Rockbox Technical Forums

Rockbox General => Rockbox General Discussion => Topic started by: adam_skub on February 21, 2008, 08:43:14 PM

Title: Spammer harvesting Rockbox forum emails (was: Don't want to be a bug but...)
Post by: adam_skub on February 21, 2008, 08:43:14 PM
I wish when new users are added that the email address is hidden...I have already got an email from an "AMANIE DOUDOU" and they got my email address from the Rockbox Forums...Here is the message

Quote
Letter of Relationship and Establishment Aid.
for Personal Attention and Confidential
From : AMANIE DOUDOU
Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire West Africa
Tel : +22507924282
For logistic reason contact me on e.mail:(doudu112@yahoo.fr)
Attention: Respectful,
Greetings and How are you today.I am AMANIE DOUDOU from Cote d' Ivoire in West AfricaI would like you to kindly permit me to apply through this medium for your co-operation  to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint relationship and business with you in your country. I got your contact address from  Rockbox Technical   Forums   Memberlist .
I have a substantial capital I honourably Inherited from my late father late Chief  EMILE BOUGA DOUDOU who was minister of Interior and deal in Cocao and coffee plantation Ivory Coast, Before the Epmigo rebels killed him recently in poltical crisis in our country that have resulted to war in some part of our region this past  years. I intend to invest this fund in profitable areas in your country into a very lucratives business venture of which you are to advise and execute the said venture over there for the mutual benefits of both of us.
Most especially is for you to help me come over to your base if possible for You be able co-operate with me to become my business partner in your country and create ideas on how  money will be invested, properly managed and the type of investment  after the money  is transferred to your custody with your assistance.
I inherited this sum from my late father  whom therebels killed because he was not supporting their selfish intrest to topple the president Gbagbo the present president.
Meanwhile, on indication of your willingness to  handle this transaction sincerely by protecting my Interests and upon your acceptance of this proposal. I would  furnish you with the full detailed information, procedure, amount involve is below and we shall  mutually agree on your percentage interest or share holding for helping me to secure the release of the deposit and investing the fund into a lucratives profitable venture in your care.It is the sum of Nine  Million Five Hundred Thousand Five USD $9.500.000USD  I shall be glad to reserve this respect and opportunity for you, if you so desire,but do urge  you to give the matter your immediate attention it deserves.I want you to be rest assured that everything is in order and legitimate it was due to the political crisis in our country that have resulted to war which cause everybody to find a way to get out the country, that make's me to use this medium to request for your assistance hoping that you will not let me down.
This fund is legitimately acquired by my late father from sales of cocoa and coffee and diamond dealings. Looking forward to your prompt response on e.mail:(doudu112@yahoo.fr)
 Faithfully
AMANIE DOUDOU

I now have lots ok spam messages like "SEXUALLY EXPLICIT"...I really dont want to be a pain, but im not sure if this person has an account here and if so please ban them.   I now have at least 5 spam messages I have NEVER got before just pop up.  Has anyone else had this message as well?
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: Llorean on February 21, 2008, 09:09:16 PM
There is an option to hide your email address.
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: adam_skub on February 21, 2008, 09:12:51 PM
There is an option to hide your email address.
ahh ok thanks...now i see it after some digging....although it sucks now cause i think im part of the spam list :( but thanks for telling me  :D
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: Llorean on February 21, 2008, 09:13:37 PM
I'm almost certain it is enabled by default. Anyway, as far as I know, nobody else has had such a problem with this. Are you sure they got it from our forums?

You have to be registered with the forums to even view profiles, so even in the case of un-hidden emails, something would have to sign up before it could harvest them.
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: cool_walking_ on February 21, 2008, 09:20:12 PM
The email address appears in a mailto: link on your posts.  Guests can see that.  I haven't noticed an increase in spam since signing up here, though I did already get quite a bit anyway.
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: Llorean on February 21, 2008, 09:52:31 PM
Those as well do not show up if your email address is set to hidden.
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: cool_walking_ on February 21, 2008, 10:01:42 PM
Maybe they should also be hidden for guests?
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: Llorean on February 21, 2008, 10:08:40 PM
Maybe, but they aren't. Registration is free. Anyone can register, and harvest all the un-hidden email addresses. It's your choice not to hide it.
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: cool_walking_ on February 21, 2008, 10:40:46 PM
You mean there are actual human people going around harvesting email addresses?? :o

I thought it was only bots... who the hell could be bothered with something like that?
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: Llorean on February 21, 2008, 10:47:35 PM
No, I mean, a bot can register then harvest them. We've had bots register to post spam messages in the past.
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: cool_walking_ on February 21, 2008, 11:04:30 PM
Yeah but wouldn't a bot that can successfully register be much less common than one just plainly reading?
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: Llorean on February 21, 2008, 11:13:30 PM
Less common possibly. But it gives users a false sense of security, because we already know they do exist.

