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New folder suggestion: scammers

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Author	Message
mediashark Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599	Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:34 pm    Post subject: New folder suggestion: scammers Ok. Just wanting to see reactions here... How 'bout a folder just for those asking about scams (particularly those on dating scams)? The seem to attract the same answers and reactions, and perhaps it's good if it bring the issue into better light having a seperate folder. It would also be possible to make a blacklist of scammers there. I know, I know, people who get scammed may be idiots themselves, but better to let idiots just be idiots and not let criminals get away with $$$. And indeed, there are people who haevn't had a chance to hear about scammers... What do you think [/list]
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wavetossed WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 339	Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:37 pm    Post subject: I'd rather let the idiots be idiots, after all it's a free country. And let the criminals get away with their money if they can. Scam discussions on the Internet are totally pointless because we aren't going to change idiots into geniuses and the FBI and FSB don't read these forums. Both the FBI and the FSB offer open email addresses for people to send their reports of crimes. If some of these idiots would just report the criminals in private, instead of moaning and looking for sympathy, then perhaps there would be fewer scammers. And I think that is all that really needs to be said on the topic. But if you decide to open such a forum then I think I will fill it with reports about people running benefit fraud scams in the UK, and the people who make a living ripping off hotels by pretending to be wealthy people. And the many Britons who are running scams on eBay and who are cheating women and men on the UK's Internet dating sites.
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e VIP Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 654	Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:36 pm    Post subject: Instead of calling it "scammers", it should be called "Dating & Finding a Bride in Russia" as that is seemingly the most popular thread topic on this forum and how these guys get scammed in the first place. A subsection in there could deal with the scammers. It'll definatelty keep all the bride chasers & sex tourists in one place and we can pick out the scammers there. Problem with that is, it could attract you know who back...or someone similar to him.........
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Jutrzenkapolska VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:08 am    Post subject: All me a bleeding heart but I think that if we can, we should do our part to save these poor,unfortunate losers and their hard-earned cash.
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Rick Moderator Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 854 Location: Касабланка	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:58 am    Post subject: There's nothing that helps against stupidity. Even evolution didn't take care of it properly. There are plenty of sites already that concern themselves with this. For our own amusement, I would opt to preserve the idiots and let the scammers have their hard-earned cash. For our old American car, we had a manual of more than 300 pages, which is about 10 times as much as a manual for a European or Japanese car would be. Just to cover themselves against possible claims it contained information like 'do not wash the hood with thinner', 'use the parking break on slopes'. I don't think it is necessary to have a forum that tells people how to use their common sense. It will just be filled with useless tips, sad stories of naive people and lots of shouting and laughing at both of these.
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mediashark Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 3:26 pm    Post subject: Ok, points taken... On the other hand, it could be good to keep all these 'useless' posts in one place. They seem to attract flamebaits and you-know-who (he IS back, and was delt with swiftly). We can post law-enforcement contacts for the not-so-bright-and-lucky so that the scammed ones can report to them privately. Have to agree with e, it would be hard to have such a folder named Russian dating agencies/brides/dating agency scams etc. without attracting some you-know-whos....
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DITTRICH WayToRussified Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 429 Location: London UK	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 3:48 pm    Post subject: As far as I can see, the forums (fora) are supposed to be about russian tourism and NOT about finding someone to marry. There should be something in the forum rules about this. All such tawdry topics have no place here IMHO. Creating a new forum will only encourage more of them. They should be actively discouraged from posting in the first place (warnings) and I assume software can pick up key words to alert mods to remove offending posts. Les
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mediashark Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 3:55 pm    Post subject: Les--I wish.... that would make things A LOT easier for us, really. I mean we don't own this board, but the admin thinks it should be allowed in open discussion and perhaps it should... that's why I suggest a seperate folder to keep all those posts in one place. Not that everyone would actually bother to visit that folder... So, we need new rules, not a new folder?
