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.