Fake Geocacher

[+TheRichFather]

Got a log on one of our lonely caches here in the Johnstown-Altoona area from a cacher known as progc. http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=c22a9f3f-f3b7-40a8-baaa-60e454200576.

 

This account was opened on 9/2/15 and has over 1,800 finds already, globally. So either this guy has a teleportation device and a very good sense of where caches are or is an obvious fake. Could Groundspeak do something about this?

 

This is not even a question of "well, everyone plays the game how they like". This is obviously a scammer.

 

Upon further investigation, looking at all of the logs, I noticed this little bit in the bottom of his logs:

 

Found using extra hints from xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

 

So all he is doing is advertising a website.

Edited September 5, 2015 by TheRichFather

[+Sapience Trek]

Looks like HQ locked the account.

[Rock Chalk]

We've locked the account and will be removing the logs.

[+GeoBain]

 

Upon further investigation, looking at all of the logs, I noticed this little bit in the bottom of his logs:

 

Found using extra hints from xxxxxxxxxx

 

So all he is doing is advertising a website.

 

You may want to edit your post so you're not advertising for the guy.

 

Note: I altered the quote and turned the URL to xxxxxxxxx

[+TheRichFather]

 

Upon further investigation, looking at all of the logs, I noticed this little bit in the bottom of his logs:

 

Found using extra hints from xxxxxxxxxx

 

So all he is doing is advertising a website.

 

You may want to edit your post so you're not advertising for the guy.

 

Note: I altered the quote and turned the URL to xxxxxxxxx

 

Good idea.

[+TheRichFather]

Wow. This appears to be a syndicate or a program or something because I just got a one of those fake hits on one of MY caches...

 

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=815e5e35-06f3-456a-9310-a40fa298dff0

[Pup Patrol]

Wow. This appears to be a syndicate or a program or something because I just got a one of those fake hits on one of MY caches...

 

All you need to do is contact Groundspeak.

 

A new thread about the same spammer isn't necessary.

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=334750

 

The account has been locked and any finds deleted already.

 

B.

[+Cairngorm]

Today I've seen four different logs so far, one on a rarely-found mystery cache, all mentioning hints or cheats from the same website (which doesn't open here). Each of them has around a hundred finds today all over the globe.

 

One of the users is your friend progc, which is an anagram of the website name. All the others have four digits at the ends of their names.

 

It looks like some kind of automated attack on GC. But where's the fun in that?

Edited September 5, 2015 by Cairngorm

[+J Grouchy]

Weird...I just saw one of those logs pop up today on a cache I'm watching. What sort of stupid scam is this? I gather it's a way to get folks to click the URL link?

[+Dame Deco]

I tried a link to it just to see--I put in a GC code, the it said "download one of these free apps and get access"--needless to say, I didn't download anything! Still--the names are all similar on the logs--a name followed by a 4 digit number with 99 or 100 finds. That makes me think it isn't real cachers doing the logging. Seems more like something to get people to click on the link. The finds seem very random--not all lonely caches or 5/5s, etc. Some of the finds are on easy caches found recently.

[+Dame Deco]

Wow--I just clicked on a cache I found a week ago in Colorado, hit "find nearby caches," then "last found," and there are a dozen totally different accounts logging this same thing with the link today.

[+kikonan]

Weird...I just saw one of those logs pop up today on a cache I'm watching. What sort of stupid scam is this? I gather it's a way to get folks to click the URL link?

I have just received two notifications of found on my cache GC2RHVZ from the fake cachers Horn9311 and Durham7528. It seems to be a robot logging as there were caches from Canada and Germany on their found list today.... Could someone from Groundspeak deal with this?

