Comments on: Social Network Scams and Fakes

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:24:50 +0000

Hi Bob,

These really are a pain in the butt! I have had a couple but know of many who get loads of them and all we can do is keep warning users about such scams.

Users should also set up a separate email account and use it for everything apart from their most trusted sources, it reduces the risks.

By: Frank J

Frank J — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:11:39 +0000

Mick,

Thanks for your feedback and glad that you are cautious and practice proper password management.

By: Bob J

Bob J — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:29:03 +0000

Hey Connect,

They sell their spam list to “professional spammers”. Since their list is “live” addresses, it can be sold for a pretty penny.

There are three types of spam lists these “pros” buy: 1) A list of addresses where there has been no response, thus the seller/buyer can’t be sure any of these are active (this is the cheapest), 2) A list of “live” addresses . . . this sells for more than the “unknown” addresses, and finally, the most expensive 3) A list of addresses where people have actually made a purchase of scam products.

There is an entire subculture of spammers. Those that sell lists are at the top of the pecking order . . . and they don’t do any of the dirty work. Those that broadcast spam are at the bottom of the pecking order . . . they do the dirty work.

Hey Kikolani,

Didn’t have the presence of mind to try one of my disposable email addresses on these clowns . . . like Spamavert. Would be interesting to see if that address filled up with nonsense . . . have you ever tried that?

By: Mick Rogers

Mick Rogers — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:23:14 +0000

I agree and this has happened to me once or twice…So I am very wary now…sites like Hi5 are similar.
Frank J got it right change your password very frequently and I for one never let browsers save mine…That might be paranoid but I still do that

By: John W

John W — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:30:43 +0000

Great article and I found this site through Digg.

By: Frank J

Frank J — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:10:29 +0000

Kliedung,

It’s important to change your password often and use special characters.

By: Kleidung

Kleidung — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:51:30 +0000

yeah that looks like a potential scam,
i think i should change my passwords regularly as i use common passwords,
i mostly dont try those kind of sites,if he/she want me too pictures i would ask them to upload to image sharing site like flickr or tinypic

By: Kikolani

Kikolani — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:43:01 +0000

I’ve been getting something similar for a while now… I don’t remember if it was Tagged, but it as another network where it said so and so would be sad if you didn’t join. If I’m suspicious, I put in fake info (crappy email address for spam only, false birthdate, password I don’t use elsewhere, etc) to sign up with, and then check it out. Otherwise, I just don’t bother.

By: md

md — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:55:33 +0000

I have a business e-mail address where I get a lot of e-mails a day inquiring about my service. I started getting tons of these a days, and could not figure out why these people are sending me photos, and we have only corresponded over business matters.

I guess it makes sense now.

Thanks

By: Connect with your Teens

Connect with your Teens — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:39:27 +0000

I just got that yesterday. Same as you, I was leery of it, but yet it was someone that would send me picture. I only filled in non personal info and left out my email password, phone number, address and almost everything. When I clicked submit, it said need more info, so I clicked cancel figuring its not worth it, and it made me a member. I saw immediately that my friend is not a member and there were no pictures, but at least I hadn’t given them any info. I just hope I don’t have any problems with them in the future.

Do you know what exactly they are scamming for?