Virus warnings in PMs

[Geezer]

The past few days, I have received several PMs like this:

Dear(s), ask;Geezer;EricRC;JimG;icvader!

A virus alert was noticed on your computer.
We highly recommend you to check your computer and perform online virus check at our site immediately: "http://antivirus.effectmeds.com"
----------------------------------------------------
Sincerely, Forum Administration danielleftv.com.
***************

They are coming from the user name "StopAdmin"

This sure looks like a scam or a method of infecting one's computer via Danielle's forum.

Does anyone know what this is all about? I find it hard to believe that a forum member can detect virus's on a member's computer.

[Natal]

They can't. It is obviously some spammer trying to get you to go to that site for who knows what purpose.

In any case a real admin would have that listed under their user name, not "just visiting" or any of the other forum titles.

[mart]

Any kind of PM like that Geezer, be on the safe side and just delete it.;)

[Anoree]

Yep, that's a scam. I've also received a message like that lately, though not from StopAdmin. My sender, MannInBlackk, got banned. It seems they get a little better in blending in. :(

It's like everywhere else on the internet: Don't follow every link unknown users send to you. The "effectmeds" in the address should suffice to avoid the link. There are other hints to me, but I don't want to teach the scammers. ;)

It's sad that we've got to start being careful what links we click on here, too.

[Max]

I got about 2 of them myself. Thankfully I have a mac, so I don't get viruses. It is a blatant scam.

[dxhound2003]

I posted here about them a couple of weeks ago.

http://danielleftv.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1136

[laranger]

The writer of those PM's has been banned.

[WhyYou]

Anybody that gets an Admin PM from a member that does not have an Admin status title should report the message to me or laranger. The ONLY Admins on this message board are me, laranger, FTVGirls Rob, Danielle, Lagwagon and Anoree. All other people claiming to be Admins are frauds.

[ugo]

Am right with they admin this forum (no frauds others ).

[PurplePanties]

Just received one of these from someone by the name of forumAdmin, I believe he's now banned :)

[Geezer]

Just received one of these from someone by the name of forumAdmin, I believe he's now banned :)

Yeah, I got one also. Seems like this was the 4th or 5th one I've received in the last couple of weeks.:mad:

[FTVfanatic]

I too got spammed by these con artists! :mad:

How I hate people like that. Don't they have anything better to do than spam people and provide links to their virus/malware websites? Damn losers!

[T-bone Thomas]

I too got spammed by these con artists! :mad:

How I hate people like that. Don't they have anything better to do than spam people and provide links to their virus/malware websites? Damn losers!

I totally agree. I got 2 of these spam PMs recently. I wonder how they pick their "victims" or does everyone here on the forum got one?

[FTVfanatic]

...I wonder how they pick their "victims" or does everyone here on the forum got one?

I guess they are just randomly attacking members. I have only received one spam PM so far. However, I truly hope it was the first and last one. No one appreciates these shady people with their links to malware and viruses.

[Anoree]

I totally agree. I got 2 of these spam PMs recently. I wonder how they pick their "victims" or does everyone here on the forum got one?

I got 2 of them, too.
They seem to seek the receipients by pure chance: One of my co-receipients has never posted and was last active October 2008.

[eastbill]

i deep getting them too.... delete delete delete

[YetAnotherDave]

i deep getting them too.... delete delete delete

Pain in the *** !! That's 4 so far. Personally you'd think that they'd have learned by now that most folks actually do know what they're doing if they're on a Forum site and just delete them, tell the Mods who then kick them off if they hadn't already spotted them. 'Spose it's the nature of spammers.

[Max]

How should I delete these messages

[Texasdrake]

I've been getting them also...3rd one in the last few months and 4 for the total.Getting to the point that I don't trust any PMs from the "Admin" even if by chance they are legit.The Receipt request is a dead give a way that they're spammers.

[captnjack]

I have gotten a few of them but as with any email account if I don't know the sender I don't open it.

