OH OH!!! Looks like we got a Spammer!

[Prafeston]

Someone be spamming us!!

[IowaEagle]

Dang!  I will fix that.  I wondered about that one.

[Prafeston]

The first one that slipped through the cracks!

[IowaEagle]

And, I pondered that one for quite some time.  I guess I need to rely on my gut feelings from now on.  Thanks for catching that.

[Prafeston]

How do they slip through? I mean I guess they have to be approved by you, but there is some sort of spam filter before the final decision right? Like a caphe or something? I forget cause it's been awhile since I signed up on here!

[IowaEagle]

We have a spam recognition system, but some legitimate folks get deleted because the IP comes back as one that spammers use.  Then I take look at the user name and e-mail.  If they look pretty legit, then I let them thru.  But that is seldom as the spam system is pretty reliable.

[IowaEagle]

I just rejected 11 more.  The one who got thru earlier tried again.  I see some of the more persistent ones are using new IP's to try to fool the anti-spam program.  They are now marked as spammers for future reference for all SMF applications.

[IowaEagle]

So far on the 12th of December, 342 spammers deleted.  11 legitimate members accepted.

[Prafeston]

Right on! Keep up the good work!

[lapoltba]

On this same note I got a PM from a new member with zero posts asking me to ship my car (for sale) to Europe.  I won't post the name because it is possible that it is completely legitimate, but who should I send it to for a heads up?

[Prafeston]

IowaEagle is the man around here. He can take care of about anything.

[IowaEagle]

Yes, let me know.  I will take a look into it.  Good thing you checked that person's profile.  I will keep all advised.   I think that is the first one of those we have had.

[Prafeston]

It truly could be an interested buyer from Europe..

I know I've seen several Eagles abroad...but none of them are the SX/4.

[IowaEagle]

The member appears to be from Austria, which has not been a problem in the past.   I am staying in the loop with lapoltba  and suggested he let the member know, in a nice way, we are watching this transaction.  A legitimate buyer would understand his caution.

[IowaEagle]

Given the large number of spammer attempts I have heightened registration requirements a bit to include a simple question that all legitimate folks can answer.  We will see if this helps.  So far today I have deleted 33 spammer requests to join.   Most of them are repeat offenders.

[1985amceagle]

looks like it seems to be working, hopefully it cuts down on the spammers that attempt to apply

[IowaEagle]

Well the secret question thing did not slow them down.  Rejected 19 more after I set that up.  Those bots must know a way around that function.  In fact it looked like a whole new bunch of spammers instead the usual ones.  Oh well.  Manual approvals still work best and does not take long to get rid of them.

[1985amceagle]

Could the secret question not have been applied?

[IowaEagle]

I am wondering if you have to answer after you are accepted?  I may try a dummy registration to find out.

[1985amceagle]

hopefully this may help, I might try a registration, to see if  can find the question

For verification questions, there is the box used to configure the verification questions. Usually this is the most efficient anti-spam method provided by SMF due to its forum specific nature. There are a few things to note about this method to increase its efficiency:
##Automated registration bots are usually quite good at math, avoid questions like: what's the result of 2+2? and similar.
##International audiences may not understand local slang, or local terminology, ensure that questions do not alienate an otherwise active member base.

Be sure to put in the number of verification questions user must answer under the configure verification methods category ABOVE the verification questions.

From the Administration Center it's possible to set as many questions you want, and also the number of questions that each user will be asked to fill during the registration. If you configure 10 questions and then set to show 2 in the registration page, SMF will show two random questions from the 10 configured each time a new member tries to register - a good bank of questions will stop automated bots from building a set of "known answers".

[IowaEagle]

Thanks.  I only ask one question.  The answer should be know by anybody who is an AMC'er even a new one.   If they run into issues they can contact me at the Den's FB page.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/252293261595704/

[carnuck]

Add a check box to prove they are a real person

[carnuck]

I had Spam and eggs for breakfast this AM