Why Would Someone Create A Fake Forum?

Discussion in 'Not Sure Where it Goes' started by Yvonne Smith, May 6, 2017.

  1. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    Yesterday, @Chrissy Cross alerted me to what appears to be a regular seniors forum, just like this one, but is actually a fake forum with no "real" members, and it is copied and pasted from another senior's forum that many of us here either do belong to, or have belonged in the past.
    At first, we just thought it was another regular forum where many of the people from the other forum also belonged; but when I started reading the posts, I could see that this was not true.
    One friend had written about losing her rooster to (presumably) coyotes several years ago, and that thread was on the fake forum; but dated from February of this year !
    Many of us here appear on the fake forum, and when I found one of @Ina I. Wonder 's post about the fairy garden, and clicked on the picture link, it took me straight to the other real senior's forum; but then said I couldn't see the picture because I am not a member there. Chrissy and I both found threads that we had posted in, and they were copied as whole threads into the fake forum.
    What I can't figure out, is why someone would take all of the time and effort to copy several years worth of conversations from one forum and make them look like a whole new forum ?
    I tried to register to see if I could learn more, and you have to be approved by an admin to register. I had thought that maybe someone was trying to start a new forum and was trying to make it look like it had been established for several years; but if that were the case, then it seems like they would immediately approve anyone who wanted to register as a new member.
    Maybe some of the people here who know more about forums can explain why someone would want to make a fake forum.
    It is called retiredbutkicking if anyone wants to check it out.

    http://retiredbutkicking.com/
     
    #1
    Last edited: May 6, 2017
  2. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    It's so weird but I know I don't like the idea of being a member of a forum I never joined. I really want to get to the bottom of this.
     
    #2
  3. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
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    That is excatly..why outsiders should not be able to read our posts unless they sign in. Why anyone wastes time creating fake forum is beyond me but I dont like it:mad:
     
    #3
  4. Steve North

    Steve North Supreme Member
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    I guess some people have nothing better to do with their time but create a bullshit forum....

    Please stay away from there as there could be a worm or virus attached to it as well..
     
    #4
  5. Patsy Faye

    Patsy Faye Supreme Member
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    I agree Steve - weird, wouldn't want anything to do with it
     
    #5
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  6. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Well I tried to join yesterday to see what I could find out....this was the reply I got....


    Welcome to Retired But Kicking.com forums

    Please keep this email for your records. Your account information is as
    follows:

    ----------------------------
    Username: Chrissy

    Board URL: http://retiredbutkicking.com
    ----------------------------

    Your account is currently inactive and will need to be approved by an
    administrator before you can log in. Another email will be sent when this
    has occurred.

    Your password has been securely stored in our database and cannot be
    retrieved. In the event that it is forgotten, you will be able to reset it
    using the email address associated with your account.

    Thank you for registering.

    --
    Thank you. The RBK team.
     
    #6
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  7. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    I'm on that forum as CeeCee and I don't like it.

    @Holly Saunders ...I saw some posts by hollydolly on there also.

    It's a mix of very old members and some present day ones from SF.
     
    #7
    Last edited: May 6, 2017
  8. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
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    Y'all better listen to Steve ....stay out of that site.....the response from that site alone is an alert that something is not right.
     
    #8
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  9. Patsy Faye

    Patsy Faye Supreme Member
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    @Chrissy Cross - the Email above isn't unusual but the forum 'is'
    I reckon they want to come across as an established forum ................stoopid ! :rolleyes:
     
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  10. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Yes but since I'm on there as CC, I want to find out what's going on.

    I also used a very generic password to join, one I have never used anywhere else.
     
    #10
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  11. Hedi Mitchell

    Hedi Mitchell Supreme Member
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    Does it use your profile pivture
     
    #11
  12. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    No, nobody has an avatar

    It says there are 261 members but no member list to see...at least until you can login.

    Newest member is Andy.
     
    #12
  13. Steve North

    Steve North Supreme Member
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    PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM TROUBLE........
     
    #13
  14. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    IMG_0800.PNG



    Here is a screenshot if you're afraid to get on there...
     
    #14
  15. Chrissy Cross

    Chrissy Cross Supreme Member
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    Here is one where one of my posts show up.

    IMG_0801.JPG
     
    #15

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