Clever spam bots

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PaulStoffregen

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Please keep an eye out for spam bots posting nonsense replies.

At first glance, these messages look like an overconfident non-English speaking novice trying to be helpful. The bots compose replies from fragments of messages from other threads. You can tell it's a bot by clicking the link to their user profile. Bots will have a "home page" link to a site selling pills, porn or other junk.

If you see any of these, please click the "Report Post" (small black triangle below the message) and in the report, please mention this is a bot with a spam link on their profile page. Robin does review every spam report, but when the original message looks like it might be legitimate without the surrounding thread's context, she often takes a conservative approach to avoid banning a real person. Please mention the account's profile has a spammy home page link so she'll be sure to ban the account.
 
Have you noticed the ones that switch those almost-coherent posts with spam? I reported one a few weeks ago..
 
Robin does review every spam report, but when the original message looks like it might be legitimate without the surrounding thread's context, she often takes a conservative approach to avoid banning a real person. Please mention the account's profile has a spammy home page link so she'll be sure to ban the account.

Lately I've been taking an approach of ban now and don't ask questions later.
 
Have you noticed the ones that switch those almost-coherent posts with spam? I reported one a few weeks ago..

There are also ones who copy a post from some other forum. The post looks legit, but then I get a report from one of our eagle-eyed regulars that points out it's a copy. Grrrrrrr, I hate spammers.
 
Lately I've been taking an approach of ban now and don't ask questions later.

;-) LOL Yea terminate them
How do they register ? Is this an automated process ?
Maybe i could help to add an unusual cpatcha....this would mean to edit/patch the registration-page a bit.. I "speak" php / mysql...
 
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Although these look suspicious, it is possible to legitimately have an account and not post. I don't post much myself, but having an account helps me keep track of what I've read, etc. So I'd be wary of deleting accounts for that reason alone.
--Michael
 
@Michael - your profile doesn't link to a spam page though. Not sure if there is a simple way to filer non posting accounts that have a link without some false positives though. And pass on manually following all the links to quantify them.
 
Just killed three identical posts - saying how great @tni code was - while VERY TRUE - not related to the threads on which it was posted. Indeed a new type of SCAM.

triemdeptrai
Junior Member
Join Date
Jul 2017
Posts
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I like tni's program too, that's so amazing to learning c++.
 
I've been going through the forum user list this past week and have banned about 700 suspected spammer accounts. More bans are coming...
 
Does a user get AUTO suspended from posting when they get a post blocked pending review - or is it the other way around - that a block is done after a post is flagged?

I got blocked once 'for a short time' when I reposted part of a post that had Chinese characters in it after I translated it . . .

This thread could be sticky perhaps so folks could see they can report posts. I just reported one with 3 views - a bit later similar post came back - seemed like the same user.

Today, 10:21 PM
selenajames started a thread 1^^844^^^200^^^3985 Kaspersky Antivirus Phone Number #NATIONALOHIODAY #NATIONALDEV in General Discussion
Kaspersky @@$%1^^844^^^200^^^3985^^$% Kaspersky internet security 2016 @@$%1^^844^^^200^^^3985^^$% @ Kaspersky antivirus for mac #NATIONALMENMAKEDINNERDAY #NATIONALOHIODAY #NATIONALDEVILEDEGG DAY...
see more

YUP _ same poster just posted same content again:
Today, 10:48 PM
selenajames started a thread 1^^844^^^200^^^3985 Kaspersky Antivirus Phone Number #NATIONALOHIODAY #NATIONALDEVI in General Discussion
Kaspersky @@$%1^^844^^^200^^^3985^^$% Kaspersky internet security 2016 @@$%1^^844^^^200^^^3985^^$% @ Kaspersky antivirus for mac #NATIONALMENMAKEDINNERDAY #NATIONALOHIODAY #NATIONALDEVILEDEGG DAY...
see more

<edit>: And a THIRD - plus a second user with 2 similar posts just flagged:
Today, 11:02 PM
selenajames started a thread 1^^844^^^200^^^3985 Kaspersky Antivirus Phone Number #NATIONALOHIODAY #NATIONALDEVI in General Discussion
Kaspersky @@$%1^^844^^^200^^^3985^^$% Kaspersky internet security 2016 @@$%1^^844^^^200^^^3985^^$% @ Kaspersky antivirus for mac #NATIONALMENMAKEDINNERDAY #NATIONALOHIODAY #NATIONALDEVILEDEGG DAY...
see more
 
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I've reported about 10 of these, too, this morning. (UTC+1 here)

I wonder why this continues. Normally, the user account should be blocked after a posting has been reported until an administrator has reviewed the case and taken a decision.

Oh shit, there it comes again... user selenajames is annoying...
 
Thank you, Robin! What about the idea that a user account goes automatically in read-only mode (thus unable to continue spamming) after a spam has been reported, until you decide about final measures?
 
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