ATTENTION-ALL MEMBERS-For your security

[Heather3418]

I've recently read a few messages about "Trolls," people who hang out on forums looking for victims or just to sort of be a pain the neck. Sometimes they report other people for posts that they say are a violation of the rules, in an attempt to get the member booted. Whatever the specific behavior, their agenda has nothing to do with the forum.

These folks can be dangerous, because they will use private messages to ask for your regular email address, start up a correspondence there, and move on to snag personal information about you. Often, they present as people who are down on their luck, just looking for someone to talk to and sometimes they seem to present romantic possibilties. Because forums such as ours often have a high population of people who feel "safe" here, it is easy for a troll to form and then violate a trust.

How do you tell a troll? Some are easy: they engage in profane, pornographic or threatening language, try to pick a fight, etc. These are the obvious ones. Just pass them along to me and I'll make them go away. The others are usually new to the forums, and while they may present a credible enough picture of themselves, watch out for requests for your personal email address, phone, address or anything else that might disclose who you are and where you are. They may also not post much on the public forums, but rather present themselves in private messages. Bear this in mind -the professional troll may already HAVE some information about you, such as a credit card number, and be looking for one last bit of data to set you up for identity theft. These folks can be very clever.

If you think that you've been dealing with a troll of any kind, let me know. If the individual has been successful in learning some details about you, also contact me and I will see what I can do to help.


Heather

[doni54]

Yea, that Quix might be trying to find out where we live so she can come after us with her scary cooking utensils!!!!!!!

Just kidding, but it does make for a funny picture.

You girls and gals be  careful out there!

doni

[Momzilla]

I always tell my kids, if something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't.  Taking your time was a good idea.

Fast friends are nice, but the same can be achieved through private messaging.  So much is at stake.  You continue to be the sage one....

P.S.  Thanks for looking out, Heather!

[Heather3418]

Yes, I called you Jazzy Pants...it's an endearing name...trust me!

Did you know that Quix makes the female body stockings with the "banoobies" in the back or down on one leg?  Go Figure!

[essdipity]

A couple of months ago I got a private Medhelp message from someone who I think is in Japan. Not sure. He said he has the same symptoms as I do and gave his personal email address, wanting to correspond.

After a day or two I sent him back a message wishing him luck and suggesting he read the forum for lots of good info. I gave no personal info myself. He may have been quite legit, but either way I think my advice was good. Never heard from him again.

ess

[Jazzyfizzle]

Scary indeed. I have witnessed this type of thing on a dog forum. These people know how to look for the ususpecting, so keep an eye out.

LOL I knew there was something about Quix....  hehehe


Jazzy

[Heather3418]

Be assured that it is no one that has actually posted on the forum before.  So not to worry.  They private messaged a member and the person was reported to MedHelp who immediately shut down their account.  This only happened last night.

I don't want everyone to get paranoid about everybody we talk to on the forum.  Just use your common sense about those that seem alittle odd, that you have never seen before if they ask for personal information about you right off the bat.  Especially someone that writes you a PM that you've never talked to before....

Heather

P.S.  Yeah Zill, better watch out for that Quix lady...I hear she knits funny looking body stockings...

[Momzilla]

Hey, Hot Legs~

Have you ever noticed how much Quix is interested in so many people here, like asking for our medical information and stuff....She certainly is a Nosy Parker, isn't she?!


Now, I don't want to get rumors started, but the woman does know how to make you trust her, doesn't she....?

And you may remember--we never DID figure out if Penn's hubby was trying to kill her with the recliner chair on their vacation weekend!  Two suspects.  Penn's hubby or Quix.  That's all I got, Hot Legs.

Always thinking,

Zilla*    

[grannyhotwheels]

You told us what to look for and then you said that you think we have only had one troll here on this forum.  Is there any way that you might tell us who this troll was?  I'm asking this because I have exchanged addresses and phone numbers with an online forum member.  I thought we had became very good friends.  But, now they are no where to be found.  The e-mail address I have gets returned by the mailer demon every time I try it.

Others may have done this too.  If you tell us who it is we can go back and see what they said in their posts and then we will know exactly what to look for.

If this in any way is something you don't feel like you can do I completely understand.  You are such a great person for taking care of us like you do.  I know for one I appreciate you more than you know.

I'll be praying,
Carol

[doni54]

Thanks for the info.  I have heard of this kind of thing before, but never even related it to our forum.

It seems that no matter what you are doing these days you have to be on guard from some bad guy (or gal).  It is really sad when you think of it.  People preying on others for there own gain.  So, so sad, that someone would hurt people who are already dealing with insurmountable health issues.  

Thanks again for taking such good care of all or us.

doni

[Eliza3]

Thanks for this information.
Back in October I had my info stolen and my bank account wiped out. what happened was I opened an email that was from someone I thought I knew from on line. They were able to retrieve my info. My son took my computer destroyed it and built me a new one using a different operating system. Hackers don't like using this operating system. Thank God for a nerdy son.
To everyone listen to Heather. Thieves use to be seen now they can hide and con much easier and there is a spilt second that when and email is sent and you open it they can retrieve your info, bank account info, and credit cards and you won't even know it happened. Now you may think your bank is protected but there is an opportunity for hackers to get in and wipe you out. This was explained to me by the fraud department from my bank. I did though get all my money back in 3 days. The bank was really good. By the way I had the best protection I could get and they still got in. My bank caught it the day it happened but I was at my neuro and didn't respond. So the bank presumed it was me transferring my money to another bank. I called when I got home and the money was refunded to me in 3 days. The theft of my money was the lest of my worries, my personal info is out there now. My advise is Do Not Give any Info out on the computer or on the phone and be careful when opening emails. Take personal info off your computer don't just delete; it is still in the hard drive. It needs to be erased off your hard drive.
Just remember and protect your self. Don't live in fear, have fun, If you live in fear then they will have won.

Thanks
Heather oh so much!!!!

[Heather3418]

As far as I am aware, we have only had one troll.  This is a great forum and filled with loving and caring people.  I have no concerns about our current population of great members.  NONE!

This kind of "troll" thing has been happening in various places but wanted all of you to made aware of what has been going around.  I think we should still be relaxed here, as always, but always keep in the back of our minds, that there are people that troll the Internet, only to gain information about others for less than valid reasons.

Thanks,
Heather

[tmjfibro]

TO HEATHER
THANK YOU FOR MAKING US AWARE OF SUCH PEOPLE
I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THIS FORUM CLEAN
A FEW BAD ONES CAN SPOIL IT FOR SO MANY GOOD


TMJFIBRO .

[LATW]

THAT IS NOT GOOD.  TOO BAD TOO BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF US HERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. TOO BAD ONE OR TWO BAD PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE US WONDER ABOUT EVERYONE.

LA

[gollie]

thanks for the heads up,  Take care Gollie

[AMERS389]

Thanks I never heard of that before and I can be gullible trying to help others so thanks...so far so good..Amers

[Rena705]

Thanks for helping to keep it clean...good job!!

Rena705

[young at heart]

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T

[kitten o]

HI HEATHER,
THANKS A LOT FOR THE INFO.
I WILL BE ON THE LOOK OUT.
HOPE ALL IS WELL,
THANKS AGAIN
KITT

[Heather3418]

bump