Spam threads disguised as birding info

[MichaelF]

There's been several in the last couple of days, such as this one:
http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4958

and this post on the "An interesting gull from California" thread:
http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13198&postcount=5

Every time, a new account posting the spam on their first post. My suggestion, if it is feasible, make it impossible for new posters to add links in their first few (5? 10?) posts

[admin]

Yes, good suggestion. Have deleted all of them today and banned users but that post that had a birding title and discussed Western Sandpiper migration I guess shows how slick they're becoming.
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[Colin Key]

I don't think that these useless "turds" are that big a problem; they have software which scans the web for suitable "hosts", but as long as we are vigilant and report and remove them there is no great threat.

Colin

[Collalba]

So sad that a community such as ours has to watch for these idiots! I don't know if it is possible to weed these excuses for humans out on joining? Do we check for valid email accounts for applicants? If we do, is it not possible to track them and report the idiots to their providers?

Peter:hmpf:

[Colin Key]

I have a "nose" for spammers (being involved in a number of internet forums) and they actually rarely do any harm - they are just an irritation.

I think that Michael's idea (above) of not allowing new members to post links would be a bad move because it is the link which usually reveals what these toe-rags are up to in their first post.

I am more concerned about the "trolls" who have appeared in the past (all from the "other channel") who just want to cause disruption.

Colin :realmad:

[MichaelF]

Six spam posts by "yyww2008 (http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/member.php?u=2910)" today, still up 7 hours after they were posted . . . can we see some action on this recurring problem, please?

[Colin Key]

Six spam posts by "yyww2008 (http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/member.php?u=2910)" today, still up 7 hours after they were posted . . . can we see some action on this recurring problem, please?

Agree with Michael, these need to be cleared up more quickly. I reported these spam posts hours ago and they are still there - I can only assume that the only admin capable of removing these is based in the U.S.? (and therefore not on-line). Is there not a U.K. based moderator with the power to remove these?

Colin

[MichaelF]

Bringing this up again - can it be set so that new 'subscribers' can't add links in their two or three posts, please?

I know another vBulletin forum where this applies, and it stops the vast majority of these spam posts.

[Colin Key]

Bringing this up again - can it be set so that new 'subscribers' can't add links in their two or three posts, please?

I know another vBulletin forum where this applies, and it stops the vast majority of these spam posts.

Excellent idea Michael, but don't know how easy it will be to implement.

(Still waiting for the photo posting problems to be resolved!!!).

Colin

[MichaelF]

Clarification - that should read "in their first two or three posts", i.e., posting links only allowed when they reach their 4th post.

[admin]

We've set a rule that you need to have posted 5 times before you can have a signature (where most of the spam links appear) as well as post links. We've also made the question you have to answer upon registration harder too. Let's see how we do. Of course, the problem that some forums have had, as a result of these sorts of rules, is that spammers do a lot of "me too" posts to get their 5 posts, so we'll have to keep an eye on it.

[MichaelF]

We've set a rule that you need to have posted 5 times before you can have a signature (where most of the spam links appear) as well as post links. We've also made the question you have to answer upon registration harder too. Let's see how we do. Of course, the problem that some forums have had, as a result of these sorts of rules, is that spammers do a lot of "me too" posts to get their 5 posts, so we'll have to keep an eye on it.
Brilliant, thanks!

[admin]

We are amazed at how much effort they go to. Registering cannot be done by a spambot and takes effort answering a question that requires you to know what the website is about and also confirming your email address. Then these posters have to post a birding related topic to hide their spam. Is the revenue from this really worth their time?

[MichaelF]

I fear for the wages they get paid in Russia, India, China, etc., to post spam, yes. The trick is to get the time/cost of posting spam in excess of the value. If it gets needed, perhaps another option is to go for 5 posts plus 5 days, that should defeat the simpler 'me too' ones.