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DITTRICH WayToRussified Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 429 Location: London UK	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 5:07 pm    Post subject: Thanks for the response, Mediashark. I think the administrator(s) have to think a bit about the type of audience they hope to attract to the website and forums. This site and forum has the potential to become IMHO very large because of the quality of information on the website. Nowhere else have I seen comparable information except maybe horizons unlimited (directed at motorcycle travellers). The forums have to be dedicated to enhancing and building this information. Questions about internet dating on a travel forum? It just doesn't make sense - on any level. My 2c Les PS no software key word screening? some administration!
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e VIP Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 654	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:47 pm    Post subject: Problem is Dittirch is that a: there always have been rules, not to mention the disclaimer when you sign on b: the rules and the disclaimer are almost always casually ignored c: The rules could be more rigrously enforced, but how much of "enforcement" would lead to censorship? I remember when moderation was restored a few months back, everyone screamed "censorship" and some people left. As much as we like to think of them as idiots, scum, or whatever, the reality is is that they aren't going anywhere, they will continue ignore the rules and the subject material of this website to keep coming in here despite being chastised and even banned (as Wu has proven) and they compose a majority of users of this forum, and a majority of people on the internet looking for information on Russia. Sad but true. I guess the admin is realistic and I am too in that they should be penned in one section of the forum to keep the rest of the forum free of their posts.
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wavetossed WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 339	Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:23 pm    Post subject: Jurtzenkapolska is right. Scammers work hard for their cash and we should support them. The victims have more cash than brains so there is no problem there. And Dittrich is right. Having a forum dedicated to finding a wife in Russia is not right for a Russian travel site. There are already many other sites on that topic. But, the idea of forum topics dedicated to different MODES of travel is a good one. One section for trains. One for cars. One for motorcycles. One for bicycles, foot travel, inline skates. These would be REALLY USEFUL forums and these are topics that are not covered elsewhere on the web. It would be really great to get some Russians to post about some of their expeditions. Every year, many Russians travel around their country by car, off-road 4x4, motorcycle, bicycle, etc. I have read about some of these expeditions on Russian language sites. If more westerners were aware that this is possible, then more people would visit Russia.
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mediashark Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599	Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:56 pm    Post subject: Like the idea of the modes of travel. We'll discuss this with Dmitry. As for the scammers/dating folder-- Ok, as a mod I think *something* has to be done with these posts about finding a Russian wife or checking out if that online contact is really a scam or not... Those are not related to travel. Personally I would like to keep them under tighter control or keep them out of the forum completely. As for the latter I'm afraid we don't really have the right to just censor them... Sure, they can ask for travel advice by all means regardless of their purpose of travel, but many people are unlikely to keep the purpose of visit out of their posts on WTR while asking a valid travel-related question.
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Rick Moderator Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 854 Location: Касабланка	Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:21 pm    Post subject: I remember there was an initiative of cyndy22's to open an adoption folder on the forum... That was not greeted with the same hostility, but the idea was actually welcomed. Still adoption is just as much a periferal issue. Keeping travel purposes out of the forum completely could be quite harmful to it's spirit. It adds flavour. You often do need the spices when you're cooking. In my opinion the issue is that this particular subject attracts trouble. Not only from those posters that we refer to with biblical terms as Him or He, but also by many of us who like to be a bit impulsive in our writings at times. A folder of it's own would make it easier to manage this and keep other places in the forum clean from the resulting flames. But it would at the same time attract people that are interested in these 'services'. Will this subject become a full-grown part of the forum this way? Do we want this? Once again, a poll wavetossed wrote: But, the idea of forum topics dedicated to different MODES of travel is a good one. One section for trains. One for cars. One for motorcycles... I remember all those threads on people wanting to cross the Bering strait, drive across the entirity of Russia by car etc. These adventurous subjects would really get a place of their own... We could open another thread on this, to figure out how to shape it. Or start with it right away
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