The Scammer/Bot Situation is Escalating

[weederr33]

I just got a PM from a bot about an item I have listed for sale. lol

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Nice tie

They make me dress up sometimes.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I know very little about how people get the login info but what I do know is there are far more here than I would ever expect from anybody getting lists someplace else or "guessing" passwords. There were another 16 today (not including 2 from yesterday still going today). There are an average of 14 a day, everyday, for the last month. That is more than I would ever believe that they guessed at or got from a common list.
They are all old accounts with no posts for over a year. If it was leaked lists it should be more random with active or recent users being involved but they just don't appear to be. My best guess is that as you said there was some sort of breach on this forum that has not been closed and the scammers (these are not bots) just gather up a few accounts each day. Hell, more than once I have watched some newly registered user scan the members list for an hour and then the old accounts start logging in one after the other and sending their PMs. I don't spend all day staring at activates either I probably spend a half an hour total just doing random looks. The patterns are so clear that it doesn't take much to predict who will do what.
I don't care about the spam bots just report and they go away but these scammers are what can kill a forum very quickly.

Nah the real threat was the ability to type the name of a competing forum. Good thing we got that solved.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I know very little about how people get the login info but what I do know is there are far more here than I would ever expect from anybody getting lists someplace else or "guessing" passwords. There were another 16 today (not including 2 from yesterday still going today). There are an average of 14 a day, everyday, for the last month. That is more than I would ever believe that they guessed at or got from a common list.
They are all old accounts with no posts for over a year. If it was leaked lists it should be more random with active or recent users being involved but they just don't appear to be. My best guess is that as you said there was some sort of breach on this forum that has not been closed and the scammers (these are not bots) just gather up a few accounts each day. Hell, more than once I have watched some newly registered user scan the members list for an hour and then the old accounts start logging in one after the other and sending their PMs. I don't spend all day staring at activates either I probably spend a half an hour total just doing random looks. The patterns are so clear that it doesn't take much to predict who will do what.
I don't care about the spam bots just report and they go away but these scammers are what can kill a forum very quickly.

Honestly it's possible the database for this forum has been breached at some point and we just don't know about it, because again the admins don't really come here much anymore.

VBulletin was always known to be a shitty forum software when it came to security, even when I first started using forums built on it back in 2008 or so.

[Clipdat]

I certainly hope the admin steps up and does the necessary things to keep the site going in good health.

[FR-S2GT86]

Originally Posted by Clipdat

I certainly hope the admin steps up and does the necessary things to keep the site going in good health.

Or at least bow out and allow someone else to take over......one that actually spends time here doing a lot of.....how should I put it.....MONITORING.....for things like this.....Hmmm...


Tcoat for Admin!!!

(Someone should start a poll.)

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by FR-S2GT86

Or at least bow out and allow someone else to take over......one that actually spends time here doing a lot of.....how should I put it.....MONITORING.....for things like this.....Hmmm...


Tcoat for Admin!!!

(Someone should start a poll.)

But then my hobby would become work! Although I must admit there would be some level of satisfaction in being able to actually do something instead of just watching event unfold.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

But then my hobby would become work! Although I must admit there would be some level of satisfaction in being able to actually do something instead of just watching event unfold.

that was how i ended up as a moderator on hidplanet. then facebook and the shiny bolt on craze gutted the forum... before that, was mp3car. that was gutted/reduced to nothing by oem's installing touch screens, gps, bluetooth, and decent audio systems.

all forums have a lifespan, just enjoy them while they last.

but a nazi-ish admin that doesn't ever ask for help and leaves things just as they are definitely exacerbates the process.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by soundman98

that was how i ended up as a moderator on hidplanet. then facebook and the shiny bolt on craze gutted the forum... before that, was mp3car. that was gutted/reduced to nothing by oem's installing touch screens, gps, bluetooth, and decent audio systems.

all forums have a lifespan, just enjoy them while they last.

but a nazi-ish admin that doesn't ever ask for help and leaves things just as they are definitely exacerbates the process.

Yes all things eventually succumb to entropy but tis is the equivalent to "well my engine is going to wear out anyway so no need to put oil in it".

[Tcoat]

This morning's total so far

Total online - 28
Obvious bots registering - 12
Old accounts PM'ing - 6
Real People (I think) - 10

They are taking the lead!

[pope]

At this rate the forum will be nothing but scammers scamming bots by the end of the year.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by pope

At this rate the forum will be nothing but scammers scamming bots by the end of the year.

Yep. Scam inception.

[Ultramaroon]

Spamageddon

[bcj]