Spam Thru The Forum, A threat, the solution and the universe Options

[lepetitmartien]

Yesterday a member registered and started to send spam using the email link in some of the member profiles, possibly only in the FR forums but I want to warn you in case…

It is a "nigerian fraud" scheme : in a convoluted mail about some obscure political reason, Africa related, someone you never heard about before asks you for some help in some financial operation with a huge sums of money in the balance and a % for you. this is what you must know:

IMPORTANT!

- Don't EVER answer to them. They use the email sending facility of the forums, they don't have your address. But if you answer they will! Your emails have never been, are not and won't ever be public in any way. Don't make their job easier.
- The whole affair is a fraud. The only money in the balance is yours, don't even think it may be a good opportunity, there's no millions awaiting for you.
- Report the offenders with the mail to the moderators using PMs. We will ban the offenders on the spot.

In case you received on of his emails, mrs56 our first offender will be banned as fast as possible by our webmaster.

I'll look forward to find a way to keep the email service and to keep these morrons away. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[lepetitmartien]

In case you need some hint on the kind of mail I'm talking about, here is the email our member Uther received. It involves always a deal of money, some obscure political trouble in Africa, assets which needs to move by your accounts etc.

The only attention it deserves is the bin!

uther,

mrs56 vous a envoyé cet email de http://www.macmusic.org/agora/forums/index.php.


FROM:Mrs Sangare Richard
AVENUE XX RUE XXX
ZONE X ABIDJAN
IVORY COAST,WEST AFRICA
TEL:+XXX XX XX XX XX.
mrs_sangare_family@YOUBET.SWINDLER

Dear CHOSEN PARTNER,

I know this proposal may come to you as a surprise
considering the fact that we have not had any formal
acquaintance before, but all the same I would want you
for the sake of God to give this an immediate
attention in view of the fact that the security of my
live and possession is at stake .

I am Mrs Sangare Richard from war ravaged SIERRA LEONE
but presently domiciled in Abidjan Ivory coast with my
two sons .My Husband Mr Richard who before his
untimely assassination by the rebels was the Director
of SIERRA LEONE Diamond corporation (LDC) .

He was killed in our government residential house
along side two of my other children ,two house maids
and one government attached security guard,

fortunately for I, and my two sons,we were on a week
end visit to our home town As we got the news of the
tragedy ,we immediately managed to ran into
neighbouring country IVORY COAST for refuge .

As we were coming into this country ,we had some
documents of a deposit of $3.5m USD (three million
Five hundred thousand united state dollars ) made by
my late Husband in a Security and trust company .

Following the content of my Husband,s which I saw it
reads that he intended to use this fund for his
international business transaction after his tenure in
office but was unfortunately murdered .I had located
the security company where the money is deposited with
the help of an attorney and stablished ownership.

Please right now ,with the bitter experiences we had
in our country,Coupled with the recent political
upheavals and hostilities in this country Ivory coast
,we desire seriously to leave here and live the rest
of our life into a more peaceful and politically
stable country like yours Hence this proposal and
request .We therefore wish you can help me in the
following regards.

1) To provide me with a good bank account to transfer
the money into.

2) To help me invest the money into a lucrative
business .

3) To assist my two sons get a college admission to
further their education.

Please I know that , this letter may sound strange and
incredible to you but the CNN and the BBC African
bulletin normally have it as their major news features
.Therefore for the sake of God and humanity give an
immediate positive consideration and reply to me via
my private e-mail address
(mrs_sangare_family@YOUBET.SWINDLER) or
call me with my number above.

I will willingly agree to any suitable percentage of
the money you will propose as your compensation for
your assistance with regards to the above .

Please in view of our sensitive refugee status and as
I am still conscious of my Husband's enemies .
I would like you to give this a highly confidential
approach .

PLEASE CALL ME IMMEDIATELY AFTER FINISHING READING
THIS LETTER WITH THIS MY DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER: +XXX
XX XX XX XX
Remain Blessed .
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Sangare Richard.

As I said, if you receive any mail from the forums like this one (or with the same general idea behind it) send it to me on the spot. The banning laser is on.

[majn]

I had this mail a few days back

I just binned it straight away

[lepetitmartien]

Some members didn't know the all fraud stuff. Now it's done.

And this offender at least is out!

[Presto]

I got a mail from a macmusic member asking for help and just an email address.

I couldn't remember if I'd exchanged with this person in a forum, so I would have liked to search for any posts he/she made. However, I don't know how to search for a member

If the person has never said anything reasonable in the forums, or anything at all, it would be safe to zap them.

[lepetitmartien]

Usually the emails i've got from members are genuine and no spammer would ask a non standard blahblah just to take the email and go. Now it doesn't mean I will answer techie questions thru email: I DON'T, I don't have time and it's not beneficiable to anyone (if everything is done in email, what's the use of the forum and the search button uh?).

Now another "nigerian" spam session happened 2 days ago, unfortunately for him he started by spamming the team itself… GOOD IDEA

Banished on the spot.

We are thinking on a few tricks to prevent this to happen again, I won't talk more about it

If it happens again, tell the moderators immediately with the login of the offender, the faster we know the faster he's out with bitume and feathers

[lepetitmartien]

Just in case I'm not the only one (I'm not the only one usually), sadlove who spammed me earlier today just got banned, nigerian scam…

[Presto]

Just in case I'm not the only one (I'm not the only one usually), sadlove who spammed me earlier today just got banned, nigerian scam…

I've a feeling it might be possible for a spammer to send spam which appears to have been sent by, well, for example: 'lepetitmartien' Just an idea

BTW Hello, Laser man. Nice to see you

This post has been edited by Presto: Fri 3 Nov 2006, 21:02

[lepetitmartien]

It is possible thru normal email, but this one was using the internal mailing system of the forum, that is: he posted from the forum to members with the email link (he can't see the address but we sure receive the email…).

And the sanction for this is the ban.

[Presto]

ban.

Suggest you disintegrate anybody with a pessimistic name anyway