Are you getting odd or annoying Personal Messages?

TFP Admin · October 2, 2008, 02:59 PM

It has come to my attention that some of you may be receiving some strange Personal Messages. These messages are usually titled something like "Re: [your forum name]" - in other words, member Stan may have received a PM titled "Re: Stan".

The message always has a link in it. DO NOT FOLLOW THE LINK! So far, the links have not been reported as bad for your computer or your security, but it could happen.

The message many times has comments about Buddhism and always asks the question, "How's it going?" Other than that, there is nothing more in the message. The sender is always a member who has zero post count.

The name of the person sending these messages changes and, unfortunately, we may have several of them here. I just deleted the member "James" but there could be others. Please report these PMs to me. You can forward them to me or any other staff member and I will delete their account.

I just installed a new "feature" on the forum that will now require all new members to have a post count of at least 3 messages on the forum before they can send PMs. They can still receive PMs and they can send PMs to me, but they will not be able to send any other PMs until they have posted a few times on the board.

The unfortunate part is that anyone who joined before today can still send these PMs out. The new "feature" does not affect current members, only new ones.

I apologize to any of you that have received these spam Personal Messages. This problem has been reported on other forums for months now and I thought we were secured from them. None of you complained about them. But I want you to. I want you to complain to me about anything you think is bad for this site and bad for our members. I want this site to be the best, but I need your feedback to help do that.

Thanks,

Jim
PS: remember, if you report a spammer or bad member, you must include their forum name. the best way is to forward their PM to me (TFP Admin).

rgfloor · October 2, 2008, 04:10 PM

Jim, I would like to report member TFP Admin.

He keeps posting these looooooong messages and with my sleep Apnea I fall asleep at the keyboard before I finish them. So far I have a split lip, a bloody nose and I think I may have cracked a tooth!

Don't ban him, but tell him to shorten up the posts.

TFP Admin · October 2, 2008, 04:13 PM

OK, will do. Youbetcha.

cproader · October 2, 2008, 05:07 PM

And RG keeps givin us the bird so I think he should be considered too.........

Nick Arrera · October 2, 2008, 05:17 PM

I just deleted a post this morning waiting to be validated for penis enlargement from a unregistered ..
I still have the link if anyone wants it ..

Kman · October 2, 2008, 06:21 PM

Nick Arrera said

I just deleted a post this morning waiting to be validated for penis enlargement from a unregistered ..
I still have the link if anyone wants it ..

You can do that online?

rgfloor · October 2, 2008, 07:12 PM

For CP

:sc ratch:

:da nce:

How's that for an odd annoying message?

cproader · October 2, 2008, 10:42 PM

rgfloor said

For CP:sc ratch::da nce:

How's that for an odd annoying message?

.................

... ..................

Peter Kodner · October 3, 2008, 12:18 AM

T, I have not gotten any of these

Maybe a good spam filter?

TFP Admin · October 3, 2008, 01:13 AM

I do have a couple of spam filters installed on the forum. Unfortunately, this is not an automated spammer like most all others. This is real people who have banded together to register at thousands of vBulletin forums (that's the name of the software we use and it is, arguably, the most secure forum software available) and then wait before logging in again to spam their websites and their religion.

Because these people do not usually post messages on forums, only in PMs, I have installed a modification that will prevent anyone from sending any PMs until they have a certain number of posts on the forum. That may require more work than they are willing to do and should reduce or eliminate the problem. I hope.

Jim