Spams, Fake members and robots

[afnaveils]

The members list shows that we are over 400 members but I don't believe it. I think we are really about 200 or even less. There are many registration from spams, robots and 'members' who have nothing to do with goldfish.
There should be a way to get these intruders off, like an approval or a compulsory description of their goldfish. I don't know.

[Cincy Ranchu]

The members list shows that we are over 400 members but I don't believe it. I think we are really about 200 or even less. There are many registration from spams, robots and 'members' who have nothing to do with goldfish.
There should be a way to get these intruders off, like an approval or a compulsory description of their goldfish. I don't know.

I have often wondered how many people are using this site for a means of private communication about things other than goldfish, when you look at the AVATARS you really wonder?

[Ajno]

You shouldn't go by avatars.... Maybe admin can do an approval basis, but it gets tedious if you have to approve someone everytime they join the site.

[sweetshannon]

You shouldn't go by avatars.... Maybe admin can do an approval basis, but it gets tedious if you have to approve someone everytime they join the site.

I second that...my avatar has nothing to do with goldies, but that is the only reason I am here. Most spammers won't bother with any avatar, at least the ones I have banned.

[afnaveils]

There are a few options:

- Clean the list regularly (which I did for some time on another site but gave up due to excessive number)
- Configure the site so that approvals to membership can be given by any moderator. So if you are 10 moderators, the job is 10 times smaller.
- Make a New Member Introduction compulsory. The introduction must be somewhat related to goldfish or fish.
- Live with these fake members and intruders

[sweetshannon]

There are a few options:

- Clean the list regularly (which I did for some time on another site but gave up due to excessive number)
- Configure the site so that approvals to membership can be given by any moderator. So if you are 10 moderators, the job is 10 times smaller.
- Make a New Member Introduction compulsory. The introduction must be somewhat related to goldfish or fish.
- Live with these fake members and intruders

I will be glad to clean the list, but how am I sure if the person is not for real? Some of the names are obvious, yes. But some aren't. Look for 0 post counts? If I have guidelines, I will be glad to work on that.:-*

[afnaveils]

In goldfish language, I would cull the 'members' who have no post and who registered over 3 months ago. In my mind, it's not difficult to say a simple Hello in 3 months time.

Gerard

[flaringshutter]

I agree with Gerard! No reason to be a member if you can't say hello and participate in the discussion.

[sweetshannon]

ok, but I have been members of forums here I lurked and learned for months without a post.... I will ask this question in the mod forum. I don't want to delete anyone who needs this site.

[small_ranchu]

Hi all,
Thanks for the concern. Here is what I think....
let's leave zero post count ppl for quiet personality(please keep in mind, we have people from all over the world and English is not their native language). We are deleting or banning obvious one though. :)

[*Ci*]

Thank you! I am a lurker but I will gear up to posting in time!

Plus I added a goldie to my avatar - I really like this site, but always feel a bit intimidated to post at first . . .

[bekko]

There has been a lot of spam in the PMs of many forums lately. First it was the "Important" message which, I assume, took you to some malicious link. In recent days it has been others. I am not sure why owners/moderators would care whether or not a member is really interested in goldfish as long as they are not creating mischief.

-steve

[sacheenman]

I was an admin on Goldfishparadise and this subject came up numerous times. Who really cares if the membership count is totally accurate. Secondly, we had seasoned members who took a hiatus from posting for months but their previous contributions certainly earned them a roster spot. I say ban or delete only for actions not inaction.

I think the management on this site has been GREAT !

Please keep up the good work.

Fred

[abbeh15]

In goldfish language, I would cull the 'members' who have no post and who registered over 3 months ago. In my mind, it's not difficult to say a simple Hello in 3 months time.

Gerard

I wholeheartedly disagree with this. I am not the most social person, both in real life and on the internet, but I love to read as much as I can about goldfish and many other things such as fish photography. I registered to an aquatic photography forum in Nov 2005, but did not get the courage to post until just recently.

Also, many forums require that you register to read certain sections, if not the entire forum. I register to read and learn as much as possible, but not to post on every forum. I would hate it if I had to re-register every 3 months just to read.

I agree with this:

I say ban or delete only for actions not inaction.

[small_ranchu]

Thanks everybody for your concern and opinion. We appreciate all of your inputs. I agree we(every boards) have spam problem and have to find a way to prevent it. We are doing the following...

1. Robots (Spambot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spambot))
We have a mechanism from vBulletin to protect automatic spamming. Spambot cannot attack us until now.

2. Human Spammer
It is difficult to keep them away. But we still try our best to protect them. We don't want to reveal detail steps in public. If you want to know the prevention strategies and have certain posts, please let me know. I will explain you individually.

3. Issue of 'members' who have nothing to do with goldfish (people are using this site for a means of private communication)
if the person doesn't have certain number of post count, he/she cannot send PM. It's a rule from day 1. The other way to prevent illegal PM is to read everybody's PM every weekend by mod or admin. :yess:

Please let me know your opinion. Thanks everyone. >:D<

[sacheenman]

One of the reasons I joined this site is because I DID NOT like the 200 post rule on another site. I understand the purpose of it but I think it unnecessary. What is the big deal about deleting some unwanted PMs? If the problem becomes site affecting then maybe, but it seems unwarranted right now. I was able to PM some peeps I knew from GFP here that I wasn't able to on the other site. I could have spammed 200 hundred posts to reach the quota and that is just what others might do with such a rule.

Just my opinion, Fred

[shigashira]

Just use a CAPTCHA, normaly a robot or spammer don't answer the CAPTCHA code when they register.

[small_ranchu]

We do have CAPTCHA. Thanks. :)

[SeaWitch]

Just my two cents here, but on my forum, we had an over-abundance of spammers that registered and it got pretty bad. We now have it set up where we have to approve the members before their account is activated to post. I usually look up their IP addresses on two websites; www.noforumspam.com and Google. So far, this has worked out well. I know that going through each potential members' IP addy can be tiresome, but to me, it is better than deleting spam and the x-rated crap we were getting and then having to ban the member.

[small_ranchu]

Thanks Nickie,
I am investigating the mod that ban the user with black IP address automatically. Hope I can apply it next weekend. :)

[small_ranchu]

Successfully install the mod and cutting down a lot of spammer from registering overnight.

Mod:
Hopefully we don't need to delete a lot of spam post anymore.

[johnatoranchu]

Have received a personal notification from site "member" CocoChanels 07-24-2009 trying to sell me $600 software - nothing to do with Goldfish. In Members List. Can this "member" be deleted please?
John

[abbeh15]

The member has been banned John :)

[johnatoranchu]

Many thanks Abby.
John

[johnatoranchu]

Fred, please check out new member - TerryVierhout - His new thread today is nothing to do with goldfish. Looks like SPAM to me.
Happy New Year
John

[small_ranchu]

Sure. I will take care of the business.