Spammer using PM system to spam

**Rocket 442** · 02-11-2008, 07:03 PM

Hey Guys,

Question; how do you guys combat members that sign up just to PM Spam people. I recently just had my first member that has done this.
What steps do you guys take?

**ARealRedneck** · 02-11-2008, 07:22 PM

A forum, I frequent has it set that you have to have 50 post to be able to pm or e-mail..Most spammers would not hang around to post 50 post just to spam..

**Big Dan** · 02-11-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARealRedneck

A forum, I frequent has it set that you have to have 50 post to be able to pm or e-mail..Most spammers would not hang around to post 50 post just to spam..

This is the best way IMHO. Set Register Users to no PMs then create a new user group with PM permission and have it automatically promote users with X number of posts to it.

**Magnumutz** · 02-11-2008, 07:52 PM

Install any "Report Bad PM" mod?

**charlesa6** · 02-11-2008, 08:55 PM

I always give PM spam warning before permanently ban for good.

**bobdebilder** · 02-12-2008, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlesa6

I always give PM spam warning before permanently ban for good.

I wouldn't even waste my time I simply delete their account

Spammers and the rest of the abusers know exactly what they are doing and therefore I should know exactly what I should do

The long-term growth and money earning potential of your work is protected by setting a firm policy

any one for vodka :knit:

**Yogesh Sarkar** · 02-12-2008, 01:39 AM

Exactly, I even blacklist the sites for which spammers are spamming! That way that site can't even receive genuine traffic from my forums in future, people has to understand that they can not do business online by spamming!

**Rocket 442** · 02-12-2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlesa6

I always give PM spam warning before permanently ban for good.

Well I googled this persons email and they're obviously either a bot, or someone that just does this non-stop because there are a bunch of forums with this same exact problem. So I'm not giving them any chances.

I figured limiting PMs until after X posts was the most common, just seeing if there were any other ideas.

**vwdforum** · 02-16-2008, 06:30 AM

an idea could be for a mod where the first pm sent is first of all sent to the admin who then clicks a ok or spam button which will either allow the PM to be delivered or ban the member.

**Yogesh Sarkar** · 02-16-2008, 07:10 AM

But that would mean invasion of privacy, I don’t think any user would agree to it.

**Jacqueline** · 02-16-2008, 05:26 PM

I use the promotion mechanism. This also lets me stop the spammers from emailing other forum members until they hit so many posts. I've got it set to 10 posts, which has been a good compromise.

**vwdforum** · 02-16-2008, 11:08 PM

Is there any instructions on using the promotion system in such a way?

**Jacqueline** · 02-18-2008, 01:18 AM

Go to your admin cp
Create a new usergroup. I use "Standard Users" Make it a copy of "Registered Users"
Edit "Registered Users"
Restrict any options you like. Here are some ideas:
Can upload attachments: No
Can post polls: No
Maximum stored messages: 0 (This prevents private messages)
Can view who's online: No
Can email members: No (This prevents them using a form to send spam email to members who chose to accept email from other forum members)
Can use signatures: No (As an alternative, allow signatures but turn off BB Code and IMG Code to prevent spam links to other sites)
Can use reputation: No

You may also want to make "Standard Users" somewhat restricted and have a "Premium Users" group that grants special avatar, profile, and user title privileges.

**vwdforum** · 02-18-2008, 12:28 PM

thanks very much, your help is much appreciated!

Is there a automated way to promote a persons usergroup, (e.g 10 posts etc)

Mally

**Jacqueline** · 02-18-2008, 02:05 PM

Sure! In your Admin CP, go to Usergroups / Promotions
Click on Add New Promotion
In this example, you'll leave the Usergroup at Registered Users, Change # of posts to 10, Change promotion strategy to Posts, Select "Standard Users" as the move to usergroup, then save your changes.

**sjim** · 03-07-2008, 12:00 AM

Quote:

I wouldn't even waste my time I simply delete their account
Spammers and the rest of the abusers know exactly what they are doing and therefore I should know exactly what I should do

I totally agree with bob. Ive deleted over 1000 spammers and banned their ips. If it looks funny I check to see if its a bot and look at the who is database. If the ip is in amsterdam Your gone. I've only had one spam the pm system. Some weird crap about spiritualism. They got through two pages of memberslist before I deleted and permabanned. I suspect the PMers are human and not bots.
Even if you dont activate the account after a period i delete it.

**lombardo** · 03-07-2008, 07:36 AM

is there a way to find out who they have sent pm's too?

also Alias's is there was to find out aliases when people use fake i.p's is there a way to find out who is doing it?

**sjim** · 03-07-2008, 10:43 AM

I check ips in the Who.is: Universal Whois Lookup database.
I found the spammer fairly quickly by checking the bounced back emails.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lombardo

is there was to find out aliases when people use fake i.p's is there a way to find out who is doing it?

not if they're using a proxy or some kind of cloaker. You can complain to the providers abuse email.

My visitors are mostly the US so if i see some weird name - one from shanghai or never heard of country i look it up the username on google and give it look before I hit the delete. If they have activated an account its usually human. The spammers have been using software now that sells on the net for big $'s that defeats captcha images. So the bots can register.
VB recommends you make your capcha images stonger by clicking on more checks

maybe someone with more expertise can answer you better.