 

Kiko

[geocache.fi]

Fake geocacher -list from Finnish geocaches:

 

Abel1148

Antwan193

Arnulfo2269

Bartlett9901

Bert376

Bert382

Brock8408

Cliff669

Cross9600

Daniel9531

Davenport3054

Dennis1846

Deshawn6675

Desmond1161

Donny535

Elisha6846

Esteban5494

Forest6021

Godfrey2896

Godfrey2899

Goodwin2654

Granville7219

Hanson3163

Harrison1786

Hendrickson8714

Holden9491

Horn9311

Isreal6488

Jackie1904

Jarod6227

Jarod7835

Joel1304

Kendall1240

Kendall2997

Lacy7396

Landry3140

Laurence809

Lyons3757

Marshall6053

Mcgee3326

Merrill2350

Merrill2353

Mueller8905

Nelson1397

Nelson3183

Normand5599

Orville943

Otto1631

Parsons3384

Pat5416

progc

Reed8555

Rex845

Rex847

Ricky5336

Riley1499

Riley1513

Roberts2771

Sal7032

Sanford2925

Thomas5518

Tracy133

Wiggins8433

Will5573

[+jellis]

Fake geocacher -list from Finnish geocaches:

 

Abel1148

Antwan193

Arnulfo2269

Bartlett9901

Bert376

Bert382

Brock8408

Cliff669

Cross9600

Daniel9531

Davenport3054

Dennis1846

Deshawn6675

Desmond1161

Donny535

Elisha6846

Esteban5494

Forest6021

Godfrey2896

Godfrey2899

Goodwin2654

Granville7219

Hanson3163

Harrison1786

Hendrickson8714

Holden9491

Horn9311

Isreal6488

Jackie1904

Jarod6227

Jarod7835

Joel1304

Kendall1240

Kendall2997

Lacy7396

Landry3140

Laurence809

Lyons3757

Marshall6053

Mcgee3326

Merrill2350

Merrill2353

Mueller8905

Nelson1397

Nelson3183

Normand5599

Orville943

Otto1631

Parsons3384

Pat5416

progc

Reed8555

Rex845

Rex847

Ricky5336

Riley1499

Riley1513

Roberts2771

Sal7032

Sanford2925

Thomas5518

Tracy133

Wiggins8433

Will5573

Add

Milo1870

Roy5283

[+jellis]

Maybe GC should put a freeze on new accounts til this is taken care of.

[+wide glide]

I had 4 caches by 4 different cachers under this same set up. I just deleted them!

[+Team Hugs]

Groundspeak knows. They're working on it.

[+British Invasion]

found another Esteban5486

[+jellis]

Someone suggest that if GC can filter new members with the specific link on them

[+Ma & Pa]

I got some from some of these names but with different digits at the end of nic, so must be tons of fake nics and logs

[+Ma & Pa]

One of the ones I got was from progc, as did many others, and now that log is gone, not sure why

[+jellis]

You mean gcpro? Maybe GC found the CURE?

[+Ma & Pa]

You mean gcpro? Maybe GC found the CURE?

actually was from progc

[+lee737]

I hope I don't get considered a spammer!

[+jellis]

I just also notice the OP mentioned this started on the 2nd of Sept. I look at the list of my caches and most if they were hit were taken care or legit finds. But one stands out that I don't remember getting an email from one of mine that has been archived for years. Doesn't have that many finds on it and all look good so hopefully it was a fake cacher and was removed.

[+lakedawgs]

Here's another.... Lacy7390

[+jellis]

Here's another.... Lacy7390

When was this? This account doesn't exist. Only list current ones.

[Rock Chalk]

Here's another.... Lacy7390

When was this? This account doesn't exist. Only list current ones.

 

It did exist until not many minutes ago. After lakedawgs reported it, the account was then banned and the Found It logs removed.

[+wmpastor]

Wow. This appears to be a syndicate or a program or something because I just got a one of those fake hits on one of MY caches...

 

All you need to do is contact Groundspeak.

 

A new thread about the same spammer isn't necessary.

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=334750

 

The account has been locked and any finds deleted already.

 

B.

 

Except (1) news is interesting and (2) it alerts others as to types of scams going on. For example, the nightly spam-bot barrage has apparently stopped, but the latest trend is for humans to post something and sneak in a little advertisement.

