Difference between revisions of "Scammers and Spammers"

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'''Spammers''' massively post or respond to posts with content that is unrelated to Freecycle. Spammers usually operate across geographies, rather than in one locale. Spammers attack Freecycle groups in the following ways:  
 
'''Spammers''' massively post or respond to posts with content that is unrelated to Freecycle. Spammers usually operate across geographies, rather than in one locale. Spammers attack Freecycle groups in the following ways:  
−
*Sending spam to the group, from their own account
+
*Posting spam to the group  
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*Spoofing another member.
+
*Spoofing another member  
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*Harvesting member addresses.
+
*Harvesting member addresses  
 
*Posting seemingly innocuous messages that require going to a third-party website<br>  
 
*Posting seemingly innocuous messages that require going to a third-party website<br>  
  
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'''Scammers''' seek to use Freecycle’s website to defraud members, usually by asking payment upfront for delivery/courier fees or postage, and then not providing the promised item.  
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'''Scammers''' seek to use Freecycle’s website to defraud members, usually by asking payment upfront for delivery/courier fees or postage for items they have no intention to deliver.  
  
 
Here are some examples of the type of posts that are most often associated with scammers:
 
Here are some examples of the type of posts that are most often associated with scammers:
 +
*Unusual use of punctuation and spacing in the subject line. (example: i p a d s.'-. or ..PSP' ')
 
*An Offer with several of the same item for collection
 
*An Offer with several of the same item for collection
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*Small personal gaming/computer devices, like PS3, PSP, tablets, laptops
+
*Small personal gaming/computer devices and electronics, like PS4s, PSPs, tablets, laptops
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*Unusual use of punctuation and spacing in the subject line. (example: i p a d s.'-. or ..PSP' ')
 
 
*High-value items offered to multiple groups ([[How_To_Use_Mod_Tools#PostSearch|click here to see how to search posts on other groups)]]
 
*High-value items offered to multiple groups ([[How_To_Use_Mod_Tools#PostSearch|click here to see how to search posts on other groups)]]
 +
*Puppies (usually well-known breeds)
 +
*An Offer for something that is probably too good to be true, especially from a new member
  
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What to do if you find a suspicious post:
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'''What to do if you find a suspicious post:'''
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*Put the post into moderation by editing the post and unclicking Approve
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#Please '''do not delete''' the post. Put the post into moderation by editing the post and unclicking Approve.
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*Temporarily put the member on moderation
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#Please leave the wording of the subject line and post description intact. If you like, you may add a parenthetical message that says "Reported to Spam Control"
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*Report the post to Spamcontrol@freecycle.org. In your report, include:  
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#Temporarily put the member on moderation
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#Member’s username
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#'''Report the post to Spamcontrol@freecycle.org'''. Include the following information in your email:  
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#Member’s email  
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::* your name/email address
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#Post ID number
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::* group name
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#Your group ID (name and number, please), which is found on your group's [[How_To_Use_Mod_Tools#INFO_AND_OPTIONS_PAGE|Info and Options]] page.
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::* username and email address (if known) of the member who made the post.
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#any screen captured images that you have (optional) 
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::*  post ID number
−
 
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::* a copy of any correspondence between you and the other member
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If you receive reports from members that you have NOT yet reported, please:  
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::*screenshots (optional) 
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#Ask the member to forward the entire email exchange between them and the suspected scammer to you and include it in your report to spamcontrol@freecycle.org
 
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#Reassure the members that Spam Control are investigating and may contact them for additional information.
 
−
 
 
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'''Important: Please avoid stating, accusing, or implying that the reported person is a scammer.''' Use terms and phrases such as "this is a suspected violation of our Terms of Service” or "this post may be in violation of our Terms of Service."
 
  
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If Spam Control determines that a post violate the Terms of Service, a notification email is sent to the members who have had contact with the poster, warning them that they may have had contact with a user that might be trying to solicit payment from them. For privacy reasons, Spam Control team members will not confirm or discuss if a suspicious user was removed, but they will let you know if something is NOT Spam or a Scam and can be placed back into active status.  
+
If you receive reports from members for posts that you have NOT yet reported, please:
 +
#Ask the member to '''forward the entire email exchange''' between them and the suspected scammer to you and include it in your report to spamcontrol@freecycle.org. Email headers would also be very helpful if your member can provide them.  
 +
#Let the reporting members know that Spam Control will investigate and may contact them for additional information.
  
