+Jayeffel Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 (edited) Reporting misuse of the message center, I received now messages- I did not read- from Fishman8274 8:10 AM with a link to a website for decidedly not geocaching interest. How can this be blocked from Geocaching.com? Actually a few message, may not be the same person but has the same wording. Edited July 2, 2020 by Jayeffel add info 1 Link to comment
+bjohio Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 I have also received at least 10 inappropriate messages from users. It would appear, many of these users haven't used their accounts in a while. I recommended that they all change their passwords, and I also reported those accounts in an email to geocaching.com. Link to comment
Keystone Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 There have reports over the last few days of spam arriving in geocacher email inboxes. Geocaching HQ have already been working to resolving this matter. Today, spam appears to also be arriving via the Geocaching Message Center. These messages come from different addresses, with similar message text. Geocaching HQ has already been made aware. It would appear the same message is being sent simultaneously to groups of geocaching users at the same time. After receiving the initial spam message, users have replied to the message, not realizing they are sending dozens (if not hundreds) of replies to other recipients. If you receive one of these spam messages - DO NOT REPLY and DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS. Your geocaching mobile app may be providing a notification when a message has been received - which could result in many notifications. You can disable notifications on your smartphone for any apps that may be constantly alerting (email, Geocaching app) If you also wish to disable email notifications for Message Centre messages: Log into your Geocaching account via web browser Go to Settings (in the top right, click on the down arrow) Go to Email Preferences Remove the checkmark beside Message Centre 3 Link to comment
+cghove Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 How about you temporarily shut down the message senter as you investiate.... Link to comment
Keystone Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Just now, cghove said: How about you temporarily shut down the message senter as you investiate.... I am a regulatory compliance manager for a large bank, and I'm located three timezones away from Geocaching HQ. How exactly do you suggest that I do that? 3 Link to comment
+cghove Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 My bad phrasing, you as in geocaching HQ Link to comment
Keystone Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Right. It is 6:45 in the morning there. But, Lackeys are already aware of today's issue. 2 Link to comment
Frau Potter Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 We have been investigating the issue for quite some time. We believe that someone is spamming our community, but sometimes making it appear as if the messages are coming from an active user. We do not believe they were actually sent by that user. There is no need to reply to the messages or to notify HQ about accounts. We will work to resolve this issue. 2 1 Link to comment
+ecanderson Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 46 minutes ago, Keystone said: I am a regulatory compliance manager for a large bank, and I'm located three timezones away from Geocaching HQ. How exactly do you suggest that I do that? And I thought you were a glutton for punishment being a moderator here. Bank regulatory compliance?!? My condolences and respect! 4 Link to comment
+geocruise Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Add me to the list of spam messages this morning. Link to comment
C.A. Duke Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 @Keystone I hope they find a way to fix it soon. Link to comment
+IndyTechNerd Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Yup, 5 messages, I think, came through to email. Probably a dozen from a single user (not matching any of the users from the email notifications). If any of y'all got a message from me, I had nothing to do with it, promise. Link to comment
+Max and 99 Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 13 minutes ago, IndyTechNerd said: Yup, 5 messages, I think, Only 5??? 160 so far to me, and no signs of it stopping. Help, Signal!! 1 1 Link to comment
+CCFwasG Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 1 minute ago, Max and 99 said: Only 5??? 160 so far to me, and no signs of it stopping. Help, Signal!! I have well over that number now! More than 200 emails. And I switched off email notifications and they STILL keep coming. This is not just insanity - I can barely see my regular email now amongst all the spam!!!!! 2 Link to comment
+Max and 99 Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 (edited) 19 minutes ago, CCFwasGoldies said: I have well over that number now! More than 200 emails. And I switched off email notifications and they STILL keep coming. This is not just insanity - I can barely see my regular email now amongst all the spam!!!!! That's frustrating for me to. I was fortunate to spot a real message amongst the 400. Edited July 2, 2020 by Max and 99 1 1 Link to comment
+CCFwasG Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 3 minutes ago, Max and 99 said: That's frustrating for me to. I was fortunate to spot a real message amongst the 200. I received another 5 or more since I posted that - getting almost 2-3 per minute. This is INSANE. I can't believe they have not sent someone in to put out the fire, it is almost 9am in Seattle. What a [expletive] show. 2 1 Link to comment
+RocTheCacheBox Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 I also have received these messages. And messages telling ME to stop. This issue has been going on since at least June 25 as referenced in a previous thread. Aware of the problem for a week and not resolving it? Need another week or two? 1 Link to comment
