Spammer: Turing

[paulcalloway]

I was alerted today to a spammer who had made it past our registration system and was using private messaging to send spam. I've banned him. If you got one of his spam messages, just delete it.

If this proves to be a new trend with spammers using the private message system, we'll probably remove private messaging access from new users until they've proven themselves through posting history that they are legtimate contributers.

[13thnhv]

Got this one today from b2dkelly:

i'm knew to this site and my friend was talking about how he's been in a pevolutionary reenactment unit for over a year now and i'd really like to try it. Is there any advice you give me to get involved

[Parault]

Thank You Mr. Calloway for giving us the heads up.

[cwilson]

I got this one yesterday:

Hello,
I'm new here and just wanted to say "hi"

How's it going?

---
turing
http://turing.freehostia.com

Paul, thanks for letting us know.

[Edmund{Road Apple}]

Thanks for the heads up , I got one of his messages the other day

[Blackhatter1]

I got this one yesterday:

Hello,
I'm new here and just wanted to say "hi"

How's it going?

---
turing
http://turing.freehostia.com

I got the same PM and just deleted it. I may sound a bit anti-social but I generally don't reply to a PM unless I know the person or unless I've made their acquaintance on the public message board first.

Paul, I think your idea to remove private messaging access from new users until they've proven themselves is a good one.

[tomp40]

I got that message also and deleted it after I checked the members list and didnt see 'Turing' listed... I believe the problem was not that it was a new user abusing the site.. It seemed to be someone that hacked the site.

[Spinster]

Paul,

I'm reluctant to remove private messaging from new users unless this problem gets really prevalent.

I often receive private messages from members in the "under 10 posts" category--in most cases, they are folks who have a basic question and are either too shy to post, or reluctant to do so because they have not yet learned "how to ask a question" here.

I've yet to get an inquiry that wasn't a good valid question that needed answering--sometimes it was poorly phrased, or indicated a lack of basic knowledge that needed broader reading to remedy--still, they were worthwhile, and a part of the mentoring process.

I'd say I get 1-2 of these a week, either through the site email engine or through private message, almost evenly distributed between males and females.

A better fix might be to remove the ability to send pm's to multiple receipients at the same time----at least for new users.

[paulcalloway]

Paul,

A better fix might be to remove the ability to send pm's to multiple receipients at the same time----at least for new users.

Unfortunately the software doesn't allow that kind of customization.