If you don't want your email visible: Hide it. It's that simple.
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: adam_skub on February 21, 2008, 11:46:05 PM
woow i didnt no there would be soo many replys, well it was my personal email address that i got this from and i didnt get anything in the Rockbox email...if that clarifies anything
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: scorche on February 22, 2008, 02:22:34 AM
Also, if you were concerned about your email address "getting out", you may want to remove it from being in plaintext in the ideal format (although I fear it is too late for that, as it has already hit Google).
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: soap on February 22, 2008, 06:08:00 AM
For what it is worth, at the time you asked the question, and before Llorean replied, your email address was hidden to me.
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: Danfried on February 22, 2008, 09:04:33 AM
I wish when new users are added that the email address is hidden...I have already got an email from an "AMANIE DOUDOU" and they got my email address from the Rockbox Forums...Here is the message


I received the same Nigerian scam email from "AMANIE DOUDOU", also "from the Rockbox Forums".  My only changed  my email address to "hidden" after seeing this thread.  I can't recall what was the default setting.
Title: Con artist
Post by: NaFIann on February 22, 2008, 10:43:35 AM
Hi,

I don't know where to post this, so I post it here.
I just got an email from some west african, about some alleged business deal.
It was obviously a hoax, and the person got my email from the technical forum memberlist.

So as a warning: you might get these kind of mails too.
They're often about a business deal or some inheritance from someone you've never heard of.
They then require a downpayment for administration or something else and once they get it, they leave with the money.

I hope this is useful to some of you on the forums.

NaFiann
Title: Re: Con artist
Post by: Llorean on February 22, 2008, 10:45:43 AM
Please search before posting such things. You're the third person to post on this, at least. And it comes from choosing not to hide your email address. People harvest email addresses from webpages all the time.
Title: Re: Con artist
Post by: NaFIann on February 22, 2008, 10:48:13 AM
Sorry bout that, feel free to remove the topic
Title: Re: Con artist
Post by: Llorean on February 22, 2008, 10:50:06 AM
In the future, when there's a checkbox during registration for "Hide my email address from the public" you might want to click it. ;)
We really can't prevent people from abusing your information when you choose to share it with them publicly.
Title: Re: Con artist
Post by: AlexP on February 22, 2008, 10:51:43 AM
What is the default though (I signed up so long ago, I can't remember)?  And if it is not hidden by default, is this something we have any control over?  If so, it might be an idea to hide by default.
Title: Re: Con artist
Post by: Llorean on February 22, 2008, 10:53:57 AM
The default is "show", but the checkbox is right next to the box you type your email address into while registering. Log out, and click "Register" and you'll see it. I'd have to do some digging to change, but at the same time, I think it's so incredibly obvious that the people who don't see it are also the people who don't scroll down that page and read the agreement (it's far more obvious), and I have a hard time feeling sympathetic with people who aren't interested in reading everything and being good members of the community.

I do suppose that's a little callous of me though, but honestly, we can't help how we feel.
Title: Re: Con artist
Post by: AlexP on February 22, 2008, 10:58:31 AM
One quick log out and in later...

Hah, yeah, that is really very obvious.
Title: Re: Con artist
Post by: NaFIann on February 22, 2008, 11:01:04 AM
yeah you're absolutely right Llorean, usually I check for such things, don't know how I missed it this time.

I didn't mean to suggest it was the fault of rockbox ops, but just meant to warn people that those emails were hoaxes (incredibly, many people still fall for these mails)
Title: Re: Con artist
Post by: Llorean on February 22, 2008, 11:04:28 AM
What makes me curious is why the spammer is telling people it came from our forums (or what about the spam tells you he got the email address from here), since nobody's really clearly explained that one yet.
Title: Re: Con artist
Post by: NaFIann on February 22, 2008, 11:09:21 AM
Well knowing he got it from rockbox is not that hard, as he literally says so in the mail.
As to why he mentions it, I haven't a clue. It doesn't really make it more believable at all (quite the opposite).

