and post in the forum ads to sell products. We are not talking about private messages.

And we will not make things harder for our members because spammers are a pain. We just ban them.
I understood very well that they are people who pretend to be users of the forum

[Lab_Rat]

I lolled that the thread currently above this one is spam.

[Skyhawk]

While it's good to recognize spammers, let's also not be too quick to accuse. Yeah, if someone has an advertising link it's pretty clear they're a spammer, but just because someone had a good or bad experience with a product they want to report doesn't mean we should assume they're a spammer and show them the door, either.


I agree with BRIHNO, why can't you just delete their post, send them email and warn them about what they are writing like other forums? If they are for real, they will apologize and not do it anymore and if they are spammers they will go away as they have been discovered.

What is so hard about doing that instead of just banishing them forever? You may be getting rid of a future good person that just doesn't know the rules. I am too forgiving I guess and like I have said before.....my motto: "be nice to other people first". I read that post and it didn't seem to me it was spam, just somebody excited about ordering "new fish"......I live in USA and we are used to freedom here in good ol USA I guess! I am anyway! Just my two cents on spammers. Why would someone refer to them as "sick people" maybe that person has some issues they need to deal with themselves and get healed. I really didn't think that was a "sick person" type post, sorry just my opinion! Be NICE!! It actually works!!!! thumbs2:

[Lady Hobbs]

Oh please! They spam for a living and use private places to make money for themselves. They come here to sell underware, boots, wedding dresses, electronics.......yadda, yadda. Do you really think they come here to sell wedding dresses because they made a mistake and are really going to be a future good member?

PS.......A spammer appeared last night and spammed in THIS thread. They do not read PM's. They post their spam and leave and go to the next place they are not wanted.

[Goes to 11!]

Oh please! They spam for a living and use private places to make money for themselves. They come here to sell underware, boots, wedding dresses, electronics.......yadda, yadda. Do you really think they come here to sell wedding dresses because they made a mistake and are really going to be a future good member?

PS.......A spammer appeared last night and spammed in THIS thread. They do not read PM's. They post their spam and leave and go to the next place they are not wanted.
+ 1

And totally worth repeating!

[Skyhawk]

I guess my level of getting annoyed is a lot higher than most! I just don't want to spend my time hunting down "spammers" I guess. So be it....I guess we always have the few that will do that sort of stuff in every walk of life. I wake up in a good mood every morning and want to keep being that way and not go to sleep at night worrying about such stuff. I would not make a good moderator I guess. LOL




+ 1

And totally worth repeating!

[Trillianne]

Skyhawk,

I know in the past there has been some iffy posts that you see a mod say "check your pm" or write a post with a question in reply.

But there are a number of spammers that are obvious, and they are not even written by a human being in the first place. And just like robo-calls at home... I have no problem with a robo-poster being "hung up" on. :ssmile:

[Honey Badger 1]

I guess my level of getting annoyed is a lot higher than most! I just don't want to spend my time hunting down "spammers" I guess. So be it....I guess we always have the few that will do that sort of stuff in every walk of life. I wake up in a good mood every morning and want to keep being that way and not go to sleep at night worrying about such stuff. I would not make a good moderator I guess. LOL

LOLOLOL!
No one here actively hunts down spammers. We do however read many posts while we are here and many times those posts are spam. I start out nice to most everyone here, however, I will not be nice to someone who is here just to scam me out of my hard earned money, nor will I be nice to some tard who admits not knowing anything about fish then proceeds to argue with knowledgeable fish keepers because they are told something they don't want to hear. And I sleep very well.

[Skyhawk]

I understand, especially with those damn "robo calls" we get over phone! Glad you sleep well too.....sleep is healthy thing! I do not like the "spam phone calls either" LOL

[Aeonflame]

As a community we need members who can make a valid contribution and not simply use us for their personal financial gain.

[Skyhawk]

As a community we need members who can make a valid contribution and not simply use us for their personal financial gain.



I totally agree with you on this point. I just thought since I am new here that after reading Lady Hobbs original post it kind of made me think.....wow" she really has a problem, but maybe I can understand once you have been burned. She is a hater though and to be honest when someone uses the "Hate word" like she did.....I have to tell you that speaks volumes about someone in my way of thinking. I honestly do not "hate" anyone regardless. Even the real sickos of the world........I still an not a "hater"....that was pretty much where I was going with all that anyway. Have fun enjoy life to fullest and don't cloud your thinking with "hate stuff". Like I said before my motto is to "be nice to other people" and it works for me. I would not make a good moderator because of that is all.

[Aeonflame]

With all due respect, Hobbs has been moderating this forum much longer than most of us have even been here. If anyone knows about spammers and their tricks its her. She is one of the finest mods here and in my experience is very fair in the way she handles things.

You are of course, entitled to your opinion and your way of thinking.

[Lady Hobbs]

Well, then surprise because I hate spams in email, in Facebook and robo-calls too. I do not hate people but hate what they do. I LOVE the forum and HATE people who want to mess it up.

I also did not ask our members to do the Moderators job. I thought if they should notice a post that appears odd to them, to simply give us a yell so we can look at it.

Sorry if this thread is so annoying for you.

[Skyhawk]

NO, I am not annoyed at all by this thread......I got a huge laugh at it with some of the responses. Like I said "my level of annoyance is a lot higher" than most". Not annoyed at all. Just new here and getting to know the personalities is fun. I am a member of several other forums and understand how these tend to pull in certain people and that is what makes world go around. I am glad you cleared up your hate and disdain for spammers, meaning you really don't hate the person, just the spamming role you hate........now I get it....maybe you aren't as hard core as I thought afterall Lady Hobbs.

I love to glean as much information as possible, like I said I am almost age 60 and one thing I learned is "the more you learn, the more you learn) and that comes with getting old I think. Wow, age 60 around corner (like next month) seems old, but I don't feel old.....blessed with good health and same waist size as college so life is good. I am always in a good mood for most part. I enjoy your knowledge on fish keeping and I have read your stuff on cycling too....very good!!!

[Lady Hobbs]

And I am 68 1/2 and not a bit shy about saying what I feel.

[Skyhawk]

Good for you! I already had that figured out before I registered as I have been lurking and reading posts for the past month before I decided to join. I like it though so far and will learn a lot now that I actually have time. Sold practice and trying to retire. Still get called in every now and then, but that is not a problem as I need a little work time still.

[Lab_Rat]

I hate scammers who steal from hardworking people. And yes, I hate the people who do the scamming as well as their scamming posts. Spammers can be hilarious though.

[Lady Hobbs]

"The Hater" is now going to close this thread. It was intended as a note that if you should see suspicious posts and are unsure about the content, to simply yell for a Moderator to take a peek. Never know what a link might contain be it selling, porn or a virus really. So thanks for your help and contributions to keep the forum spiffy, safe and tidy.