how to deal with scammer posting on my site

Icecube

Icecube

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Mar 14, 2007
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I run a small automotive classifieds site

there's a person posting vehicles for sale with full details, several pictures, everything seems like a normal ad

he only uses addresses like rick.astley78@yahoo.com, only with different names and numbers

I tried to email him and found that he's running the usual "I'm overseas, I'll be heading to iraq, I need to sell this car, it will be delivered to you, blah blah" scam

He always has a different IP address ( didn't check if always from the same ISP, but it makes no difference, it's not that I can ban earthlink just for this...)

how would you deal with this? It should be a rather common issue
 


You make your site private and make every prospective member do a webcam interview where they show you 2 pieces of photo id. Then follow with a criminal record check and make them take a photo with todays date with the item they wish to sell and themselves in the picture.

Then your site dies.

Other option is keeping it as it is and sucking it up like every other classified site. If you want to take it to the next level then you can add a little warning for your viewers.

Tough life on the internet eh? ;)
 
I was thinking of meeting in person every member before approving each account, but I discarded this option, I can't remember why...

I've already added a warning

Given the options, I think I'll leave it as it is
 
As said before, you can't really do much, and you can't ban everyone with an email address like that (my stepdad uses one like that).

You could set something up to automatically forward to you any posts/messages containing "Iraq" or "Nigeria"?
 
-joe- said:
As said before, you can't really do much, and you can't ban everyone with an email address like that (my stepdad uses one like that).

You could set something up to automatically forward to you any posts/messages containing "Iraq" or "Nigeria"?
Click to expand...

he only tells you the iraq story via email once you show interest in the vehicle, the ads are completely clean and well written.

And, for what it's worth, I already have a filter on nigerian IPs :D
 
The website is already working that way, only logged in members can exchange messages

I think the only thing that could be done is blocking email addresses in content, not sure how effective this would be anyway
 
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