It is of course possible that such information is added to the messeage automatically, maybe if the information came from other places it does make it more believable, but that's just a guess.

Also, you could consider removing the email column from the memberlist. It would only make it a bit harder to find an email address, but it might be just enough to get the spamming down.
Title: Scam that includes Rockbox
Post by: Vipes on February 23, 2008, 03:44:36 PM
Quote
Message from Rockbox Technical Forum Member

Letter of Relationship and Establishment Aid.
 From :Miss Celina Amina Doudou
Abidjan Cote d' Ivoire West Africa
Tel+22508516696
For logistic reason contact me on e.mail:(celindoud01@yahoo.fr)

Attention: Respectful
Greetings and How are you Dear Friend.I am Celina Doudou  from  Cote d' Ivoire in West Africa.  I would like you to Please permit me to apply through this medium for your cooperation  to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint relationship and establishment with you in your country. I got your contact from the Rockbox Technical Forum  Memberlist.
Hence I have  substantial capital which I honourably Inherited from my late father Chief Emile Boga Doudou  who was the minister of Interior and also have Cocao and Coffee plantation and deals in Gold, Diamond Mining and Trading in bouake Northern District of Coted' Ivoire in Western Africa, Before the Epmigo Rebels killed Him during the political crisis on the  mutiny rebellion upraising that equally lead to the death of former military junta Robert Guei.
I am contacting you because of my need to deal with honest person whom I can lay trust and personal confidence on with hope that he will not let me down,because since the murder of my father,I have been subjected to all sorts of harassment and intimidation with lots of negative reports emanating from the rebellion people due to this political crisis we are facing which have resulted to war in some part of our country Ivory Coast  since this past years.
 I legitmately inherited this sum from my late father who died recently and I intend to invest this money in profitable areas in your country into a very lucratives business venture of which you are to advise and execute the  venture over there for the mutual benefits of both of us.
Most especially is for you to help me come over to your base if possible for You be able co-operate with me to become my business partner in your country and create ideas on how  money will be invested, properly managed and the type of investment after the money  is transferred to your custody with your assistance.I inherited this sum from my late father  whom the rebels killed because he was not supporting their selfish interest to topple the president Gbagbo the present president of Ivory Coast .
Please I want you to consider my situation and reply me with  the  indication of your willingness to  handle this transaction sincerely by protecting my Interest and upon your acceptance of this proposal.I will furnish you with the full details information, procedure on how to continue.The exact amount involved is the sum of Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand  USD ($9.500.000.00)USD
If you accept to associate with me,both of us will mutually agree on your percentage interest and share holding for helping me to secure the release of the deposit and investing the money into  lucratives profitable venture in your care.I will be glad to reserve this respect and opportunity for you if you so desire to relate with me with good mind and honesty. I do urge  you to kindly give this matter your immediate attention and the maximum seriousness it deserves for the smooth achievement of the aim.
I want you to be rest assured that everything is in order and legitimate it was due to the political crisis in our country that have resulted to war in some part of our region which have cause everybody to find a way of geting out from  the country,for this reason I use this medium to request for your assistance with hope that you will not let down the confidence I have already reposed on you.
This money is legitimately acquired by my late father from sales of Cocoa and Coffee and Diamond dealings.If it interests you Please forward your reply including your telephone number and fiscal address to my private email address so that I can provide you with more clarifications and details about it all.
Looking forward for your prompt response on e.mail:(celindoud01@yahoo.fr)
Thanks for your understanding and future cooperations.
Sincerely
Celina Doudou

Some big BS there.
Title: Re: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: Febs on February 23, 2008, 03:57:22 PM
Vipes, I've merged your post with two of the others started on this same subject.
Title: Re: Spammer harvesting Rockbox forum emails (was: Don't want to be a bug but...)
Post by: bluebrother on February 24, 2008, 04:18:36 AM
Some big BS there.
So what? Everyone can fake the sender name (and in case of a mail server that accepts this also the sender email address). Unless you have checked the email headers (including used servers) this doesn't tell anything.

