Spam update
Scott_J
This is a quick update to the spam situation that I'm wrestling with here on FamilyTreeCircles.
As mentioned a few days ago in this post, <a href="http://www.familytreecircles.com/spam-spam-spam-spam-39422.html">Spam Spam Spam Spam</a>, I put in some checks to prevent blatant spam from getting posted to FamilyTreeCircles.
In just 4 days, 535 messages that appear to be spam were put into the manual review queue.
I've reviewed all of them (fun, fun) and only one well-meaning, legitimate user was negatively impacted. His posts have been approved. The rest deleted (that part really was fun).
I have to say that I'm pretty pleased with the results so far. I will be refining the algorithms to reduce the false positives going forward.
Here's to a spam-free FamilyTreeCircles.
by Scott_J
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Contact | Subscribe | Block this user on 2011-09-01 09:00:18
Scott Jangro is the owner of FamilyTreeCircles.com and has documented roots back to Mayflower passengers Stephen Hopkins and William Brewster. If you're wondering what he's doing when he's mysteriously absent, here's some links to other stuff he's responsible for: about.me/jangro.
Comments
Scott_J on 2011-09-10 17:02:44The spammers are hitting family tree circles really hard, but they still get through occasionally. I'm doing my best to thwart them.
I'm sorry for when they do, especially with comments because it alerts the author of the journal which I know is annoying. My apologies.
The good news is that each time they get through, gives me an opportunity to make the spam detection smarter. I'll continue to improve it.
allycat on 2011-09-11 08:49:51Well done Scott. They (the spammers) are persistent rascals alright.
tonkin on 2011-09-11 09:06:49The truth is ... they love FTC.
I do hope your keeping well allycat.
1bobbylee on 2011-09-12 05:07:59The only reason spammers love FTC is because they hope to stay on site long enough to disrupt and complicate the hard work that Scott and his staff are doing to put an end to this scourge! The longer thay can stay on will possibly give them enough time to reel in some unsuspecting member. I would call them parasites and vermin. They realize that FTC is a popular site and love to crawl their way in!
1bobbylee on 2011-09-22 15:55:06Scott, The spammer vermin are snaking their way onto many journals. Have you noticed?
janilye on 2011-09-22 16:52:31Indeed! I hate to sound like spam or state the obvious Scott but you need "CAPTCHA" attached to your registration forms.
1bobbylee on 2011-09-27 16:52:16Lord Cornwallis got bogged down in mud and rain while in Charlotte, N.C. area. Fortuntely for the American cause, a guide was chosen who was a Patriot sympathizer. History records that Lord Cornwallis as saying: "Charlotte area was a hornets nest!" Even today Charlotte policemen wear a shoulder patch with graphic design or picture of a Hornets Nest. Ouch!! It really hurts when stung by a hornet...
1bobbylee on 2011-09-27 18:17:26Gall Durn! I was chatting away with a spammer. Slick little boogers!
Scott_J on 2011-09-27 23:27:46CAPTCHA's won't stop them Jan, these *are* humans.
I've put in some more controls, should stem the tide for a bit.
janilye on 2011-09-28 02:51:53HELL! How annoying. Your journals seem to be the prime target. Maybe you should deactivate yourself. hehehe
janilye on 2011-09-28 03:08:54Sorry! I was being flippant. I know it must be dreadfully frustrating trying to stop them. Since you have their email address maybe you could send them something just as annoying.
1bobbylee on 2011-09-28 15:42:10Scott, Since you mentioned that the spammers are human,? They may be interested in knowing how some of the clergy show mercy toward them.
A truck driver use to amuse himself by running over spammers he saw walking down the side of the road. Every time he saw a spammer walking along the road, he swerved to hit him and there would be a loud "THUMP" then he would swerve back on the road. One day as the truck driver was driving along the road he saw a priest hitchhiking. He thought he would do a good deed and pulled the truck over. "Where are you going Father?" the truck driver asked. "I'm going to the church five miles down the road," replied the priest. "No problem Father! I'll give you a lift. Climb in the truck." The happy priest climbed into the passenger's seat and the truck driver continued down the road. Suddenly, the truck driver saw a spammer walking down the road. Instinctively he swerved to hit him. At the last moment he remembered there was a priest in the truck with him, so he swerved back to the road and narrowly missed the spammer. Certain he should've missed the spammer, the truck driver was very surprised and immediately uneasy when he heard a loud "THUMP." He felt really guilty about his actions and so turned to the priest and said, "I'm really sorry Father. I almost hit that spammer." "That's okay my son, replied the priest. "I got him with the door."
Scott_J on 2011-09-29 12:02:25No worries Jan. I appreciate the humor.
Bob, I wish I could hit these guys with a truck!
SilverVixen on 2012-05-06 13:06:36Love the truck story 1bobbylee: keep up the good work Scott, love the site, am really hooked like more than a few others