[ugo]

Fortunately, my PC is safe. I had real problems to those Pms deadly "virus pirate".

[PurplePanties]

Fortunately, my PC is safe. I had real problems to those Pms deadly "virus pirate".
You running OSX or Linux? ;)

[ugo]

Hp 3 Ghz, Xp, and Antivirus Avira. I thinks it is very good, eheh

[Immortal]

I never got the Virus one yet, but i just report these things to whyou when i do get them.
Those damn losers, they need a better Hobie.:mad:

[ugo]

I think this forum is free also for they so much perfidy and avidity toward us nembers. I dont remember these things happen at Alison's Chat.

[laranger]

I never got the Virus one yet, but i just report these things to whyou when i do get them.
Those damn losers, they need a better Hobie.:mad:
You may report to any admin. Just an fyi.

[WhyYou]

An added note and FYI:

Do not send a read receipt back to the sender of these PMs.

The recent virus PMs have all be sent by the same person using different accounts.

[Rey C.]

He keeps starting his messages wth "Dear Friend", so I was about to send him a friend request. There I was thinking we were buddies. :(

[PurplePanties]

PM number 2, this time from - XandderrMan - Banned :D

An added note and FYI:

Do not send a read receipt back to the sender of these PMs.

The recent virus PMs have all be sent by the same person using different accounts.

Can you guys block his IP address?

[laranger]

PM number 2, this time from - XandderrMan - Banned :D



Can you guys block his IP address?

The moderators panel is not set up with those permissions. Rob has to do anything like that. All we can do is ban by name.

[MISSY]

I had 4 of them when I got back, just deleated them!

[WhyYou]

The most recent PM spammer is ForumTeam. He has already been banned.

[Enigma]

The most recent PM spammer is ForumTeam. He has already been banned.

Not quite WhyYou, the new one is "RazzorrMan",

[Removed]
I have removed this post as I was somewhat miffed about all the spam PM's and so on, not just here but on the internet as well, I thought best to remove it as it may entice more spam because of what I said, this would not solve the problem but alas make it much worse

[Geezer]

This very moment, I have THREE spam messages in my In Box but someone has changed the settings and I can't even get TO the In box to delete the messages.

I hope I don't get a real honest to goodness PM because I won't be able to access it.:mad:

[WhyYou]

This very moment, I have THREE spam messages in my In Box but someone has changed the settings and I can't even get TO the In box to delete the messages.

I hope I don't get a real honest to goodness PM because I won't be able to access it.:mad:

I have checked the settings for your profile and have not found anything wrong. Exactly what is the problem? Have you checked settings for your own browser?

[WhyYou]

Geezer: I can not send Visitor Messages. This may be the same problem as your's. I will let Rob know about these problems.

[YetAnotherDave]

Not sure whether I am putting this in the right place as this is mainly a subject for Rob I think, but with the ever rising amount of spam, is there any way it can be nipped in the bud at activation stage or similar. It's such a long time ago that I subscribed, I don't recall whether an activation link was sent to my email address or not as seems the norm for most sites.

As I said, I am not sure that this would stop anything but surely summat has to be done to get rid of these tossers.

And yes I got 2 more today as well, the little w***kers.

PS These days I check the members list before openning ANY PM's from unknowns, if they ain't there then the PM can be safely deleted as spam as the Mods have already banned the guy.

[Enigma]

Not sure whether I am putting this in the right place as this is mainly a subject for Rob I think, but with the ever rising amount of spam, is there any way it can be nipped in the bud at activation stage or similar. It's such a long time ago that I subscribed, I don't recall whether an activation link was sent to my email address or not as seems the norm for most sites.

As I said, I am not sure that this would stop anything but surely summat has to be done to get rid of these tossers.

And yes I got 2 more today as well, the little w***kers.

PS These days I check the members list before openning ANY PM's from unknowns, if they ain't there then the PM can be safely deleted as spam as the Mods have already banned the guy.

