AI spammers

[andrewsaurus rex]

ah, but the registration questions were fun.    I'd never seen anything like that before when joining a forum.  I was chuckling the whole time I was answering them.   I only had to look 2 of them up on the net. :patsselfonback

[DinoToyForum]

The 'Reason For Joining' question continues to help us weed out the vast majority of bots and spammers, but they are starting to get more sophisticated.

Take this one from today, for example:

"I look forward to interacting with enthusiasts who appreciate the art and science behind dinosaur toys and models."

Seems genuine enough, but it was actually posted by a spam account, since the email they used in the registration is listed in a known forum spammers register.

What they are doing is using 'AI' tools to generate a reason. I tried it myself with ChatGPT:

You said:
"The Dinosaur Toy Forum is asking for a join reason. One short sentence. Write one"

ChatGPT said:
"I'm passionate about dinosaur models and want to join discussions with fellow collectors."

You said:
"Another"

ChatGPT said:

"I love dinosaur toys and want to share and learn from other enthusiasts."

You said:
"Another"

ChatGPT said:
"I'm excited to discuss and discover new dinosaur figures with fellow collectors."

Once you get your eye in you can spot the AI style, which gives the impression of being specific but is actually broad. A bit like a horoscope! But it will improve with time, and when they realise we are on to them, they will change things up again and learn how to make the reasons even more convincing. So, I'm going to have to be careful going forward.

[Protopatch]

The 'Reason For Joining' question continues to help us weed out the vast majority of bots and spammers, but they are starting to get more sophisticated.

Take this one from today, for example:

"I look forward to interacting with enthusiasts who appreciate the art and science behind dinosaur toys and models."

Seems genuine enough, but it was actually posted by a spam account, since the email they used in the registration is listed in a known forum spammers register.

I can vaguely recall that I gave this sort of answer when I signed up for DTF a few months ago     
Maybe also because I'm not a native English speaker, my answers are less sophisticated than native speakers...
Nonetheless, I am not a spammer !

[DinoToyForum]

The 'Reason For Joining' question continues to help us weed out the vast majority of bots and spammers, but they are starting to get more sophisticated.

Take this one from today, for example:

"I look forward to interacting with enthusiasts who appreciate the art and science behind dinosaur toys and models."

Seems genuine enough, but it was actually posted by a spam account, since the email they used in the registration is listed in a known forum spammers register.

I can vaguely recall that I gave this sort of answer when I signed up for DTF a few months ago     
Maybe also because I'm not a native English speaker, my answers are less sophisticated than native speakers...
Nonetheless, I am not a spammer !

Yes: "Paleontology, dinosaurs & fossils enthusiast". Also, the name "CharlieNovember" seemed a bit suspicious, more suspicious for the DTF than, say, PlesiosaurFan1. A lot of spammer usernames are two conjoined names like that. Case in point, the username for the example I gave above was "WilbertCase".

So, I nearly didn't let you in! And half expected you to go on a spamming rampage.   So, I was relieved when you turned out to be a real person! Maybe WilbertCase, and all the other similar accounts I'm rejecting, are also real people, but they can always try again if they are.

[DinoToyForum]

Some of the join reasons are quite funny so I was thinking of sharing the ones I'm rejecting, but won't do it publicly to allow LLM to use it to train their AI. I may set up a separate thread in the members only board.

[Protopatch]

So, I nearly didn't let you in! And half expected you to go on a spamming rampage.

Okey so lucky me !

So, I was relieved when you turned out to be a real person!

Thank you !

Also, the name "CharlieNovember" seemed a bit suspicious

Once upon a time... I was a PPL student pilot

[Protopatch]

Also, the name "CharlieNovember" seemed a bit suspicious, more suspicious for the DTF than, say, PlesiosaurFan1.

Practical question : is it possible to change the username ?^^

[DinoToyForum]

Also, the name "CharlieNovember" seemed a bit suspicious, more suspicious for the DTF than, say, PlesiosaurFan1.

Practical question : is it possible to change the username ?^^

You can't change the login username but you can change the display name. Forum Profile -> Account Settings -> Name. But your name is perfectly fine!