Author Topic: Spam Wars: Attack Of The Ads (Read 5552 times)

Steven Benner · « **on:** Dec 10, 2006, 03:13:26 pm »

As I'm sure most of you have noticed, we have been getting hit hard by spam posts lately. I enabled the authorization code system and forum flooding controls months ago. Also, these forums have required an email confirmation since the beginning. Those are basically all of the tools I have at my disposal to fight spam on a mass level.

So now it looks like I will have to micro-manage. I am going to start banning email domains. I didn’t want to do this because some of our regular members use some of the domains that I will be banning. But at this point I see no other alternative.

From this point on, Celica-GTS.com will no longer accept registrations from people with email addresses at the following domains.

The banned list: Banned Email Domains

I will update this list periodically as I add new domains. So help me god, I will ban every email domain that a spammer registers with until the forums require all members to have an email @celica-gts.com!

If you have already registered with an email address at one of these domains you should be fine. However, you will not be able to change/update your email address until you get a new email provider.

celica fanatic · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 03:17:06 pm »

that seems like the only real way to prevent as much spam as we have had within this past month..

Ashe · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 03:17:33 pm »

I say Ban em all and let *Insert the deiety of your Choice here* sort them out.

celica fanatic · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 03:20:00 pm »

can we get a @ celica-gts.com email address? :o just wondering

Steven Benner · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 03:40:05 pm »

Quote

can we get a @ celica-gts.com email address? :o just wondering

At the moment... no. Only me and the mods have emails @celica-gts.com.

Not to say it can never happen, but it would require a custom registration system that isnt coming anytime soon.

celica fanatic · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 04:48:29 pm »

alright, thats cool

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 05:54:23 pm »

I just got PM'd twice by the same spammer.

AKASON GOLD MINING C.I.

SonyPete · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 06:30:46 pm »

Matt what did you PM you, spam content or trash talking??

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 06:38:37 pm »

Bastard just PM'd me again with spam. He signed off, and now he's back online again.

Steven Benner · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 08:07:54 pm »

He even had the balls to PM me :D Account suspended, IP banned... hand on the @yahoo.com ban button

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 08:17:17 pm »

And the funny thing is that this numb-skull is still on the forum even now!

Steven Benner · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 08:21:22 pm »

He was online when I banned him. It takes 15 mins from their last activity for someone to be removed from the online member list. Hopefully he stays gone. I really hate to ban yahoo emails, but if I have to I will. Lots of our real members use yahoo.

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 08:22:55 pm »

Myself included, but if we're already legit, and registered, then we're good right? This also could be changed at a later date if things calm down, with an unspecified period of time at your discretion.

Steven Benner · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 08:29:09 pm »

Yea, the email bans (should) only affect people who are trying to register a new account or change their registered email address. Current members shouldnt notice it.

However, for some reason the forums dont tell you that your trying to register with a banned email. It just gives them a "Sorry, you are not permitted to use this board." message. So I would probably get a flood of WTF emails from people who dont know why they cant register.

83GTCoupe · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 10, 2006, 08:34:55 pm »

Hmmm...well if it's a legit person, then I can see that, but if it's a spammer, I don't know that they'd be dumb enough to email you asking why, and then get caught here after the fact when you have at least one of their boggus addresses that you can report to whomever their ISP is. I guess the only way to know for sure is to give it a shot, and see what happens.