I'm getting spam from my own address all the time. Looking at the headers quickly reveals that those mails don't come from my box ...
Title: Members looking up forums to spam other members with unrelated topics
Post by: alan80 on February 24, 2008, 07:38:46 AM
Hi, fellow members, administrators of rockbox forums etc, below is a copy of a spam mail which was sent to me by another member who claims to be from Cote D'Ivoire about the establishment of aid and looking for bank account details. This members name is Nkomo Kamara.

 
Message from Rockbox Technical Forums Member   Spam  
  nkomo kamara  Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 5:31 PM  
Reply-To: nkomartka@yahoo.fr  
To: kamanko12@yahoo.com  
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original  
 
Letter of Relationship and Establishment Aid.
From : Nkomo Kamara
Abidjan Cote d' Ivoire.
Tel+22507924282
For logistic reason contact me on e.mail:(nkomartka@yahoo.fr)
Attention: Respectful
Greetings and How are you Dear Friend. I am Nkomo Kamara from Cote d' Ivoire in West Africa. I would like you to Please permit me to apply through this medium for your cooperation  to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint relationship and establishment with you in your country. I got your contact address  from Rockbox Technical Forums  Memberlist.
Hence  I have  substantial capital which I honourably Inherited from my late father Chief Kamara Emile  Doudou who was the minister of Interior and also have Cocao and Coffee plantation and deals in Gold, Diamond mining and Trading in bouake Northern District of Coted' Ivoire in Western Africa. Before the Epmigo rebels killed him during the political crisis on the  mutiny rebellion upraising that equally lead to the death of former military junta Robert Guei.
I am contacting you because of my need to deal with honest person whom I can lay trust and personal confidence on with hope that he will not let me down,because since the murder of my father,I have been subjected to all sorts of harassment and intimidation with lots of negative reports emanating from the rebellion people due to this political crisis we are facing which have resulted to war in some part of our country Cote d' Ivoire since this past years.
I legitmately inherited this sum from my late father who died recently and I intend to invest this money in profitable areas in your country into a very lucratives business venture of which you are to advise and execute the  venture over there for the mutual benefits of both of us.
Most especially is for you to help me come over to your base if possible for You be able co-operate with me to become my business partner in your country and create ideas on how  money will be invested, properly managed and the type of investment after the money  is transferred to your custody with your assistance.I inherited this sum from my late father  whom the rebels killed because he was not supporting their selfish interest to topple the president Gbagbo the present president of Cote d' Ivoire.
I want to consider my situation and reply me on the indication of your willingness to  handle this transaction sincerely by protecting my Interest and upon your acceptance of this proposal.I will furnish you with the full details information, procedure on how to continue.The exact amount involved is the sum of Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand  USD ($9.500.000.00)USD
If you accept to associate with me,both of us will mutually agree on your percentage interest and share holding for helping me to secure the release of the deposit and investing the money into  lucratives profitable venture in your care.I will be glad to reserve this respect and opportunity for you if you so desire to relate with me with good mind and honesty. I do urge  you to kindly give this matter your immediate attention and the maximum seriousness it deserves for the smooth achievement of the aim.
I want you to be rest assured that everything is in order and legitimate it was due to the political crisis in our country that have resulted to war in some part of our region which have cause everybody to find a way of geting out from  the country,for this reason I use this medium to request for your assistance with hope that you will not let down the confidence I have already reposed on you.
This money is legitimately acquired by my late father from sales of Cocoa and Coffee and Diamond dealings. If it interests you Please forward your reply including your telephone number and fiscal address to my private email address so that I can provide you with more clarifications and details about it all.
Looking forward for your prompt response on e.mail:(nkomartka@yahoo.fr)
Thanks for your understanding and future cooperations.
Sincerely
Nkomo Kamara
Abidjan Cote d' Ivoire


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Title: Re: Spammer harvesting Rockbox forum emails (was: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: denny on February 24, 2008, 07:50:52 AM
Well if you ever find yourself bored you can always participate in the sport of scambaiting using your new found scammer friends. Its good fun: http://www.419eater.com/html/baiting.htm
Title: Re: Spammer harvesting Rockbox forum emails (was: Don't want to be a bug but...)
Post by: ponyracer on February 24, 2008, 07:30:26 PM
Newbie already recieving spam through Rockbox, WTF.  Here is a copy:

