Just read police370's post . Apparently webshots followed our advice , information etc.. Blocking links was ( volvob12's idea ;-) A lot of people were involved with combating the spammers though . police370 did a lot of work . I spent a lot of time on it also . Glad webshots finally did their part ;-) It might be a little inconvenient to not be able to place live links but it will be great to get rid of most of the spamming ;-)

said mirlen101 1 months 4 days ago

Ya but the craigs list killer was an idiot ;-} Some spammers are very clever . Even a lowly spammer knows to cover their tracks . They can easily mask their IP address in a couple ways . Keep changing it and their e-mail address . Or use a stealth IP address through a network . If I had all his webshots personal info I could most likely track him down . Webshots won't give out personal info for obvious reasons . But tracking the biggest spammer here would not be as simple as tracking his IP address . That would just be one starting point in a long ever winding road which might just lead to a brick wall ( like the network he is on ) Even if he had just one IP address they would still need his networks permission to get his personal info which usually takes a court order . Then if they get that they still have to actually find him . Then they have to charge him ;-/ What do they charge him with ? Not many enforceable laws online unfortunately ;-/ Most likely a slap on the wrist of this probable 16 year old ;-/

said mirlen101 1 months 4 days ago

I just discovered last night that webshots no longer allows links to be placed in comments or on the message tab like they used to do. They can be there, but they are no longer active links to click on. When the mail is sent as a notifier it has a link , but it is the nature of any word doc or email to convert the letters www. to link. Maybe the spammers went away since they cannot leave active links anymore. I did not get any since yesterday and I got them everyday. I unblocked messages yesterday.

said police370 1 months 4 days ago

Once they find you they hit with a few spam . The people who get a mass amount of spam are usually people that pissed them off ,I think . I get about 5 max at a time and usually only about 6 or 7 per week . I haven't been getting any the last few days . Maybe they found out I was tracking them ;-) Or maybe webshots has gone after them because of all the info we've been sending in ;-) We've sent in the code they were using , so it pin points where the spammers originated down to one person ;-) I also sent them the code that identifies another person who has been giving out code to steal full sized images from this site ! People are getting really nasty . I hope they nail them . We did most of the work for them ;-)

said mirlen101 1 months 5 days ago

"volvob12" had an Idea to block the spammers that sounds like a good compromise . At least until webshots can come up with something better . Block links in messages . Just on the photo messages area. The spammers don't seem to be going to people's main message area , just on the photo's area . Sounds like a simple solution . Maybe if we all suggest this in mass to webshots we could get rid of all the spammers . What do you think ? ( I'm sending this note to several concerned members )

said mirlen101 1 months 10 days ago

The spammers E-mail address might be the way to track him , never thought of that one . It would be the most likely place for him to be exposed to tracking . It's possible he could still cover his tracks from there also but less likely to . I wish webshots would give me some of his account info so I could take a crack at it ;-) I think I could do it in a couple hours or less if I had his user account info ;-) It would be fun to pay him a visit ;-) We could set an example of him by forcing him to eat Spam ;-O

said mirlen101 1 months 11 days ago

Since this spammer list had been sent to webshots I think everyone is protected from those user names . The problem is this person uses computer generated user names . So he can change them daily . So it will be very difficult or impossible for webshots to keep up with this spammer . He's pretty clever . They should be going after his IP address . But he probable can get around that also . This guy knows what he's doing . And obviously is doing it partly just to annoy people ;-/

said mirlen101 1 months 12 days ago

I tried to remove the block last night and he hit again with a couple new names made today. My virus protection also said it blocked a Trojan virus. So, I am blocking messages again until webshots fixes the problem. I tried to remove the message block three times and he hit every time. He does not hit the message tab, so I am leaving it open for anyone to leave a message. Pictures have friends only.

said police370 1 months 12 days ago

Thanks. I have blocked most of them, Problem is he opens more as fast as I can block one, e seems to open 5 or more new ones each time he opens new member names.

said police370 1 months 13 days ago

Thanks for the comments. I could do the black by the light of the moon in color, but I made it for th e basic black challenge.

