Is there a way to get rid of this spammer?

[Samalicious]

They only post in areas like "Stories" where there's no "report" button.

[Spam copy deleted by moderator]

[therealdoctorlew]

Spam on Supertaster:

http://www.chow.com/stories/12005

[Star12]

spam here:

http://www.chow.com/stories/12008

[jwg]

don't they need an email to register a name? I assume that you've blocked all new accounts using the underlying email.

[Jacquilynne]

Only one account can be registered per email address, so there's no real blocking of an email address to take place -- it's blocked from registered a new account by the fact that it's registered an old account.

The thing to remember about spammers is that they're not generally one person sitting there spamming. They're teams of people in spam sweatshops, or they're programmed bots that go around to all sorts of similar sites doing similar things. It makes it a bit harder to stop them, since the kind of roadblocks that might annoy one person into stopping (having to register a new temp email account every time they need a new ID, for example) aren't annoying to spam operations.

[jfood]

how about the programmers placing something in the code that will not accept the web page or an auto-delete when this character string is placed on a site from this spammer. Just a thought from a non-programmer.

[rworange]

Here's some more
http://www.chow.com/profile/1134534/a...

Does anyone know if this is a link to a real business website? I don't click on blind links like that. It seems they could be reported to their internet provider if that is a website for cyber-vandalism. If indeed it is a business, they should also be reported to Paypal.

My favorite line from this spam is "SAFTY & HONESTY GUARANTEE!!"

This from someone ... if it is a business ... is trying to steal free advertising and violating the rules of this site.

Sure, send them your money and they will send you a postcard from Paris.

[The Chowhound Team]

Thank you RW

[queencru]

I ran a google search on the site and found reports that it is full of malware and sells only low-quality fakes. I didn't go to it myself, but this group is spamming all over the internet. I just found a similar comment on the Baltimore Sun and I can only assume this guy is many other places.

[LauraB706]

zhiyue has morphed once again :

new name is zhiyue19685.
http://www.chow.com/profile/1134151/a...

is it possible to just block All the names that include zhiyue in them ?

[queencru]

He's back again as amei96852 in Gender Bending in Restaurant Restrooms.

[The Chowhound Team]

Thanks, we got that one.

[queencru]

It still appears to be there, or the poster made another post with a new account after you removed it.

[bdachow]

Concur, still there unfortunately. Am glad I found this thread, would seriously reconsider using Chow if spammers managed to take hold of this site.

[queencru]

Back in that topic again as jingxue6985 .

[Allstonian]

http://www.chow.com/profile/1133954/a...

[hannaone]

www .chow.com/stories/12000#comment_42809
www .chow.com/stories/11989#comment_42808

[LauraB706]

10 hours later, and now zhimin986 they've morped to zhimin9856

http://www.chow.com/profile/1133351/a...

[LauraB706]

Here's another one to add to your long list of spammers

VCJV

http://www.chow.com/profile/1133348/a...

[LauraB706]

Dear Chow Moderators,

Is it possible to have "button/link" on each of the storie/recipe pages so true chowhounds can report the spammers ASAP ?

Or at least s brief sentence on how to handle spammers on the page? The spammers have taken over the last couple of weeks, and it is unclear to the average chower has to how tjhey can report it .

[Jacquilynne]

Both of those would require development work, unfortunately.

Generally people are reporting the spammers fairly quickly, and we're kind of keeping an eye out for likely usernames, as well.

[LauraB706]

Many many people do NOT know how to repor t spammers.

I don't see how putting "a brief sentence on how to handle spammers on the page" is so complicated that the Development Team needs to put in any overtime.

Simple add a sentence to the page's template.

I and many others hope that Chow.com implements this very soon. The more spammers, the less likely true chowhounds will frequent the site.

[JohnMich]

The spammers are back on Cognac Shrimp Bisque under new guise of zhimin986

[LauraB706]

Moderators, PLEASE ban zhimin986 from Chow asap.
ALL of their posts are spam.
Thank you !!

http://www.chow.com/profile/1133188/a...

[queencru]

xiunyue6352 is spamming in Hovering Kitchen Guest.

[Allstonian]

And in many other stories as well...
http://www.chow.com/profile/1132521/a...

[The Chowhound Team]

This spammer has been de-activated and the spam has been removed. Thanks for the heads up on this. This is a very persistent spam plot and we appreciate the help.

The Chowhound Team

[Shivaun]

I'm afraid he seems to have managed to reactivate himself at the bottom of this thread:
http://www.chow.com/stories/11992

[Allstonian]

And once again on many other stories also:
http://www.chow.com/profile/1132766/a...

[queencru]

It seems like he's making variations on the same name with slightly different spellings and number combinations, making it harder to de-activate him.

[queencru]

He's back in Hovering Guests as zhimin986.

[davis_sq_pro]

http://www.chow.com/stories/11988

xinyue19652

Why is there no Report button on story comments?

[Star12]

http://www.chow.com/stories/11983

He's here, too.

[Jacquilynne]

It's totally different software, and there's no report option built into it.

Thanks again for the reports.

[Star12]

Spammer again at end of "Tamales" thread.

AND at end of "Latke" thread.

Thanks for taking care of these.

[MsRetro]

xinyue19652 is back at it in the veggie chili comments:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/667060

[Ernie Diamond]

xinyue196852 - spamming in grapefruit bitters.

[LauraB706]

xinyue1936 is a spammer. Only posts to recipes and stories. Can he be removed from chow.com ? please help.

Here's his recent activity. ALL is spam
http://www.chow.com/profile/1130715/a...

[The Chowhound Team]

Thanks for the report. We took care of it.

[LauraB706]

xinyue19638 is spamming (slightly different name)

http://www.chow.com/profile/1131652/activity
http://www.chow.com/stories/11987

[The Chowhound Team]

Thank you again

[krautman]

Nope. Still spamming. Here's one from Dec 15th. http://www.chow.com/stories/11576

[krautman]

xinyue 19682

Also here yet again: http://www.chow.com/recipes/27662

[Allstonian]

And again...all over the place!

http://www.chow.com/profile/1132263/a...

[The Chowhound Team]

Thanks. All cleaned up.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Reported three times the other day.

[The Chowhound Team]

Yes, this spammer/group of spammers is both active and not easily tracked, but you only need to report each spammer once, and we'll get that post as well as the rest of the spam. Thanks for your help!

[rworange]

Would it be possible to remove the link from the OP? Isn't that giving these people what they want? An ad and a link to their website? I don't click on links like that so for all I know it is a dead end, but if not, maybe remove it?

[The Chowhound Team]

Good point... done.

[jfood]

Nice and great catch RW

[jfood]

reported ~5 times the other day

[porker]

I used the 'report' button on these guys last week...

[Gio]

I did too when I saw the post on every local board and all the others as well....

[The Chowhound Team]

Yes, a link would be most helpful. We'll take a look. Thanks for reporting it.

[c oliver]

You can copy the link and email to the mods.

[LauraB706]

Many many people do NOT know how to repor t spammers.

I don't see how putting "a brief sentence on how to handle spammers on the page" is so complicated that the Development Team needs to put in any overtime.

Simple add a sentence to the page's template.

I and many others hope that Chow.com implements this very soon. The more spammers, the less likely true chowhounds will frequent the site.