Tarreymere Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 I found out today that I am a spammer. I never knew that before. I'm not even really sure what a spammer is, except that it somehow means a person or group that sends out annoying repetitive emails or posts or annoying repetitive emails that may involve trying to sell a product. Wikipedia defines a spammer as someone who sends unsolicited bulk email messages indiscriminately. I just looked that up. I rarely email anyone. I have posted messages on this board, but while some may have been annoying they certainly weren't repetitive nor was I trying to sell anything (oh, except for the posts on the sale board). I'm not really clear on how to send bulk email messages. Anyway, I found out I was a spammer when I tried to register for the MCT support forums on the Royal Fireworks Press site. I filled out the registration form, then I received a really rude reply informing me that I was not allowed on the site because I was a spammer. I am still shocked, since I had no idea I was a spammer. I can't even think of anything to spam anyone about. I emailed their customer service, and informed them that they may want to reconsider whatever software that they are using to run that forum, since they are alienating customers by labeling them as spammers. I plan to call the phone number for the customer support on Monday and complain also. I really regret purchasing their product now. I guess I am stuck with it for this year, but unless I get a **** fine apology from their customer service people I am NOT going to buy any more products from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Are you sure that your e-mail hasn't been hacked? Sometimes spammers have programs (not sure if they are Trojans or something else) which send out spam that is tagged with your e-mail signature even though it isn't really from you. So before you get too mad at them, I would get a good spyware and virus program and check your computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTJo1996 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 I always suspected this about you.:tongue_smilie: Just kidding. Isn't it funny how sometimes technology is SUCH a great help and then there are days like this.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacie Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Not cool. I hope you get your apology and maybe a discount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarreymere Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 I do have excellent spyware and virus programs. In fact, I have multiple spyware and virus programs. I have not been hacked. I have had DH check, also. No hacking. He thinks it is because my main email account has my name on it, not a made up one, and that this somehow triggered a spam alert from the registration software for this forum. If that is so, then they really need to change their software and I want that apology because it is ridiculous that an email account with a real name is somehow suspect. I am furious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Did they have any questions for you to answer? For example, the registration on a few boards includes a basic question (what animal says meow, 3+2=, etc) right at the end of the page. Could there have been something like that in a spot where you wouldn't have noticed it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReader Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Could it have been an error? When I first joined this board, I was deleted and "banned for life" the very first day. I mean, I signed up, replied to a message that a friend had asked me to look at, didn't do anything else the first day and the next morning when I tried to come back I rec'd a "You have been banned for life due to spamming" (or something like that) error message. What?!?! I was upset, too. Luckily, though, I found the "contact the moderator" link somewhere in that error message, wrote an email, it was answered and here I am today. It had just been a mistake due to a high volume of spammers/trolls/whatever that day. I'd just had the misfortune to have signed up on the same day as a bunch of phonies. So, I totally empathize, but also wanted to point out that it's maybe just a mistake and certainly not unique to the particular forum you mentioned. It can happen anywhere, apparently; even here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Some boards also will automatically presume you are a spammer if you use any of the basic free email providers (hotmail, gmail, and yahoo). They insist on an email through whomever your internet provider is. I don't like that and refuse to join a board that insists on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamela&claire Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Often people that are hacked don't know it. It happened to me and I didn't even know it and I felt so embarrassed when I found out. I would change the password on your email account that's what helped me. I hope you get your apology too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dominion Heather Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Probably just an error. It happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth in MN Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Actually, it's a programming error. I had the same thing happen to me on a board I went to, and it took a week for them to fix it. Email the admin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 My email is my name. At gmail. My account was hacked at one point. I have an account with them. I'm sure it's a glitch in the technology. They shouldn't send out rude messages accusing people of being spammers, though. That's not cool. Just not accepting the account would be enough for actual spammers, and it's just offensive when someone gets it by some weird alignment of the stars only the server can see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Wow, you a spammer? I didn't think you were the type! :D;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 It seems to me that mistakes happen and there's no reason to take something a computer program did personally. But why would they send you a really rude email about it? That's just strange. Why wouldn't the email just say, you have been labeled a spammer, if you feel this is in error, please contact the moderators or something like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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