There are 2 thing's that can be done, to help stop what's going on, one is hard work from the Mod's and Admin, which is already being done and the other I can't post on the forum, but it has been passed on to the Admin's, but if this dose get used it will not stop all the spam and so on.

[danielle_ftv]

This is absolutely ridiculous. I've talked to a member that has told me he's gotten four "virus warnings" so far. I am really getting irritated at these idiots. It's almost like they are trying to sabotoge my website.

[Anoree]

PS These days I check the members list before openning ANY PM's from unknowns, if they ain't there then the PM can be safely deleted as spam as the Mods have already banned the guy.

Those false virus warnings come from member accounts, so checking the members list won't help here.

A three step activation process (joining the forum, receiving an email and clicking on a link in that email) would at least require a valid address they have access to. I think it would be a task for Lagwagon to set this up.

The spammers could use onetime mailboxes for the activation, but that would be quite time consuming.

[Anoree]

This is absolutely ridiculous. I've talked to a member that has told me he's gotten four "virus warnings" so far. I am really getting irritated at these idiots. It's almost like they are trying to sabotoge my website.

I think I got five already, but I didn't even bother to forward the last ones to WhyYou or Laranger. I deleted them right away.

I don't think the intention is to sabotage the forum or your website, but rather to earn some money with it. (Which is bad enough.)

Perhaps you should see it this way: The forum is attractive enough to draw those spammers here. ;)

[TheDoctor]

I think I got five already, but I didn't even bother to forward the last ones to WhyYou or Laranger. I deleted them right away.

I don't think the intention is to sabotage the forum or your website, but rather to earn some money with it. (Which is bad enough.)

Perhaps you should see it this way: The forum is attractive enough to draw those spammers here. ;)

Great minds think alike, herr;). I, for one, stopped counting after the 7th "warning".

[Geezer]

Now the "spam ads" are changing. Instead of ones for antivirus software, today I got one for an "online pharmacy." When will these damned spam hits stop?

[WhyYou]

The newest is from AdministrationTeam. One way to tell is a message is not from the administration is to look at the status for that member. If it says "Just Visiting" then that person is NOT an administrator here. All the Moderators and Administrators have either "Admin" or Administrator" for their status.

This is also the same person that has been sending the virus warning PMs. Do Not send a read receipt! Just delete the message without reading it. If you do open the message and a read receipt window pops up, hit the "No" or "Cancel" button.

[WhyYou]

Now the "spam ads" are changing. Instead of ones for antivirus software, today I got one for an "online pharmacy." When will these damned spam hits stop?

Any improvements to control these spam PMs will have to be done by Rob because he is the owner of the message board and he purchased the license. We all know how busy he is keeping FTVGirls going. Just bear with it and be patient, he is aware that there are methods to control these problems. He will get it done as soon as he can.

[Rey C.]

One board I've been on for awhile has a minimum post count of 5 before a person (or bot) can send a PM. Just throwing that out there.

[mart]

Am i right in thinking that should i get one, it would be perfectly safe just to delete it WhyYou?.

[WhyYou]

Am i right in thinking that should i get one, it would be perfectly safe just to delete it WhyYou?.

In one word...Yes!

[WhyYou]

One board I've been on for awhile has a minimum post count of 5 before a person (or bot) can send a PM. Just throwing that out there.

A set up such as this is set up by the license holder. Our message board has not been set up to work that way. In order for this message board to work in a similar manner, Rob will have to set it up for us. As I stated previously, we all know that Rob is swamped with work just keeping FTVGirls running. He is aware about what needs to be done and he will get to it as soon as he is able. Until this is accomplished, be patient and if need be just report any PM spam to laranger or me and we will take care of the problems.

[MISSY]

He should have eletrodes clamped to his nuts till they are hardboiled.:eek: I got 3 more of them!:mad:

[tigger]

He should have eletrodes clamped to his nuts till they are hardboiled.:eek: I got 3 more of them!:mad:

I think someone is on the rag!:D

[laranger]

I think someone is on the rag!:D

Oh-oh!!!..

