10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Warriors are spamming my private email address. How do they find it on WF?

by Importexport
8 replies
Lately I have been getting an increasing number of spam emails and some of them blatantly tell me they got my address off Warrior Forum.

It is not published on the forum, but is the address I used to register. If they are getting it from WF does that mean they have hacked the site?

Very occasionally I have given that address to someone who needs my help, because the PM system can't handle the continuing correspondence. These are not the people who are sending spam, but has someone been able to access my PMs?

At this stage I simply report every one of these pesky emails as spam; I don't give these pests a chance to say sorry and then desist because they are gratuitously wasting my time. New ones keep coming every day.

How can I stop this nuisance?
#address #email #find #private #spamming #warriors
  • Profile picture of the author danieljb
    Originally Posted by Importexport View Post

    Lately I have been getting an increasing number of spam emails and some of them blatantly tell me they got my address off Warrior Forum.

    It is not published on the forum, but is the address I used to register. If they are getting it from WF does that mean they have hacked the site?

    Very occasionally I have given that address to someone who needs my help, because the PM system can't handle the continuing correspondence. These are not the people who are sending spam, but has someone been able to access my PMs?

    At this stage I simply report every one of these pesky emails as spam; I don't give these pests a chance to say sorry and then desist because they are gratuitously wasting my time. New ones keep coming every day.

    How can I stop this nuisance?
    This is very concerning to us and something we are looking into as a priority.

    Forward unwanted or deceptive messages to:
    • the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. Be sure to include the complete spam email.
    • your email provider. At the top of the message, state that you're complaining about being spammed. Some email services have buttons that allow you to mark messages as junk mail or report them spam.
    • the sender's email provider, if you can tell who it is. Most web mail providers and ISPs want to cut off spammers who abuse their system. Again, make sure to include the entire spam email and say that you're complaining about spam.
    If you try to unsubscribe from an email list and your request is not honored, file a complaint with the FTC.
    Source: https://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0038-spam
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9742774].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Importexport
      I have not subscribed to any of these advertisers. The majority offer an unsubscribe option. I tried unsubscribing on a few of them, but the unsubscribe links did not work.

      It is clear that they put dummy links there to excuse themselves and try to avoid trouble with the FTC.

      Consequently I have given up bothering and instead just automatically report them to Yahoo as spam. From now on I will also forward them to the FTC. No second chances for these thieves of my time!
      Signature
      Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9742814].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Importexport View Post

      Lately I have been getting an increasing number of spam emails and some of them blatantly tell me they got my address off Warrior Forum.
      Originally Posted by danieljb View Post

      This is very concerning to us and something we are looking into as a priority.
      I reported almost a year ago that a certain member was selling a tool that scraped Warrior Forum member email addresses. He has been banned from here multiple times but that does not mean the tool is not being used by the people he sells/sold to.

      Secondarily, I have been watching for many months a couple of members that can be found visiting thousands of member profile pages...and one of those members is not even active on here. I suspect that somehow they are logging in to scrape member details --> possibly the email addresses, because little other explanation exists for these people to be visiting the profile pages of thousands of members at random, old and low post count noobs alike.

      If anyone wants more details feel free to PM me.

      Cheers

      -don
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9742857].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Importexport
        Many thanks to danieljb who has quickly discovered where I inadvertently left my email address exposed.

        It has been removed and I am now hopeful that the spam will gradually diminish.

        Thanks also to ForumGuru for suggesting how Warriors' addresses might be obtained by the pests who send out spam.
        Signature
        Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9742868].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author danieljb
        Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

        I reported almost a year ago that a certain member was selling a tool that scraped Warrior Forum member email addresses. He has been banned from here multiple times but that does not mean the tool is not being used by the people he sells/sold to.

        Secondarily, I have been watching for many months a couple of members that can be found visiting thousands of member profile pages...and one of those members is not even active on here. I suspect that somehow they are logging in to scrape member details --> possibly the email addresses, because little other explanation exists for these people to be visiting the profile pages of thousands of members at random, old and 0 post count noobs alike.

        If anyone wants more details feel free to PM me.

        Cheers

        -don
        Thanks for your insight Don - have just sent you a PM.

        If others are having similar issues, it's a good idea to check your Visitor Messages or any past posts to see if you may have exposed your email address publicly.

        Visitor Messages are public, whereas Private messages are private. If you are exchanging email addresses with other members, it's best to do this via private message.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9742878].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Importexport
          @ForumGuru, In the process of checking as suggested by danieljb, I discovered that I have had 9720 visits to my profile page.

          I post often and receive many thanks, but that figure seems extraordinary considering that it is less than 2 years since I joined. Does it seem excessive to you, and if so might it indicate that someone has been scraping details?
          Signature
          Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9743088].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
            Banned
            Originally Posted by Importexport View Post

            @ForumGuru, In the process of checking as suggested by danieljb, I discovered that I have had 9720 visits to my profile page.

            I post often and receive many thanks, but that figure seems extraordinary considering that it is less than 2 years since I joined. Does it seem excessive to you, and if so might it indicate that someone has been scraping details?
            Hello,

            The number itself does not seem that excessive to me considering the amount of posts that you have made. Sure, some may have been trying to scrape details, but the large number could just mean that you are making helpful, controversial, or edgy posts etc.

            Cheers

            -don
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9744366].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author eac113
    Of all the places you could scrape you would think this would the last place due to the make-up of the community. Simply incredible.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9744420].message }}

Trending Topics