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  1. #1
    Newcomer to Brit-Gen
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
    Posts
    1

    Default SPAM through the forum

    Hi,
    I joined today and I've received notification of a reply to my post; it's SPAM!

    The poster is supposedly banned so how did they post on the forum? Judging by the message they have access to my details and I'm not very happy about this. Could someone please contact me.

    Regards,
    Charliespark

  2. #2
    A fountain of knowledge
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Trowbridge
    Posts
    479

    Default

    No one can see anything about you except that which you place into your profile or within posts you make.
    You have probably seen this person is banned before the post was removed but after a moderator had banned the spammer.

    Spam is, unfortunately, a fact of life on forums, the moderators and admins are very quick to remove this and ban users who do spam however.

    Banned users cannot post.

  3. #3

    Default

    Also, it's worth pointing out that notifications are automatically sent out when the "reply" is posted, and such emails can not be removed once sent. These spam messages are carefully written to sound as though they know all about you, but where is the profit in tailoring messages in a one by one basis? They're sent out in their millions.

    As Tim said, nobody can see your personal details (not even the Mods) just what you have put into your public profile.
    Mods move as soon as they become aware of such things - by the time that I saw the alert (over breakfast), one of the others had dealt with it.

  4. #4
    Newcomer to Brit-Gen
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Thank you both for replying and dealing with this. It rattled me that they seemed to have knowledge of my birth date. Thanks for explaining how these situations are dealt with, and for the really prompt response, it gives me confidence in your management of the forum

  5. #5
    Knowledgeable and helpful
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Hampshire. Near Basingstoke
    Posts
    653

    Default

    Curious to read that the spammer seemed to know a birth date. How does that gel with the assurances above?
    "People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors.” Edmund Burke

  6. #6

    Default

    The messages I've seen refer to "middle aged", giving the impression of knowledge when they have a lucky hit...

    Why would I lie, Tony? We take these parasites seriously.

    I've just spent time trying to break into my own details, even with my Mod accesses, I couldn't. Mind you, even where I am a Mod, I only give such registrations the absolute minimum.

  7. #7
    Famous for offering help & advice
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    West Yorkshire
    Posts
    1,729

    Default

    I don't think anyone suggested lying - and obviously I haven't seen any of the messages in question so I don't know whether they just said "middle aged" or had an exact birth date, as was originally implied.

    But is it possible that someone could get access to the server/database without the knowledge of the mods/admin, and using tools and techniques that the mods/admin are unaware of or unprepared for? Isn't that how hacking works?

  8. #8
    Knowledgeable and helpful
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Hampshire. Near Basingstoke
    Posts
    653

    Default

    Lesley

    The last thing I'd do is to accuse Mods and especially Super Mods of telling porkies. Nevertheless charliespark said quite specifically that the spammer knew his or her date of birth i.e. not just a sweeping age generalisation. I haven't seen the spam but I think that my question was relevant if the facts are as posted. If something like "middle-aged" was the spammer's assumption that of course changes things somewhat although as you said above "spammers send out millions" and in which case it might also suggest more specific attention to charliespark by a spammer. Spammers don't send out millions of spams just to "middle aged" people - they are less discerning than that.

    I regard genealogy forums as fairly low risk activities because even if they are hacked there's not much on there of mine that would worry me, unlike my bank account. However, governments, banks, the NHS and other companies are regularly hacked these days so it as well not to be complacent.

    It is also worth bearing in mind that one doesn't have to be a poster or member of a forum to read what a member may have posted sometimes years ago. Google will unearth anything if you use the right search terms as no doubt many of us have found. Not the same as being hacked I know but just another example of the caution we all should use online.

    Tony
    "People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors.” Edmund Burke

  9. #9
    Knowledgeable and helpful
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Hampshire. Near Basingstoke
    Posts
    653

    Default

    Just to say that I hadn't seen Arthurk's post when I posted mine just now but it seems that we both have similar points to make.

    Tony
    "People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors.” Edmund Burke

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