Serial Spammers

1. 0

   Website Examinerposted 13 years ago

   I've just been reporting over 10 spam messages posted from a brand new account, and there are many more of these messages across multiple threads.
   
   Why not impose a quota upon how many postings can be made from new accounts?

   replyreport
   1. 91

      Polly Cposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I just reported them as well. However, I don't know about preventing new hubbers from posting...what about if they need help or whatever? Or maybe they should have written at least one hub first, do you think?

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Website Examinerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Good job! I am not talking about preventing, the only kind of restriction I advocate here is a numerical one. Say, 3 posts an hour for the first 3 days, then gradually upgrade that.
         
         This would have been enough to prevent what just happened. The account could have been closed in an orderly fashion within the first hour, and we'd all be better off.
         
         Surely, the system ought to be able to block serial spammers that use scripts to post multiple posts within minutes.

         replyreport
         1. 91

            Polly Cposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, maybe you're right. I have seen quite a few lately, though none so bad as that!! Mind you, maybe they would wait three days, or maybe not - I'm not sure how the mind of a spammer works.

            replyreport
            1. 0

               Website Examinerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I doubt the ones like we just saw have a mind, even, I think it's all a computer script. I think such rules would help make HubPages a less attractive target for spammers.

               replyreport
               1. 91

                  Polly Cposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Oh, well in that case surely something can be done about it. Your idea sounds good to me.

                  replyreport
         2. 39

            Spacey Graceyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I'm sure you were reporting the same person I was, at around the same time - there I was doing a good deed, not knowing I was at least the third person to do it.
            
            But on the plus side - I found this great new site. I did an order and just had some great stuff deliver my house. You want look, and buy some too? click here

            replyreport
            1. 0

               Website Examinerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Oh, you too? Good job!

               replyreport
2. 65

   Wendy Krickposted 13 years ago

   Great idea!

   replyreport
3. 70

   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   Actually, I've been reporting SPAM in the forum quite a bit and very little from my hubs.
   
   However, the best idea I have heard of so far is to put a minimum # of hubs published before granting access to the forums.
   
   I'm leaning toward liking that idea. At least a minimum of one hub should be published before a person can post to the forums.
   
   This would prevent people from simply signing up and SPAMMING the forums. The power of moderating our own comments can handle SPAM via comments sections of hubs.
   
   Just my thoughts.

   replyreport
   1. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I like the idea but you do sometimes see people who are completely stuck, and need some help just to get started.
      
      If the limit could be applied to all forums EXCEPT the "Need Help, Ask Here" forum, that would be ideal.

      replyreport
4. 61

   Ohmaposted 13 years ago

   I agree with the forum restriction. I think it would be helpful.

   replyreport
5. 70

   thisisoliposted 13 years ago

   It is difficult to place limits on people without putting them off the site. I know I post more than three posts an hour when I am browsing the forums.
   
   Instead I would put in some kind of spam script which looks out for the same message being posted more than twice, and prevent any posts which include a link until the users has posted 10/15/20 link free posts.
   
   These are fairly easy measures to implement and can give a huge spam reduction.

   replyreport
   1. 39

      Spacey Graceyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I like Oli's plan. I think I saw this guy yesterday had posted 27 messages - they were almost identical and linked to the same website. As someone else mentioned I don't think they were human.

      replyreport
6. 0

   Website Examinerposted 13 years ago

   Me too, something like that was exactly what I had in mind.

   replyreport