[DWM222]

She does seem a bit "Testy"..lol:)

[mart]

He should have eletrodes clamped to his nuts till they are hardboiled.:eek: I got 3 more of them!:mad:

Damn good idea though.:eek::D

[sarah]

Dear Mr. Admin&Moderator (banned),

I have received your messages and the link attached with it.
But it seemed that this one was a worm, a Trojan, o some dirty kind of beast.

It would enter my computer and read my love letters, my hopes, my grieves.
What would have done this little worm, with my joy, my sorrow and my dreams ?

Well, dear Admin&Moderator (banned), he would have met essentially rational, real and complex numbers, as the strange primes and the amicable one. (So maybe, little worm would have made some friends here and made a comfortable room for himself)

Dear friend, let me give you this rose, for you have done no harm.

http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/74820141/283160

But Beware jealous worms for they may find her,
And The Songs of Experience may whistle in your mind:

O Rose, thou art sick!
The Invisible worm,
That flies in the night,
In the howling storm,

Has found out thy bed
Of Crimson joy;
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.

[Raymond]

WTF???

Seriously, you have way too much time on your hands.

[Anoree]

It's like the e-mails you receive at home:
Don't click on every link some stranger may send you. They're potentially harmfull.
Better delete those mails or PMs right away.

The whole case about this PMs is discussed in length in this (http://danielleftv.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1161) thread.

[ugo]

FRIEND SARAH,
let's not give weight and importance to those it letter by psychopathic people.

[ugo]

ATTENTION !!

There are messages private create from adminmoderator !!!

[WhyYou]

ATTENTION !!

There are messages private create from adminmoderator !!!

We do not have anybody that is titled "Admin&Moderator" or "AdminModerator" who is part of this forum's Administration or Moderators team. These two nicknames have just been used for sending PM spam. Both have been banned from the message board...permanently! If anybody receives PMs from these members, just delete the PMs.

The REAL Moderators and Administrators for this message board do not use these words for their nicknames. Always look below the nicknames for the status of the member. If the status does not say "Admin" , "Administrator" , or "Moderator" then that person using that nickname is not an administrator or a moderator here.

[ugo]

Not you , FRIEND WhyYou ( Or Other ).
I know real that other "imaginary registered" with your "Admin" or " Moderator".
I wanted only understand you members no open link it.

[Robertoverde]

I usually don't check my PMs, mainly because I don't get one. But I had 15 from the first of the year, and 14 of them were all about how I have a virus and I'm going to be banned if I don't run virus program that is infecting the site. Now I know I'm not the best, but I knew that was bogus. So I come here and of course there's a thread for this. I deleted them all.

My first clue was that AdmistratorModerator was "banned" :)

[T-bone Thomas]

I can't wait to get a first pm from our new member ModerAdmin. Will it be an impotant message telling me my computer got infected by a virus again? Oh, I just can't wait to read it and follow his instructions. So please please spam me ModerAdmin.

[WhyYou]

I can't wait to get a first pm from our new member ModerAdmin. Will it be an impotant message telling me my computer got infected by a virus again? Oh, I just can't wait to read it and follow his instructions. So please please spam me ModerAdmin.

He's been banned.

I caught one earlier today (the same person using a different nickname) and banned him while he was modifying his avatar. He never got a chance to send any PMs.

[tigger]

I can't wait to get a first pm from our new member ModerAdmin. Will it be an impotant message telling me my computer got infected by a virus again? Oh, I just can't wait to read it and follow his instructions. So please please spam me ModerAdmin.

Maby he will tell ya your girl friend is pregnet! lol

[TheDoctor]

Maby he will tell ya your girl friend is pregnet! lol
Mine actually is. LOL.

[Geezer]

Mini actually is. LOL.

What the heck does THIS have to do with Viruses?:eek:

[titsrock]

Is this clown a bitter ex-member? I got 3 of them a couple of days ago...:mad:

[MISSY]

Is this clown a bitter ex-member? I got 3 of them a couple of days ago...:mad:

He is now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WhyYou]

Your Visitor Messages seem to be turned off so I cannot reply to the message that you left me.

