New Member Verification

[captain ron]

I wonder if anybody actually checks these guys out for lagitamacy. I see a new member just signed up under the name of "shemale" something and has a link or email address to a porn site. I am getting More spam again and wonder where it comes from. Can non members browse this board and member info?

[captain ron]

I was going through the members list and noticed that a lot of the new members have no info showing at all.  seems a little suspect

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

CR, your email is hidden from this site... I couldn't email you directly if I wanted to. Membership or not.

BUT, you listed a Website on your profile... AND made a Webmaster link on it. Soooooo.... that's how they got 'ya, if you're getting spammed on that address (I WON'T list it here).

So don't blame the MAK Board. Blame your Website.

BTW, if you HAVE to have an email link on your site, make it a graphic (picture) instead of a mailto: Another tip is to create "disposable" email addresses that you can dump at any given time. Most hosting pkgs. have a 1,000 or so email addresses, so make one "spammerssuk@yourdomain.com" to link to. Once you get slammed, change it to something else and update your links.

HTH,
Brian B.

[Dallas]

I wonder if anybody actually checks these guys out for lagitamacy. I see a new member just signed up under the name of "shemale" something and has a link or email address to a porn site. I am getting More spam again and wonder where it comes from. Can non members browse this board and member info?

Yes, Ron,
There is in place an email verification in order to activate membership now. It's been in place for a few months.

The prospective member is listed as a member but can't actually do anything or access the members only area until they return the verification email. Bots have a hard time doing that.That's why you'll notice on the members profile it says, "Never Active."

Richard, Nick, Jack and I go through them periodically and pick out the ones that seem odd then forward them to Phil who makes the final decision.

No ones email address is available to a non member unless it's posted in the public area, (here on the board).

IHTH,
Dallas

[captain ron]

I wasn't blaming the MAK board for my spam. Just pointing out the obvious non legitimate members that could be a threat.
I was told the way my web site was set up with no e-mail link to me just my e-mail address typed on the page was a safer way of not getting spam. the link to webmaster goes to the guy that built the site only. My spam has dropped significantly since I built the new site.
Just started getting a slight increase lately not too major.

So it's generally a safe deal to put E-mail address on this form in the members section?

[Dallas]

Ron, Where you are right now is not the members section. This is a public area viewable by anyone at any time.

The public areas are:

    All Topics ( click here for quick start! )
   Calendar
   Board Help
       Forum Stats
        Users online.

Right now the members area is where the member lists are parked so that there is no access from the outside, and the Spare Tire Area.

I wouldn't advise using the public area as a place to post your email address.

IHTH
Dallas

[oldmansax]

I was told the way my web site was set up with no e-mail link to me just my e-mail address typed on the page was a safer way of not getting spam. the link to webmaster goes to the guy that built the site only. My spam has dropped significantly since I built the new site.
Just started getting a slight increase lately not too major.

So it's generally a safe deal to put E-mail address on this form in the members section?

Ron: Whoever designs and hosts your site should be able to set up the contact email on your site so that it requires a verification. If you look at my site ( www.dmvc.com ) you will see "info@dmvc.com" for contact. if you sent mail to that address you will get a confirmation email. If you reply to that mail I will get yours; if not, it is deleted.

Check with your webmaster. They should be able to do that for you. Lots of people like to contact thru email.

Blessings!    TOM

[Green-Hornet]

I am a new member here. Having fun with it and all that. I am also on a couple British car forums, a bbq forum and a cigar club under the same name and have not gotton a great deal of spam. Seems like most times new members will hawk a business without asking the host first. Good moderators usually pick up on them and delete them in a couple hours. If it is a busy forum.  Some leave the links up long enough for the memebership to "flame" them for a few laughs
Spam is the cost of doing business on a forum like this, and spam is OK it is the packing jelly that freaks me out! 

[buswarrior]

EH?

[Barn Owl]

The "packing jelly" is the stuff on the outside of the canned spam.