[+jellis]

Well I guess it is starting up again. Please contact HQ any new ones. Two of my friends just had some

[+jellis]

Well I guess it is starting up again. Please contact HQ any new ones. Two of my friends just had some

Ooops I just got hit

Robert513

[+MountainWoods]

Well I guess it is starting up again. Please contact HQ any new ones. Two of my friends just had some

Ooops I just got hit

Robert513

Yeah, they can't even spell. It should have been Robot513!

[+Mad H@ter]

And another two:

 

Everette327

Bud5184

[+Harry Dolphin]

Oddly, when they removed the 09/05/15 log on my cache, it is still listed as found on 09/05/2015 if I sort my caches by "Last Find".

[+jellis]

Oddly, when they removed the 09/05/15 log on my cache, it is still listed as found on 09/05/2015 if I sort my caches by "Last Find".

Mine too. But that is how I find them too if I already deleted the email.

[+jellis]

Thanks to the Geocaching team that stopped this hack quickly. :D :D :D :D

[+macatac1961]

Thanks to the Geocaching team that stopped this hack quickly. :D :D :D :D

Did they stop it? I just got one. ...can they stop it?

[+TyroneShoelaces]

Looks like they could be at it again. Just saw a log posted for GC343N8 by user "Berry2361" with the telltale signature for the malware at the end of their log. Is there a place besides this thread to report this?

[+msrubble]

I just got hit with three on one cache.

 

Hendrickson8718

Montgomery4622

Sang5243

[+Team Microdot]

Another one

 

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=f0ad4dca-40d0-4f87-b57a-4244fdfe91a1

[+justintim1999]

Just got 3 about 10 minutes ago.

[+Jffok]

I just go four new ones within the last few minutes. I know Groundspeak is working on this but wish they would get it blocked. Thought they did about three weeks ago but mine bogus logs started back yesterday,

[+LFC4eva]

They seem to be back with a vengeance..

 

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=e2b1af01-fde2-4d3e-b00b-6b0c9f33d78b

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=6c7f68b2-224e-427d-b21d-adccaa824994

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=a8863da3-ca8b-4ed0-a3c4-2eb73bb5a00f

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=34f38397-753e-4341-b13a-913d814ceef1

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=bf32f33a-a6aa-4c5c-9f07-f322ae461038

[+Rkoehn1]

Donaldson8939

Houston8689

Duffy4312

 

Is there a better place to report these?

 

The seem to be more targeted to get hits this time around. The don't mention "cheats" but are using "found this geo" (instead of "found this cache").

 

This is my very exciting first post on here.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Rkoehn1

[Pup Patrol]

They seem to be back with a vengeance..

 

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=e2b1af01-fde2-4d3e-b00b-6b0c9f33d78b

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=6c7f68b2-224e-427d-b21d-adccaa824994

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=a8863da3-ca8b-4ed0-a3c4-2eb73bb5a00f

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=34f38397-753e-4341-b13a-913d814ceef1

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=bf32f33a-a6aa-4c5c-9f07-f322ae461038

 

Groundspeak has already taken care of those ones.

 

B.

[+Dr.MORO]

Domo moderators,

 

Could you merge three (3) related treads?

 

Fake Geocacher (Posted 05 September 2015 - 10:32 AM)

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=334746

 

Another fake geocacher (Posted 05 September 2015 - 12:56 PM)

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=334750

 

and mine, "Bogus Found logs, many different user of ####.co.uk" (Posted Today, 01:12 PM)

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=335151

 

Sorry and Thanks!

 

Careful what you click!

 

~ Dr.MORO

 

(Edit: Typos...)

Edited September 25, 2015 by Dr.MORO

[+jellis]

Dr Domo if you didn't start a new one there wouldn't be a reason to merge.

[+macsla]

one more:

 

Todd1946 on http://coord.info/GC2TQCQ

[+Manville Possum]

Dr Domo if you didn't start a new one there wouldn't be a reason to merge.

 

I count four threads on the same subject.

 

Newest one.

[+JeepinOregon]

With the influx of these fake accounts/logs and subsequent threads on the forums, this is a good opportunity for established members to show patience and foster good relationships with cachers that are trying to do the right thing...