Fake diplomas and Transcripts for sale.

[dontpanicbobby]

Could we just ban anyone who posts this type of illegal activity. Isn't one of the rules here not promote Illegal activities?

 

[mikedt]

Yeh Chinese fake Canadian university diploma spam. Every time I look at AF it's absolutely deluged with it. And that's why I don't go on this forum as much now. This has been going on every day all the time, one would think there would be a way to block this pattern.

 

[Thom]

Just a suggestion … VIP Member … I have never seen any of them.

… Thom

 

[dontpanicbobby]

I tried that last year and they said the program was closed.

 

[still alive somehow]

just let them do it its not hurting anyone

 

[Unforgiven]

If you see it, report it. If its spam we'll deal with it appropriately. FWIW, it looks like we got hammered pretty good overnight.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

@still alive somehow. If they were actually posted by a person it might not be so bad but these spammers use bots with multiple usernames which can generat 20 or more full pages of posts in under an hour.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

@Thom looks like the program has been reactivated. The fake diploma things were not ads they were posts.

 

[tube517]

I try and report it when I see it but it's usually overnight and I'm old and sleep early.

Also, if you really need a diploma or transcripts just ask "Aunt Becky" to pay the universities for you.

 

[Unforgiven]

Also, if you really need a diploma or transcripts just ask "Aunt Becky" to pay the universities for you.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I typically visit just a handful of boards here, and I'm not seeing these...annoying things. Are they only posted on certain boards?

If I see any, I'll do what I normally do with garbage like that, report it!

 

[Hadron]

If, like me, your entry point was the "new posts" list you'd definitely see them. Typically between 07:30-08:00 UK time.

 

[MoodyBlues]

If, like me, your entry point was the "new posts" list you'd definitely see them. Typically between 07:30-08:00 UK time.

No, I never go there. Whichever device I'm using (computer, phone, etc.), I leave AF open in its own browser tab. When I come back, it's sitting in whichever forum I left it. From there, I hop from one 'favorite' board to another. I rarely venture outside of those.

PS I'm going to look at the 'new posts' list just for fun!

 

[GameTheory]

I stay on the AF home page and just hit the refresh all day to see new posts. I have seen those pesky spam posts, but within minutes the mods get rid of them. They're rare and not a reason to stay away from AF, nor are they that bothersome.

 

[Mikestony]

I will say this...there are times where some spam is acceptable and personally I will leave it.
Some may not agree, even border on scolding me later via pm, but I see no issue with it.

For example, this I find is an ok type of spam to leave when posted:

Spoiler: hidden, just in case it offends anyone

Spoiler: what?

oh yeah I just did that

Spoiler: more what?

Made you dorks look didn't I?

Spoiler: enough clicking already

L-O-freaking-L

Just wanted to voice my opinion on what is fine with me anyway.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I will say this...there are times where some spam is acceptable and personally I will leave it.
Some may not agree, even border on scolding me later via pm, but I see no issue with it.

For example, this I find is an ok type of spam to leave when posted:

Spoiler: hidden, just in case it offends anyone

Spoiler: what?

oh yeah I just did that

Spoiler: more what?

Made you dorks look didn't I?

Spoiler: enough clicking already

L-O-freaking-L

Just wanted to voice my opinion on what is fine with me anyway.

I TOTALLY KNEW what I was going to see under the spoiler!

Something about your wording gave it away--to this vegan.

 

[Mikestony]

I TOTALLY KNEW what I was going to see under the spoiler!

Something about your wording gave it away--to this vegan.

Hmm Not very sly am I?

 

[MoodyBlues]

Hmm Not very sly am I?

Not this time, no.

But don't lose sight of that old adage: try and try again!

 

[MoodyBlues]

Well, I saw a ton of Chinese posts last night, and reported some of them. But the obvious [to this former IT professional] question immediately occurred to me: why aren't these blocked before ever hitting the boards?

I understand that filters could be difficult to write, because you don't want legitimate posts flagged/zapped. But--and do correct me if I'm wrong--isn't AF's policy on posting English only? The posts I'm referring to were 99% Chinese. How about a filter to catch such posts?

We wouldn't want to block all non-English writing (I wouldn't), because there are times a foreign language is useful/necessary. But at least trap the 99% Chinese posts. Maybe ship them off to a holding area first, until it's working as expected, then just zap them.

 

[Unforgiven]

Well, I saw a ton of Chinese posts last night, and reported some of them. But the obvious [to this former IT professional] question immediately occurred to me: why aren't these blocked before ever hitting the boards?

I understand that filters could be difficult to write, because you don't want legitimate posts flagged/zapped. But--and do correct me if I'm wrong--isn't AF's policy on posting English only? The posts I'm referring to were 99% Chinese. How about a filter to catch such posts?

We wouldn't want to block all non-English writing (I wouldn't), because there are times a foreign language is useful/necessary. But at least trap the 99% Chinese posts. Maybe ship them off to a holding area first, until it's working as expected, then just zap them.

If we filtered all posts from region X, or posts not in language Y, or possibly posts that contained keywords x, y, or z...

It all sounds good and easy, but it just isn't realistic to make broad characterizations, write them into automated rules, and enact them. We all know gang violence is bad, but we can't just toss all of race x, people that speak language y, or those that use keywords x, y, or z in jail. It just doesn't work.

 

[mikedt]

Canadian universities are a popular destination for many Chinese. So probably why many are trying to fake it.

I'm doing a promo for the University of Toronto this weekend in Dezhou. But this is genuine, and NOT fake diplomas

 

[GameTheory]

Here's something I know for certain... Forums have been blocking spam on auto pilot for many years. There's plugins/extensions and services for this that make it simple. Those fake chinese posts won't get through as they're most likely blacklisted on a database. Of course mods will still be needed for the occasional spam, but their jobs will be much easier.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Here's something I know for certain... Forums have been blocking spam on auto pilot for many years. There's plugins/extensions and services for this that make it simple. Those fake chinese posts won't get through as they're most likely blacklisted on a database. Of course mods will still be needed for the occasional spam, but their jobs will be much easier.

Thanks, GT. I knew I wasn't imagining that.

 

[MoodyBlues]

If we filtered all posts from region X, or posts not in language Y, or possibly posts that contained keywords x, y, or z...

It all sounds good and easy, but it just isn't realistic to make broad characterizations, write them into automated rules, and enact them. We all know gang violence is bad, but we can't just toss all of race x, people that speak language y, or those that use keywords x, y, or z in jail. It just doesn't work.

I acknowledged that:
"I understand that filters could be difficult to write, because you don't want legitimate posts flagged/zapped..."

But the specific posts I referred to should lend themselves to some automated handling. They're long-ish posts, all in Chinese save for one or two English words; that pattern should be filterable, as should the actual content of the posts. I believe @mikedt could help with the latter. (Hey, Mike, hope you don't mind me volunteering you! )

I'm not looking to incite a riot or anything here, so if you guys don't think it's feasible, or whatever, that's cool.

 

[Mikestony]

Ugh, just blasted about 50 more spam posts in the past 4 minutes