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----- old content -----
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'''Important: Please avoid stating, accusing, or implying that the reported person is a scammer.''' Use phrases such as "this is a suspected violation of our Terms of Service” or "this post may be in violation of our Terms of Service." Also '''please do not engage with the suspicious member or try to conduct your own investigation.''' The Spam Control team has the necessary tools for investigating suspicious members and the sooner you report them to the team the sooner they will be dealt with.  
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Spam is the Internet equivalent of junk mail ‐ email you didn't ask for, and probably don't want. It's sent by spammers, usually using automated tools. Freecycle members will often have their own spam filters to detect and remove ‐ that's up to them. This answer just talks about what you can do as a moderator to reduce the chance of your Freecycle group being used for spam.
 
  
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Spammers attack Freecycle groups in the following ways:
+
Once you have made your report, you do not need to do anything further. If Spam Control determines that a post violates the Terms of Service, they will take appropriate action with regard to the suspicious account. They will also send a warning notification to any members who may have contacted the poster.  
−
*Sending spam to the group, from their own account  
 
−
*Spoofing another member.  
 
−
*Harvesting member addresses.  
 
−
*Posting seemingly innocuous messages that require going to a third-party website<br>
 
  
−
Freecycle's Spam Control team (spamcontrol@freecycle.org) does a great job of catching most spammers before they can do much harm, and you can help by reporting any spam attempts that you catch on your group. <br>
+
For privacy reasons, Spam Control team members will not discuss the outcome of their investigations, except to let you know if a post is NOT spam or a scam and can be placed back into active status.
  
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When reporting a Spammer send an email (with as much detail as possible) to spamcontrol@freecycle.org and add these five things:
+
[[Moderator_Manual:Courier_scams|Click here for a sample notice you can use to warn your members about such scams.]]
−
 
−
# The spammer's MyF User Name
 
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# The spammer's MyF email address
 
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# The reason (e.g. iPod scammer)
 
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# The post ID.
 
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# Your group ID (name and number, please), which is found on your group's [[How_To_Use_Mod_Tools#INFO_AND_OPTIONS_PAGE|Info and Options page]].
 

Latest revision as of 12:11, 21 October 2019

The Spam Control Team deals with members who violate Freecycle’s Terms of Service in ways that cannot be managed by local moderators.

Spammers massively post or respond to posts with content that is unrelated to Freecycle. Spammers usually operate across geographies, rather than in one locale. Spammers attack Freecycle groups in the following ways:

  • Posting spam to the group
  • Spoofing another member
  • Harvesting member addresses
  • Posting seemingly innocuous messages that require going to a third-party website

Scammers seek to use Freecycle’s website to defraud members, usually by asking payment upfront for delivery/courier fees or postage for items they have no intention to deliver.

Here are some examples of the type of posts that are most often associated with scammers:

  • Unusual use of punctuation and spacing in the subject line. (example: i p a d s.'-. or ..PSP' ')
  • An Offer with several of the same item for collection
  • Small personal gaming/computer devices and electronics, like PS4s, PSPs, tablets, laptops
  • High-value items offered to multiple groups (click here to see how to search posts on other groups)
  • Puppies (usually well-known breeds)
  • An Offer for something that is probably too good to be true, especially from a new member

What to do if you find a suspicious post:

  1. Please do not delete the post. Put the post into moderation by editing the post and unclicking Approve.
  2. Please leave the wording of the subject line and post description intact. If you like, you may add a parenthetical message that says "Reported to Spam Control"
  3. Temporarily put the member on moderation
  4. Report the post to Spamcontrol@freecycle.org. Include the following information in your email:
  • your name/email address
  • group name
  • username and email address (if known) of the member who made the post.
  • post ID number
  • a copy of any correspondence between you and the other member
  • screenshots (optional)

If you receive reports from members for posts that you have NOT yet reported, please:

  1. Ask the member to forward the entire email exchange between them and the suspected scammer to you and include it in your report to spamcontrol@freecycle.org. Email headers would also be very helpful if your member can provide them.
  2. Let the reporting members know that Spam Control will investigate and may contact them for additional information.

Important: Please avoid stating, accusing, or implying that the reported person is a scammer. Use phrases such as "this is a suspected violation of our Terms of Service” or "this post may be in violation of our Terms of Service." Also please do not engage with the suspicious member or try to conduct your own investigation. The Spam Control team has the necessary tools for investigating suspicious members and the sooner you report them to the team the sooner they will be dealt with.

Once you have made your report, you do not need to do anything further. If Spam Control determines that a post violates the Terms of Service, they will take appropriate action with regard to the suspicious account. They will also send a warning notification to any members who may have contacted the poster.

For privacy reasons, Spam Control team members will not discuss the outcome of their investigations, except to let you know if a post is NOT spam or a scam and can be placed back into active status.

Click here for a sample notice you can use to warn your members about such scams.

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