How to deal with Forum Spam and Reporting Posts..
 

There has been a significant increase in Spam (junk advertisements) Posts on Club Cobra recently. We are not alone; this is occurring on many special interest forums.

Here are the guidelines we ask you to observe:

If you see a post or a new thread that is clearly out of the scope of our community ( ad for drugs or weight-loss, etc.), we ask you to do the following:

1. Report the Post to a Moderator (more on this later).
2. Post a quick reply indicating that you have reported the post; this is so 300 well-meaning members all don't report the same post.
3. Do not reply to the author; do not click on any links in the post.

These are usually automated processes that create the spam, so when you see one, do not expect the "poster" to be hanging around to read your angry reply.

..there is no one listening.

Also, observe caution if hotlinks are imbedded in the post...don't be curious; it is best to not follow the trail.

Many have asked "...how do I report a post like this?"

Every post has a clickable symbol in the upper right corner: http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/imag...ons/report.gif

Clicking on this allows you to explain why you are reporting the post... a simple phrase is sufficient.
Upon submission, the Moderator team will be immediately notified about the post...
...usually the first one of us that sees the notice will handle the issue ASAP.
If it doesn't get dealt with immediately...don't worry, it will be dealt with shortly.
Upon notification, we take these steps.... we lock the thread, we handle the necessary steps to ban the source and prevent further intrusion, and then delete the offending thread.

Use this same icon to report any abuse or objectional behavior on the Forum.

Thanks
ron
ClubCobra Moderator

Thanks Ron

I couldn't remember how to report an inappropriate thread to you so I had to ask.

Spam is becoming an issue again after about two full years of peace. :mad:

Thanks again for all the great work you do,
Wayne

FYI you have email verification turned off, I found this quite odd when I registerred. Might be one thing to consider to fight the war. :)

Can somebody show me where the list of moderators is?

Here you go...

Ron
Me

SPAMMER on a photo comment...going through this members photo gallery...one of the "comments" is from a spammer...women's clothes.

KCR 410 Install - Club Cobra Photo Gallery

Am seeing this a lot...off the top of my head I have forgotten which members photos it was in...don't remember seeing the "red !" symbol as it was not a post per se'...maybe it was there.

Thanks, Pete Munroe

Thanks Pete...deleted it.

There was a little triangle with the exclamation point by the way...it's at the bottom on Gallery comments.

We also have a spam in the Windy City CC area - I soft deleted it - but I'm powerless from there. Could you make that forum pretty agaim...

Will do...

(took a few days off and need to push a broom around. :p )

Some of you have been posting on spammer threads or sending me PMs expecting me to come across your posts or looking through thousands of threads because your PMs fail to give me a link. You all seem quite willing to give me advice or make suggestions. Problem is you don't know how to report a post which automatically emails me with a link which allows me to ban the spammer and delete ALL of his post within minutes.

Before making suggestions or repeatedly complaining...you might wish to review this sticky, which has been up since 2006.

Thanks.

Jamo, how do we report a thread that has only a title?
With no icon to click to report, I'm not sure how. (Except by PM)
Larry

As I just explained in a thread in the Lounge (one of several threads I've had to respond to on the subject), when no content is shown it means the filter mechanism is working and the thread is held in abeyance while the system decides to delete the thread or pass it through.

Take no action. Thanks

Thanks!

The next post by anyone asking a dumbass question or suggesting something be done will be treated as spam!!!

{Edit} In response to a expressed concern, this is not directed at LMH, whom I clearly thanked for his question above...an issue not addressed clearly in this 2006 sticky (before that filter protocol was adopted).