Spammers

[jayb]

Administering this site is my first experience with actually running a message board, and it is amazing to me how many applications for membership I get from obvious spammers.  This had been a 2-3 per day problem, but last Thursday I put my book up for sale on ebay, and the volume of spam membership applications has jumped dramatically as a result.  I got over 50 bogus membership applications this past weekend.  I'm not sure exactly why this happened, because there is no mention of this web site in my ebay ad, but the user name I chose for selling the books is fepowerllc, and if you do a search on that this web site will come up.  So, I think that is how the site has suddenly become more popular.

Here are some examples of the spam membership applications I've been getting, by username and email address.  I've made some slight changes to each of them, but you'll get the idea:

Anceskvane, myemailwork@wheretobuycialis.com
PuhRealimum, uperyjke@yahoo.co.uk
Aalabama, otello@v-kirove.ru
Zibbouboke, mas.1.oso.ev.o.e.proda.op.to.m@gmail.com

When I approve membership for this forum I have the option to require that the user sign back in and confirm their email address, and this stops some of these "members" , but many will still sign back in and confirm their email address, so that approach is not an effective screen.

At first I thought these people wanted to harvest email addresses from the site; the site was originally set up to allow registered users to have access to other user's email addresses.  However, I have changed that feature now so that everyone's email address stays private, and if you want to communicate privately with another member you have to use the messages feature of the forum.  Despite this change, though, the spam membership applications keep coming.  Anybody know what the angle is on all these spam membership applications?  Is this just a bunch of spambots at work?

The big problem is that it is not always so obvious if the potential member is a spammer or not, and of course I don't want to reject any legitimate membership applications.  Any thoughts or suggestions on how to address this issue would be greatly appreciated. 

Also, if you have applied for membership on the forum and have not been approved, please email me with some details on your car or project so I can get you approved, and sorry for the trouble.

Thanks, Jay

[machoneman]

They are likely automated. You may want to start here until someone else with a better solution comments.

http://www.stopforumspam.com/

Funny but not! Tried to reload stopforumspam and guess what? It's under attack.....Jeesh! Perhaps it will load later.

Anyway...here's another site that may be helpful and explains API's stop forum spam details.

http://sysadminspot.com/programming/generic-php-function-code-to-query-stop-forum-spam-api/

[WConley]

Jay -

Your idea of requiring a real answer to an FE-related question is a good one.  It has worked well on other boards I've been involved with.  You could ask some of our favorite questions:

"What does FE stand for?"

"How many W-Code Mustangs did Ford produce?"

"What car won Hot Rod Drag Week Modified NA Class in 2009?"

Spammers are a big pain in the kiester.  A few will still slip through and you'll need to permaban them instantly.  The workload is a sign of success, unfortunately 

[machoneman]

They are likely automated. You may want to start here until someone else with a better solution comments.

http://www.stopforumspam.com/

UPDATE 6/16/11: the site does load now. (Funny but not! Tried to reload stopforumspam and guess what? It's under attack.....Jeesh! Perhaps it will load later).

Anyway...here's another site that may be helpful and explains API's stop forum spam details.

[Drew Pojedinec]

soooooo, I can't buy cialis here?

[Kerry j]

Who knows? Check the classifieds every day, some may come up for sale.

[jayb]

LMAO at you guys    When my Dad passes away I'm sure to inherit a ton of Viagra; maybe I'll put some up for sale on the classifieds board just for grins...

[Drew Pojedinec]

I've been stuck on a boat for the last 33 days with no beer or women(5 more to go!).... of all the things I need, viagra is NOT one of them.

[Qikbbstang]

point I re-captcha 20-30 times till I get one thats clear and still I hold my breath when I enter it.