Spam, Spam and more Spam!

[TLS Guy]

We seem to have a persistent spammer. He is changing his site name. He was kicked off yesterday and first thing today, and now he is back.

This problem has interfered with members ability to legitimately sell their gear in a timely manner.

I think we will have to have a screening process for new members instead.

Anybody have any good ideas?

 

[Jack Hammer]

We seem to have a persistent spammer. He is changing his site name. He was kicked off yesterday and first thing today, and now he is back.

This problem has interfered with members ability to legitimately sell their gear in a timely manner.

I think we will have to have a screening process for new members instead.

Anybody have any good ideas?

The only way I see it working would be to always have a mod online. When a new member makes their first post the mod would get a pm or some sort of notification. Then the mod would have to check the first posts of all new members. Not approve the posts before it shows, just read it and if its spam delete it right away.

It wouldn't work to have them approve new members or approve first posts, legitimate people looking to join would end up waiting too long and get discouraged.

Even with all that, the reality is it would be a bit of a pain for the mods and likely a lot of wasted time for a minor and relatively infrequent problem.

Jack

 

[majorloser]

We try......

 

[Nomo]

I think we will have to have a screening process for new members instead.

Anybody have any good ideas?

I think from now on all new members need to be 5'7", blond, female, and send multiple pictures for current member approval.

I'm as annoyed as anyone about it, But the posts are easy to spot as Spam.
I generally just ignore them. It's just not a big deal.

 

[Jack Hammer]

We try......

Dude, you should totally not use the embarassed face for that. Overall this site is well run (except for the Deals section). Spam is at a minimum. Don't sell yourselves short.

Jack

 

[mike c]

yeah, i'm guessing its impossible to get rid of spammers. just make it 'not feasible' for them to waste their time registering if their "spams" are deleted asap.

and one of those anti-bot registration thingies would help too ... do we have those? the one that says "what does it say in this box"

 

[majorloser]

Dude, you should totally not use the embarassed face for that. Overall this site is well run (except for the Deals section). Spam is at a minimum. Don't sell yourselves short.

Jack

The credit really needs to go to Matt34. He's become the "spam slayer" on this site.

I guess that means the spammers are in his time zone, Iraq.

 

[mike c]

The credit really needs to go to Matt34. He's become the "spam slayer" on this site.

I guess that means the spammers are in his time zone, Iraq.

i resemble that!

it just means Matt is our spammer.

he probably has some sort of "spam kills" points tally

kidding of course.

 

[AverageJoe]

I think from now on all new members need to be 5'7", blond, female, and send multiple pictures for current member approval.

I think you just described Hillary Clinton.

 

[Nomo]

I think you just described Hillary Clinton.

Well, maybe. But that's where the pictures and approval thing come in.
Hopefully, the ones from Hillary won't be too racy. I haven't eaten yet.

 

[Djizasse]

Just do what many other forums do:
Right to post in the "sell area" is only given to members with more than 50 messages.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Just do what many other forums do:
Right to post in the "sell area" is only given to members with more than 50 messages.

That does nothing to stop spammers from posting in any other areas of the board. Which, by the way, is exactly what is happening.

Jack

 

[Djizasse]

There's no perfect solution, but at least you "save" the business section.

I've not noticed the spam, the moderators must be doing a good job

Defining a new user as someone with less than 10 posts, I would attack the problem with the following steps, in the order specified:

1 - Define a "new user" concept as someone with less than a specified number of posts and apply a time interval restriction for new users (to prevent spamming).

2 - revamp the registration process:
i) activation link sent in email (and ban some email domains like "maillinator.com")
ii) time interval restriction on registration from the same IP (to prevent multiple registrations on the same computer)
iii) temporary IP probation (not very effective)

3 - implement functionality to assist the moderators job:
i) hide all posts from one user (avaiable for new users)
ii) mute a user
iii) delete the user and all it's posts (avaiable for new users)

4 - Initial probation period in wich the posts would have to be allowed by a moderator

Only step 4 is unfriendly, but if necessary, I don't see another way.