Spammers

[Phil Lilley]

I've been fascinated with the influx of spammers lately. I added the validation step that's stopped a bunch from posting but they still keep coming. I'm convinced one person is registering multiply times but why they don't validate and finish the process... don't know. I think they hit so many forums and sites with spam they don't care- shotgun effect.

I visited flytyingforum.com and looked at their list of members. They have the same issues... but many many more spammers registering and valdiating and I assume posting. They have 7000 members. Before I got hit with so many spammers, I was impressed with numbers like these but now that I've learned that alot are spammers and not interested fly tyers, it makes alittle more sense.

But in saying that, OAF's member numbers are skewed too. I could delete the spammers but I'd have to one at a time and that's not worth the hassle. Plus, who's to know, someone legit may pick a crazy name like kooti, hacataby, MADwanker or oweruca- the last 4 to join this evening.

I've had 9 register but not do the email validation this evening from 6:24 to 7:29 pm. Think they might be connected?

[Randall]

is there any way to not allow a profile to post without the e-mail validation, and/or automatically delete the profile if it goes for say 3 days without validating?

i don't really know if that's possible, but its a thought.

[Phil Lilley]

They can't post unless they complete the validation.

I delete most of the unvalidated request for membership BUT in all cases so far, the spammer does not revisit his membership and never posts a second time.