+CCFwasG Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 13 minutes ago, RocTheCacheBox said: I also have received these messages. And messages telling ME to stop. This issue has been going on since at least June 25 as referenced in a previous thread. Aware of the problem for a week and not resolving it? Need another week or two? I turned off email notifications for the message center nd am still getting spammed so clearly it is operating through the email system, ie some spammer has my address (and many others). Also saw via Twitter that this started on 25 June. So to say I am p*ssed off at Groundspeak is a massive understatement. 2 Link to comment
+CCFwasG Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Lovely. Now someone is reacting to posts to say it is "funny". Apparently some lovely hacker has it out for GC... or some of us. 3 Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Wow... This isn't the first time similar has happened. Eventually it got fixed. No wonder someone's amused... Mine couldn't be repeated like some in the other, multiple threads on the same subject have done. Above, a Mod showed how to temp-fix it for now. A lackey even responded to say "We will work to resolve this issue". No offense, and sure it's frustrating, but is this really the first time this has ever happened to you ? Link to comment
Keystone Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 54 minutes ago, RocTheCacheBox said: I also have received these messages. And messages telling ME to stop. This issue has been going on since at least June 25 as referenced in a previous thread. Aware of the problem for a week and not resolving it? Need another week or two? The issue which began June 25th involved the email function. Steps were taken to address that. Have you seen a reocurrence of that prior issue? Today's new issue involves the Message Center, and HQ immediately started working in the wee hours of the morning to begin addressing it. 2 Link to comment
Frau Potter Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Geocaching HQ is aware that a user sent many spam messages through the Message Center today, July 2, 2020. The user was able to make it appear as if the messages came from another geocacher, in a group chat with many other users. We realize this caused a great deal of confusion. We recommend you do not reply to any of these messages. We do not believe this user had access to your account, or the account of other users. You do not need to delete the app, change your password, or delete your Geocaching account. We temporarily turned off the Message Center on our website at 8:00am (Pacific Daylight Time) in order to troubleshoot this issue. The Message Center is now turned back on. You may still receive email notifications or app notifications for messages sent earlier today. You should ignore these messages. We are working to delete these group conversations from the Message Center. We truly appreciate the geocaching community, and are sorry that someone has taken advantage of some users. We will be working hard to prevent future issues such as this with our Message Center. 1 3 Link to comment
+allardjd Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Is it a safe assumption that the person who did this is now a former user? Link to comment
+humboldt flier Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Mine appear to enter via a YAHOO portal or gap. FWIW Link to comment
+humboldt flier Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 To me it seemed to be routed into GC via something in YAHOO. Once I killed YAHOO I rarely get the crud. May be entirely unrelated. Link to comment
+ecanderson Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 I didn't get any. I guess after 65, they think I've lost interest? 2 1 Link to comment
+ecanderson Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 And yes, the pun was intended. Link to comment
+CCFwasG Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 (edited) I can see why I rarely come to and use these forums - I got "reactions" to my serious posts on the spam message center issue: every one had at least one "funny" reaction. Nice. Hopefully the person laughing gets to deal with the same issue as I did another day. It was a huge huge headache. Not fun, nor funny. The pun, however, was funny. :-) [edit: as soon as I post, I get a "funny" reaction - aren't you cute whoever you are? and I'm sorry but you're also obnoxious....] Edited July 8, 2020 by CCFwasG 4 6 1 Link to comment
+ecanderson Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 I think that's the default upvote. Link to comment
+SamLowrey Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Good to know. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment
Keystone Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 3 hours ago, CCFwasG said: I can see why I rarely come to and use these forums - I got "reactions" to my serious posts on the spam message center issue: every one had at least one "funny" reaction. Nice. Hopefully the person laughing gets to deal with the same issue as I did another day. It was a huge huge headache. Not fun, nor funny. The pun, however, was funny. :-) [edit: as soon as I post, I get a "funny" reaction - aren't you cute whoever you are? and I'm sorry but you're also obnoxious....] If your blustery statements were true, then perhaps people wouldn't be laughing at you. 1 2 Link to comment
+CCFwasG Posted April 13, 2022 Share Posted April 13, 2022 On 7/8/2020 at 7:59 PM, Keystone said: If your blustery statements were true, then perhaps people wouldn't be laughing at you. Please tell me what about receiving spam is "blustery", much less not true? 1 3 1 Link to comment
+GeoElmo6000 Posted April 13, 2022 Share Posted April 13, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, CCFwasG said: Please tell me what about receiving spam is "blustery", much less not true? Don't let the laughing emoji get to you, while the emoji is called "funny", it actually means "by using this emoji as a reaction to this post, I declare that I am being a jerk, and am only clicking this because the recipient of the emoji can't see who I am". Edited April 13, 2022 by GeoElmo6000 2 4 1 Link to comment
+Bl4ckH4wkGER Posted April 13, 2022 Share Posted April 13, 2022 I don't think we need to unearth a thread from 2 years ago to get into the weeds so I am closing it at this point. 2 1 Link to comment
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