Suspicious and Possible Spamming by WInstep Forums????

skyzyk · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 12:13 am

I recieved an e-mail with your lettergead stating that spam was detected on my computer and that I needed to pass a test by running this anti spyware app and there is a link to the site. When I tried to go, WOT and McAfee both rang alarms.

The e-mail was signed James Cutter Winstep Admin. WHI IS THIS PERSON? I she an emplopyee of Winstep?

What the heck is this? How does this happen on a site like this? This is the second time I get such message. I really don't need this forum if that was about.

mike b1954 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:19 am

skyzyk wrote:

I recieved an e-mail with your lettergead stating that spam was detected on my computer and that I needed to pass a test by running this anti spyware app and there is a link to the site. When I tried to go, WOT and McAfee both rang alarms.

The e-mail was signed James Cutter Winstep Admin. WHI IS THIS PERSON? I she an emplopyee of Winstep?

What the heck is this? How does this happen on a site like this? This is the second time I get such message. I really don't need this forum if that was about.

I got the same ... whats going on , folks at Winstep ... Jorge ?

winstep · **Joined:** Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:30 pm **Posts:** 12283

The new trend in forum spam is not spamming the forums themselves but its users via Private Messages.

Unfortunately this one caught me while I was sleeping and therefore had a few hours to do his deed. He has been baned already, of course, which also automatically deletes any unread private messages from him (which explains what happened if you receive a PM notification and then find an empty Inbox).

Although I remove and ban spammers as soon as I'm aware of them, when dealing with private messages originating from the Winstep forums please take as many precautions as you would if the same message had been received by email.

In the future, please also keep in mind that the only one with authority to speak for Winstep is me.

Apologies for what happened,

kutagh · **Joined:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:19 pm **Posts:** 266

Rule of thumb: do not click links in private messages or forums unless you are 100% sure you can trust it... Wait, make that everywhere on the Internet.

skyzyk · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 5:04 pm

winstep wrote:

The new trend in forum spam is not spamming the forums themselves but its users via Private Messages.

Unfortunately this one caught me while I was sleeping and therefore had a few hours to do his deed. He has been baned already, of course, which also automatically deletes any unread private messages from him (which explains what happened if you receive a PM notification and then find an empty Inbox).

Although I remove and ban spammers as soon as I'm aware of them, when dealing with private messages originating from the Winstep forums please take as many precautions as you would if the same message had been received by email.

In the future, please also keep in mind that the only one with authority to speak for Winstep is me.

Thank yo Jorge for taking action on the invaders.

Apologies for what happened,

Winstep

Software Technologies

Winstep Forums

Suspicious and Possible Spamming by WInstep Forums????