said police370 1 months 14 days ago

There's some duplicates hard to sort all those out ;-/

said mirlen101 1 months 15 days ago

Here's the Spammer names collected so far only a few were sent to me directly the rest I collected from others . Most have been sent into webshots tech for blocking . Most are now blocked jqkoifudt , xjvghjqeeklv , ivpgipgwtjqi , lnmalwb , pklanruablxv , ataydwpjqfhl , gtaljydpckui , fqxympmvmajw , lmmambel , mekewtyewmil , rfhmljpbkwte , kpwpyxcbaxno , wklkuhaixqer , ykbwwjmf , oijbhrpnblfi , kjrtmndndgl , ffiamrewntbi , mxhlmtwvflbx , uqjfbvlldota , amabjfreaqct , ajjwgidtvwg , , yitiebapvaub , actdiocamfyg , qtwuvxn , ymwayryeuecb , xjvghjqeeklv , qawwgpntrmvl , mpadotokrjnn , pxvxliydoxab , ajugeltgwrpv , blyaijlf , mannqxqrn , najfeaix , xbgcaxje , jaqinai , molduytre , polterka , plosternoa , terrnokw , efcadpraa , kjrjtmndndgl , mekewtyewmil , caphbignmupk , gafrpjrnngdl , jvddtbqcxqqh , ataydwpjqfhl , jhkdqjmthuat , rmlpugufmfab , xjvghjqeeklv, ykbwwjmf , dyrwixd , ijgpidkdxapc , ouiwflqvjhkd , cvwkroeiuema , xjuehfgrkwjd , aumwguxnlqvm ,

said mirlen101 1 months 15 days ago

Ya I would have a real problem if they actually sent me 50,000 spams ;-) I do block them as soon as I get them . Doesn't do any good really they obviously don't keep track of these blockages they just automatically generate new user names by computer generation . I've tracked some of their friends and they seem to be teens or young adults mostly . They seem to congregate at blackhatworld.com . Some scary people on there . They help each other form strategies to make money mostly on spam . They claim to make between $100. and $600. per day ;-/ I find that hard to believe making 10 cents or so on each click . I can't imagine anyone clicking on those links . They don't make any money on actual sales as I understood it , just clicks . This is spreading throughout the internet . I'm seeing spam ads in places I've never seen them before . It's a big problem and very hard to combat . It will die down at some point ;-/

said mirlen101 1 months 15 days ago

Hopeful, what Webshots is working on now will slow or stop most spam. We will have to wait and see. They have hit both my accounts and my wifes. If I changed names, I do not think it would stop and besides, then all my fans would loose track of who I am.

said police370 1 months 15 days ago

I took the block off my messages this morning for people to contact me about download issues in my help album. in 19 minutes, the spam started coming in. I blocked all messages.

said police370 1 months 16 days ago

Mary, Thanks for your congratulations on my 6th place win in the mirror challenge! It was a wonderful surprise for me and very exciting too. Thanks for letting me know! ☺♥ ~Jade

said summerjade 1 months 18 days ago

Hi, Mary, Thanks very much for your generous comment on my CC "color contrast" picture of fuschias in front of a golden wheel (the "color wheel"). I really appreciate your stopping by and sending a note! --All the best, Rebecca

said green298 1 months 18 days ago

I have contacted webshots about the spam and they are working on security measures. Hopefully ,ready by the end of the year

said police370 1 months 18 days ago

You should see my comment box now that we are friends. I locked them all except for friends due to the spammers driving me crazy.

said police370 1 months 18 days ago

Dear Mary, I thought you might be interested to see my Featured Photo of the Day (POTD) on webshots today. The title of the photo is "The Mesmerizing Badlands". Thanks. Dilip

said dilip_mistry 1 months 21 days ago

Thank you so much for your visit and very kind comments Warm wishes Lyn

said lynnie440 1 months 24 days ago

Thank you Mary for your comments on "Window", Jacques

said photoplo 1 months 24 days ago

Hi Mary, thank you so much for your nice comments on my cc-mirror entry! Thanks also for informations about spammers! Have a good day, Nicole

said ecolin241 1 months 25 days ago

Hi, Mary, Thank you very much for your kind comment on my picture of the Roman temple at Nimes as reflected in the modern art gallery building, in the current CC "mirror" collection. I am glad that you enjoyed it! In turn, it is an excellent opportunity to be introduced to your own fine pictures -- Best wishes, Rebecca

said green298 1 months 26 days ago

Thank you, dearest Mary, for the nice comment you made on my "Impatiens mirrored" photo! Yes, honey, you are right! The mirrored part is on the left! If you look closely you will see the brown frame of the mirror in the photo, and left of that frame is the mirror! I send kisses to Cher! Love & hugs, June

said lovejoy 1 months 27 days ago