Blocking TLDs

[Shawn Gossman]

Do you block entire TLDs from registering?

I've seen a significant number of .club emails joining my cycling forum (which gets the most spammers for some reason).

It's always a spammer. Stop Forum Spam stops them dead in their tracks.

I've went as far as prohibiting .club email domains from registering.

Is this a practice you all do? Are you afraid you'll lose potential members because of it?

 

[AWS]

My block list has a whole bunch of tld's blocked. All because of a history of spammers using them.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

My block list has a whole bunch of tld's blocked. All because of a history of spammers using them.

That's about what mine is turning into.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

Hope you don’t manage to block legit users although unlikely given club isn’t a familiar email domain sp likely rare

 

[Cpvr]

I don’t block any tlds, but I do have entire country zones blocked.

 

[Mike30]

Lol.. I use one of the most efficient blocker $$
No spammers 100%. And if one gets in. It's very easy to spot it. Problem solved.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Lol.. I use one of the most efficient blocker $$
No spammers 100%. And if one gets in. It's very easy to spot it. Problem solved.

That might be the best CAPTCHA ever LOL

 

[Mike30]

That might be the best CAPTCHA ever LOL

Now, I have to mitigate scammers, but I definitely don't get spammers. But $$ as a filter done in certain ways, Scams are controlled as well.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Now, I have to mitigate scammers, but I definitely don't get spammers. But $$ as a filter done in certain ways, Scams are controlled as well.

Yeah. Fraud seems like it would be easier to mitigate than spam. I investigate fraud for a living though LOL. So, it's natural for me.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

Yeah. Fraud seems like it would be easier to mitigate than spam. I investigate fraud for a living though LOL. So, it's natural for me.

Do you work on the cyber security side of things?

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Do you work on the cyber security side of things?

Not really.

Criminal investigations.

 

[JoelR]

Lol.. I use one of the most efficient blocker $$
No spammers 100%. And if one gets in. It's very easy to spot it. Problem solved.

I don't get this, what do you mean?

 

[Mike30]

I don't get this, what do you mean?

When you charge money for their account, They think twice to spam your forum.
When you charge money to create an account, spam bots can't get in.
When you charge $$, you weed out people uninterested in your forum.
So, charging money blocks many things.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

When you charge money for their account, They think twice to spam your forum.
When you charge money to create an account, spam bots can't get in.
When you charge $$, you weed out people uninterested in your forum.
So, charging money blocks many things.

And you also block out members interested in contributing as they flee to a free platform

 

[Mike30]

And you also block out members interested in contributing as they flee to a free platform

That is true too.
Each platform has their own specific benefits and their own goals/plans.
In order to scale the way I am aiming, I can't do the free version.
When I really want something, I don't mind a bit to pay for it. And I am looking to build a community with the same mindset.

Example. I am a member of this forum not because it's free. I am here because it's of my interest this niche.
If AAF decides to charge, I am the first in line. I know things cost money and his time. So I don't mind showing my
appreciation by paying a subscription.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

There is definitely nothing wrong with a paid community.

I manage one with over 1,000 members. I get paid to manage it. I wouldn't get paid if it wasn't a paid community.

Those looking for a free community are not the target audience we're aiming for. There are plenty of free stuff for them elsewhere. We're aiming for paid customers, and we offer a UVP for their buck.

 

[Cpvr]

When you charge money for their account, They think twice to spam your forum.
When you charge money to create an account, spam bots can't get in.
When you charge $$, you weed out people uninterested in your forum.
So, charging money blocks many things.

Of course, a paid user isn’t likely to join just to spam—it’s not worth it to them. They’re looking for an easy way in, and this method effectively stops them.

While it’s a smart business tactic, it may not work for every community.



I’ve also noticed that once you ban a few link spammers, new spammers tend to appear less frequently.

 

[Mike30]

@Cpvr
I know, it doesn't work for all niches. But some how it could be managed with features upgrades I guess.
Restricting regular access to some areas until user has proven not to be spammer.