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Email address are publicly readable on the ads.
But, we can certainly block e-mail addresses from the ads. Maybe only allow IML
members to view them... However, you will also be limiting your audience. Of
course, we'd want to add the same block to keep non-IML members from posting too
(otherwise, how could a non-member view the ad they just posted?). So, you may
not hear from someone where their grandfather died and left a pristine '61 Crown
Coupe with 30K miles (that's what I keep looking for!).
Arran is right; they are using scripts to harvest
these addresses. But, I'll bet there's some human interaction to at least modify
the script to grab the Subject line from the ad.
If you feel strongly about this subject, let the
webmonsters know at iml-webmonsters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Adding the scripts to do this won't be a big deal. However, you can also
consider selling your car or parts on E-Bay. You'll reach a larger audience but
you'll be paying for the privilege.
My vote is to leave it the way it is.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 11:16
PM
Subject: Re: IML: scams & ads
Mark;
The trouble is that Ebay makes people register in
order to ask questions and the like but , judging by what Jerry mentioned,
they still send through their nuisance e-mails. I used to get e-mail from
these clowns asking to buy my car whenever I posted a parts ad. Now I just add
a post script stating that the car is not for sale, least of all to
anyone sight unseen who has a poor command of the English
language.
So far it has worked so I do believe that they are
going through the ads manually and reading them, however many of the more
advaced spammers use a harvesting program to gather e-mail
addresses from other people's websites. Maybe one of the webmonsters
can say for sure whether the ad pages are secure from this sort of thing
but I always worry about those jerks plucking my e-mail address from
there. For example when I post an ad I have to include a working email
address such as monkeypuzzle1@xxxxxxx which the
spammer's programing can recognize. If I spell it out as
monkepuzzleoneatshawdotca; a human reading it can figure it out, a
harvester can't, but the website won't accept it.
Best Regards
Arran Foster
1954 Imperial Newport
Needing A Left Side Tailight Bezel and other trim
parts.
1975 Chrysler Newport
Can't wait to rip out the smog crap.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 7:42
PM
Subject: Re: IML: scams
Maybe you have something there. I'm against limiting who
views the ads, but perhaps we could set up a system to register (for free)
anyone who wants to reply to an ad???
This would mean masking or not
putting your e-mail address in an ad, if you're selling. It could only be
gotten from the administrator after the buyer gives his info???
Any
opinions on this, technical or otherwise? Would it stop it? Maybe if they
have to go through that extra step they won't bother (i really think a lot
of these are computer generated and only copy in the heading on our ads--
nobody actually sits there and writes them--??)
Mark M
On
Sunday, December 19, 2004, at 08:37 PM, Alex Ferch wrote:
Other
groups seem to have a way of limiting access to parts of the site to
members only. Perhaps this could be done? Granted it may negatively affect
sales for those of you that would be limiting your exposure to IML members
only. At least if a person was looking to scam somebody, they would have
to at least go through the trouble of registering before having access to
the postings. Well, it's not much of a thought, but it's all I've got.
Alex 63 Crown
Mark
McDonald wrote:
Dear Harold,
We all get them. It's
irritating but I just ignore them. It is a public site, so anyone can view
the ads and send these e-mails. I wish there was a way we could stop them,
but I don't know how. Maybe if we all reply at least once to let them know
we're onto the scam they'll give up (not likely).
Mark M
On
Sunday, December 19, 2004, at 08:50 PM, Harold Peek wrote:
I would
like to know why it is that every time I try to sell my Imperial on this
site I get many e-mails from people who just want to rip me off. If they
are not from the members of this site how do they get the info. In two
years I have recived two checks from people who think I was born
yeaterday. Is this a problem for anyone? Or is it just me? I would like
some feed back. Thank you
Pete.
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