I don't know why this is happening to you. It may have something to do with what IP you are using at the time. It may be just a basic forum program glitch and will most likely fix itself the same way it did last time.

[Dibhildelfbof]

Same thing. More than that
If you google securtytool2010 youll find that this is a virus itself.
BoardSupport is a virus distribution spammer with 0 messages on forum yet able to send private messages. I recommend making a minimum of 10-20 messages before being able to send PMs. This should help.

[WhyYou]

Same thing. More than that
If you google securtytool2010 youll find that this is a virus itself.
BoardSupport is a virus distribution spammer with 0 messages on forum yet able to send private messages. I recommend making a minimum of 10-20 messages before being able to send PMs. This should help.

At this time, the option to restrict new members has not been set up. In the future this type of option(s) will be added to the programming of this message board.

[WhyYou]

I have Googled this and found no such organization. What I did find was several other message boards getting the exact same PM spam.

Any PMs received about Administrators of danielleftv.com reporting members from this message board to the StopSpam Organization are just spam and need to be deleted.

[WhyYou]

Due to the recent rash of PM spam that has been troubling this message board, a new members restriction has been set up. From now on all new members will have to make a certain number of posts before they will be able to send any private messages. The number of posts is more than 10 but at this time I do not want to reveal the exact number. Please let me know if this causes any problems for current members. Also, be aware of this restriction when giving advice to new members.

[CK1]

does that count reset since you changed the restriction? because i had posted several hundred times and now do not have access to my PMs.... ha! i said pms... anyway, just want to know. thanks.

[WhyYou]

That's what I needed to know. I will fix that problem right away.

[WhyYou]

To all who experience trouble accessing PMs:

I am working on this problem. This will be fixed today. I cannot yet give you any time frame so just be patient.

[WhyYou]

Usergroups have been modified to the effect of the following:

All members who have 25 posts or more will be automatically moved into the new usergroup the next time that they post. This new usergroup has the ability to not be moderated (however the Moderators will still watch what you post so be sure to follow the rules) and the usergroup will be able to send PMs, etc without trouble. All members who have less than 25 posts will be restricted. Posts will be moderated as well as picture comments, visitor messages, and some other things that have slipped my mind right now (it's been a long night). Also, those members that have less than 25 posts will not have access to PMs in any way. So everybody get to posting a lot...lol! :D

[FTVfanatic]

Sounds good to me!

These changes will help slow down the spam artists. Good stuff, admins.

[J2K]

If the spam PM problem is solved, will we be able to send private messages regardless of how many posts we write?

[YetAnotherDave]

Glad to see that the spam problem is being addressed. Appreciate that this hasn't been the easiest of tasks either. Please note I may well have to edit this post after posting for as was done in a hurry.

[Anoree]

If the spam PM problem is solved, will we be able to send private messages regardless of how many posts we write?

No, sorry. Restricting the ability to send PMs is (part of) the solution. But all you've got to do is post a few messages on the forum.

Now that we are on the radar of the spammers, they will return again and again to try to spam. If we lift the restrictions, we will have the same problem again in notime.

[YetAnotherDave]

Only problem I see is that some of us have posted a couple of hundred posts (I think) and now have to start all over again. Also I was up to 96% on my PM's so was actually logged in tonight to clear a few out and cannot access them which is a little frustrating.

[WhyYou]

Only problem I see is that some of us have posted a couple of hundred posts (I think) and now have to start all over again. Also I was up to 96% on my PM's so was actually logged in tonight to clear a few out and cannot access them which is a little frustrating.

You should be able to access your PMs now. It may take a little time for the system to recognise all the current members who have more than the limit of posts. As each member is recognised they will be automatically moved into the new usergroup which allows access to PMs. So the first thing to do is make a post so the system can check your post count.

[MISSY]

Yes sir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D