PM Dating Spam Warning - this is NOT sanctioned by LS

25 Nov 2016

Thank you for the suggestions.

We don't use the forum software for our signup process, it's custom.

Gav has a long to-do list. It all helps to make the site more spam proof at the end of the day.

We'll probably do away with the trial bronze memberships. That will stop spammers in their tracks if they can't use any of the site features.

25 Nov 2016

Quote by nicola
Thank you for the suggestions.

We don't use the forum software for our signup process, it's custom.

Gav has a long to-do list. It all helps to make the site more spam proof at the end of the day.

We'll probably do away with the trial bronze memberships. That will stop spammers in their tracks if they can't use any of the site features.

For each of us, receiving spam like this is at most a mild inconvenience. The most concerning thing about it is that it could potentially cripple the site.

I was watching these accounts on Tuesday: it seemed that at any time a dozen of them were marked as online. Given their behaviour I'd say that these aren't the work of bots but real people sat in a room in some part of the world where the pennies received from affiliate schemes can give some kind of meagre existence. Filters struggle against real people, so you're probably best going with your option of limiting new/non-paying users. Maybe remove the option of adding links to messages - as with new forum users.

Warning: The opinions above are those of an anonymous individual on the internet. They are opinions, unless they're facts. They may be ill-informed, out of touch with reality or just plain stupid. They may contain traces of irony. If reading these opinions causes you to be become outraged or you start displaying the symptoms of outrage, stop reading them immediately. If symptoms persist, consult a psychiatrist.

Why not read some stories instead

NEW! Want a quick read for your coffee break? Why not try this... Flash Erotica: Scrubber

25 Nov 2016

Quote by Magical_felix
I clicked on the link and I recognized at least three fat girls in my area that were down to fuck with no credit card or sign up needed.

It's not entirely a scam, just saying

If you were banging them more often, they wouldn't need to advertise. Just saying. evil4

My new Flash Fiction:

An Extraordinary Orgasm.

https://www.lushstories.com/stories/flash-erotica/an-extraordinary-orgasm-2

25 Nov 2016

Quote by overmykneenow

For each of us, receiving spam like this is at most a mild inconvenience. The most concerning thing about it is that it could potentially cripple the site.

I was watching these accounts on Tuesday: it seemed that at any time a dozen of them were marked as online. Given their behaviour I'd say that these aren't the work of bots but real people sat in a room in some part of the world where the pennies received from affiliate schemes can give some kind of meagre existence. Filters struggle against real people, so you're probably best going with your option of limiting new/non-paying users. Maybe remove the option of adding links to messages - as with new forum users.

Maybe I've been lucky in terms of how much on-site spam I've seen, but on my end it's been fairly light. An annoyance for which I click on "report abuse" 2-4 times a week. For all I know, the problem is much worse for more members, and the fight behind the scenes is intense.

From my pov, however, the annoyance is small, especially balanced against what I see as the drawback of taking away the free bronze membership. I've never not had at least bronze, because I joined before the current freemium model. However, I don't think I would have stayed on the site, even just to read, if the site looked the way it does when you browse as a guest (which I've done today, just to see what it looks like).

I have a friend from outside the site whom I occasionally point to my stories. Just a few days ago, I got a message from them saying "Thanks for letting me know, as I don't really go to lush on my own b/c the pop-ups are really bad." My response was, "well, why don't you set up a membership? You'll lose the ads for at least a while, (and in the meantime you could vote on my stories...)"

Someone like that could become a full, paying member if they got hooked on a bronze membership.

From where I'm sitting, which may not be typical, the inconvenience of spam seems not to outweigh the risk of not being able to attract and retain new members.

25 Nov 2016

Thanks Oceanrunner.

There are no pop up ads on the www version of LS, other than one asking if you'd like to join. Unless someone clicks on ads, that's it. The mobile site is a little "different", as we have less control on that platform.

I'm hesitant to restrict the Bronze Trial Memberships, for reasons you mention.

I've reported the person to half a dozen site / program owners today. They are spamming an ad network, trying to get the odd cent here and there, for a few clicks. Pretty sad / pathetic state of affairs really.