Ad/Contest Scan - Writers Forum

Hawke · 12-15-2006, 08:45 PM

To new members, WF is much like the news - meaning if it’s on WF, it’s assumed safe and legitimate. WF is a fun and safe place for its members, as well it should be. And I certainly commend the staff for their hard work and efforts to make and keep the site that way. But there is one area where it could be improved upon. I’m talking about scammers posting bogus “contests” without some sort of submission and reasonable check first, though I do realize that there is still the possibility of a scammer getting through no matter how well checked. Still, a rule making such posts mandatory submission to staff only, a check threat by staff, and to be posted by staff only, might help deter scammers from trying to post on WF altogether and make WF just a little bit safer. Is that possible? And/or perhaps even set up a forum for approved contests that only staff can post to - then everyone could see a warning above that forum that if a contest isn't in here, it isn't legit. (?)

Just a thought.

mammamaia · 12-16-2006, 11:39 AM

sounds like a lot of unnecessary work for the volunteer mods, who have lives to live outside the forum... a sticky to advise members to check out all such posters thoroughly, before submitting anything, should be all that's needed... and there may indeed be such a thing already posted above the contests forum...

then, there are those of us [myself, included] who see a responsibility to the younger and less wary here, and often do the checking ourselves, posting our findings in the thread as either a stamp of approval or warning of a potential [or definite] scam...

practically speaking, there really isn't anything more that can be done, short of hiring someone to work full time on tracking down all of those posts... besides which, if the site were to put its stamp of approval on anything and then that turn out to be a scam, they might well be at risk of legal action by the scammed one/s who trusted their imprimatur... not a wise thing to do, imo...

Hawke · 12-16-2006, 12:04 PM

True that, mammamia. My apologies. I just meant that we don't get an overload of them, just one or two here and there, and it took me all of thirty seconds on google (if that) to check it out and post my findings. I hate scammers who take advantage with promises they'll likely never fulfill. To allow them free rein here irks me is all.

silverwriter · 12-16-2006, 04:24 PM

Good point on if something turns out to be a scam, but an initial check to filter out some of the completely idiotic scams would be nice. Tell me how and what checks to run sites through, and I'd do it.

Otherwise, maybe just a sticky listing scam ads that we've had on the site so far?