Letter of Relationship and Establishment Aid.
From : Nkomo Kamara
Abidjan Cote d' Ivoire.
Tel+22507924282
For logistic reason contact me on e.mail:(nkomartka@yahoo.fr)
Attention: Respectful
Greetings and How are you Dear Friend. I am Nkomo Kamara from Cote d' Ivoire in West Africa. I would like you to Please permit me to apply through this medium for your cooperation  to secure an opportunity to invest and do joint relationship and establishment with you in your country. I got your contact address  from Rockbox Technical Forums  Memberlist.
Hence  I have  substantial capital which I honourably Inherited from my late father Chief Kamara Emile  Doudou who was the minister of Interior and also have Cocao and Coffee plantation and deals in Gold, Diamond mining and Trading in bouake Northern District of Coted' Ivoire in Western Africa. Before the Epmigo rebels killed him during the political crisis on the  mutiny rebellion upraising that equally lead to the death of former military junta Robert Guei.
I am contacting you because of my need to deal with honest person whom I can lay trust and personal confidence on with hope that he will not let me down,because since the murder of my father,I have been subjected to all sorts of harassment and intimidation with lots of negative reports emanating from the rebellion people due to this political crisis we are facing which have resulted to war in some part of our country Cote d' Ivoire since this past years.
I legitmately inherited this sum from my late father who died recently and I intend to invest this money in profitable areas in your country into a very lucratives business venture of which you are to advise and execute the  venture over there for the mutual benefits of both of us.
Most especially is for you to help me come over to your base if possible for You be able co-operate with me to become my business partner in your country and create ideas on how  money will be invested, properly managed and the type of investment after the money  is transferred to your custody with your assistance.I inherited this sum from my late father  whom the rebels killed because he was not supporting their selfish interest to topple the president Gbagbo the present president of Cote d' Ivoire.
I want to consider my situation and reply me on the indication of your willingness to  handle this transaction sincerely by protecting my Interest and upon your acceptance of this proposal.I will furnish you with the full details information, procedure on how to continue.The exact amount involved is the sum of Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand  USD ($9.500.000.00)USD
If you accept to associate with me,both of us will mutually agree on your percentage interest and share holding for helping me to secure the release of the deposit and investing the money into  lucratives profitable venture in your care.I will be glad to reserve this respect and opportunity for you if you so desire to relate with me with good mind and honesty. I do urge  you to kindly give this matter your immediate attention and the maximum seriousness it deserves for the smooth achievement of the aim.
I want you to be rest assured that everything is in order and legitimate it was due to the political crisis in our country that have resulted to war in some part of our region which have cause everybody to find a way of geting out from  the country,for this reason I use this medium to request for your assistance with hope that you will not let down the confidence I have already reposed on you.
This money is legitimately acquired by my late father from sales of Cocoa and Coffee and Diamond dealings. If it interests you Please forward your reply including your telephone number and fiscal address to my private email address so that I can provide you with more clarifications and details about it all.
Looking forward for your prompt response on e.mail:(nkomartka@yahoo.fr)
Thanks for your understanding and future cooperations.
Sincerely
Nkomo Kamara
Abidjan Cote d' Ivoire
Title: Re: Spammer harvesting Rockbox forum emails (was: Don't want to be a bug but...)
Post by: Llorean on February 24, 2008, 07:32:43 PM
Okay, I really don't know what you guys expect us to do. You made your email public, someone harvested it, and they told you they harvested it from here, because this is the website where you chose to publicly post your email.

What exactly are we supposed to do about it? It has nothing to do with us.
Title: Re: Spammer harvesting Rockbox forum emails (was: Don't want to be a bug but...
Post by: mark on February 25, 2008, 04:39:57 AM
My inbox has been very quiet in the 419 department over the last few years..... So imagine my joy at hearing of Mr Nkomo Kamara's lucrative offer.

I feel a urge to learn a little about scambaiting - any ideas
Title: Re: Spammer harvesting Rockbox forum emails (was: Don't want to be a bug but...)
Post by: Llorean on February 25, 2008, 09:56:32 AM
That is off topic for these forums.
Title: Re: Spammer harvesting Rockbox forum emails (was: Don't want to be a bug but...)
Post by: bluebrother on February 25, 2008, 01:23:54 PM
Well, as they are always posting the full spam messages I start to consider those posts as spam ...