How to stop forum spammers?

16 replies
Enough is enough.

I had to completely delete one of my PHPBB forum after it has become spammers heaven.

Now my SMF forum too has become spammers faradize

I've CAPTCHA and email id verification in place. However, spammers are posting their nasty porn, viagra posts on my forum with pics and videos!

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
#forum #forum spam #get rid of forum spam #spammers #stop
  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Charge a membership fee?

    I bet even a minimal fee would eliminate 99% of the spammers.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ivancho
      Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

      Charge a membership fee?

      I bet even a minimal fee would eliminate 99% of the spammers.
      This is absolutlly briliant idea Dan. Even this forum should become a membership site...
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      • Profile picture of the author dageniusmarketer
        i gotta disagree with that stance. The warrior forum makes tons of money off this site as a free forum already, and im sure its free for a reason. There are areas on here that are paid already such as wso.

        The warrior forum is spam free even though it is a mostly free model maybe to encourage newbies just stopping in for the first time to see whats going on in internet marketing, so obviously theres a bigger issue on your hands than just making your forum a paid forum and solving your problems.

        You probably are a victim of some sort of spam spyware bots that you just don't have the software tools to combat, that maybe the warrior forum itself uses, and you should explore what you can get to fight the problem. Examine the cause and not just the symptoms and you may have alot more success rather than just saying "everybody pay me now if you want to use my forum".
        Just my thoughts.
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          The warrior forum is spam free
          Not at all. The stuff just gets cleaned up quickly, as members report it.

          It's not kept out. Just shot down.


          Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    I agree with charging a minimum fee, and having the forum in a secure member's area.

    I run a paid forum and have never had a problem with spam.

    For spammers, it's a numbers game. They send out massive amounts f garbage, at virtually no cost, so any "hit" is a profit for them. The trick is to make it a numbers game they don't want to play - charging a nominal fee is a good start.

    No spam on the Warrior Forum? Paul's right. There's plenty of spam here, either it gets shot down, or it doesn't look like spam and is allowed to stay.

    As to what can be done about spammers...

    Well, even though they are spammers, if I were to say what I really think about them, I just may get n/a'ed!

    All the best,
    Michael
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    "Ich bin en fuego!"
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      People spam because it's cheap and easy. So, if you want to stop spammers, you have to take cheap or easy out of the equation.

      If you don't want to charge a fee, then your only other option is to take easy out of the equation.

      Don't make the forum so easy to register and join that the sign-up process can be automated. CAPTCHA's can be overcome and eMail verification can be automated.

      Here are some ideas:

      Consider requiring an administrator to approve new users before they can post. That will delay the registration process, which will put off some spammers.

      Consider a waiting period of x number of days before a new user can post messages.

      Require that new users' posts be moderated until they have proven themselves.

      Disallow uploads from new users.

      Disallow links from new users.

      Use filters that will look for keywords, such as "viagra", and send those messages into moderation, or automatically delete them.

      Include essay questions on the signup form.

      Require phone verification of new accounts.

      Impose a maximum number of posts per day for new users.


      Of course, some of these may discourage real users, so you've got to keep that in mind as well. Often, it's a matter of finding the right ratio of things to minimize spammers while also minimizing the number of real people you may turn away.

      If your forum offers something of real value, people will be willing to jump through more hoops to get at it, whereas the spammers will just move on to an easier target.
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      • Profile picture of the author Blondmoo
        I think a lot of useless posts would not occur if they didn't restrict new members from emailing/pming members until the "magic" number!!!!
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        • Profile picture of the author Blondmoo
          Ooooh, one more to go, might as well do it here, thanks guys!
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    • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Steve
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      I agree with charging a minimum fee, and having the forum in a secure member's area.

      I run a paid forum and have never had a problem with spam.

      For spammers, it's a numbers game. They send out massive amounts f garbage, at virtually no cost, so any "hit" is a profit for them. The trick is to make it a numbers game they don't want to play - charging a nominal fee is a good start.

      No spam on the Warrior Forum? Paul's right. There's plenty of spam here, either it gets shot down, or it doesn't look like spam and is allowed to stay.

      As to what can be done about spammers...

      Well, even though they are spammers, if I were to say what I really think about them, I just may get n/a'ed!

      All the best,
      Michael
      That's not very nice.
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  • Profile picture of the author dageniusmarketer
    It seems i was wrong about the spam on here. My apologies. Then i guess you have to do as my fellow warriors suggested and just be vigilant in how you fight it. Only solution right now i guess.
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  • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by brainworker View Post

    Enough is enough.

    I had to completely delete one of my PHPBB forum after it has become spammers heaven.

    Now my SMF forum too has become spammers faradize

    I've CAPTCHA and email id verification in place. However, spammers are posting their nasty porn, viagra posts on my forum with pics and videos!

    Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks
    Do you have cpanel?
    If so you can usually spot the spammers by the abnormal activity
    through their IP numbers. Just check your stats.
    Then you can block the offending IP's from accessing your site.
    It works a treat.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sam Rodrigo
    Hi,
    Another idea is to delay posting by putting qualifications such as 7 day Member to post, need to wait 'x' min. before posting again. etc., etc.

    Wonder IF we Warriors can make a SPAM POSSE -- then go after the affiliate accounts/companies of spammers?

    Just an idea,
    Sam
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    • Profile picture of the author Boda Media
      The more that you can impose on new users before they are able to post or start new threads the hardier it will be for them to spam your forum.

      Captcha is not enough anymore.. there are some really advanced software on the market that helps users post their messages very very easily.

      Good luck
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
        Captcha is not enough anymore.. there are some really advanced software on the market that helps users post their messages very very easily.
        Some of it is called "brain."

        Yes, there are captcha breakers out there, some of them really good. But there are also people getting paid to do this stuff. Some as a direct project, others as part of the development of the software.

        Every week sees me more and more convinced that hard prison time is the answer for these clowns. Or rendering their fingers "unsuitable for the purpose."


        Paul
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        Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

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  • Profile picture of the author BlackWaterBlog
    Try reCAPTCHA instead of the regular captcha, its harder for spam bots to break.

    Also, most spammers include a mass amount of links in their spam, so maybe disable links for people under x amount of posts.

    Also increase the post time limit. Having a post time limit of 30 or 60 seconds is a good way to reduce the spam and be able to catch it faster.
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    • What I have personally experienced, is whether or not I've provided my siggy or not, is that they'll send me a PM. Those types of people annoy me and I won't take seriously, let alone take a second look at!

      Just my measly 2 cents worth!

      JMB

      P.S. Don't piss me off with your "skittish" offers! I will eat ya up!
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