Thread: Private Message

A couple of hours ago I received this private message.

"Dear, IAlexN!

There are viruses' activities from your computer! Highly recommend you to scan your computer for malicious and potentially unwanted software. If you do not follow this, I will have to make a complaint to your Internet Service Provider with attached log file (your IP address, etc.). If you want to find a report about your computer's security and solve every problem with it, please click here: [Virus infrected Link remvoed]
This is an online service that you can use for free spyware removal. Use it to scan your computer to help protect, clean, and keep your computer running at its best. Use the free scan to check for and remove viruses, spyware, and other potentially malicious software and to find vulnerabilities or shortcomings in your Internet security.

Thank you. Yours truly, Curtis Collins."

Are these message common here? I right away assume that this is Spam, and since I'm running Snow Leopard and actually have Anti virus protection, the chances of I having a virus is bantam.

So, I'm just wondering If anyone else has gotten a similar message here? And If you can get banned for sending these types of private messages?

can you please remove the link from your message

we're currently being targeted by "members" (and i use the word in the broadest possible sense) who don't post anything but send out PMs containing links to sites proclaiming to contain anti-virus software, but instead infect your PC

whatever you do, don't click on the link, and your best line of action is to forward the PM in question to one of the admins, (In)Sanity and SkinWalker, so that they are made aware of the intruder, following which they will ban him

IAlexN, while we appreciate you bringing this to our attention you have indirectly made this virus spammers day by posting the very link he/she wants everyone to click on.

I also notice you have two accounts on this same IP address with low post counts. This is questionable at best.

IS

I got the same message, its a scam don't click that link whatever you do.

Also its good manners not to post a suspiscious link as some fool could click it and their computer going kaput would be on you.

---I received the same message from another individual and now have had my PMs blocked. I never clicked the link. I only sent them a reply, before checking as to who they were.
---Is there a method to having this unblocked or is there to be some time to pass and every individual who has been checked will be unblocked?

in order to prevent this sort of scam by members who have not even posted a single post (and have no intention of doing so), the option of sending PMs was withdrawn from all members who have fewer than x posts

sorry if it is an inconvenience, but it was the only way to nip this sort of scam in the bud

---marnixR.

---Thanks for the information.
---I noticed that there is a topic for feedback in the site administration section, but there, and I might have missed it, doesn't seem to be a spot for feedback from the general population. Am I in error of this observation?
---The reason as to why I brought this up is that I tried to enter a post repeatedly, in that area, and was immediately bounced to the main page.

as far as i'm aware every member should be able to post in the Feedback section
i'll flag it up with the administrators