Banned for spamming which I have not done

littlemoney

I have just tried to log into a forum I visit occassionally and have been told I have been banned for spamming. I don't even know how to spam, sorry I am one the not so IT literate group.

What does this mean. Is my computer now unsafe.

I am very worried at the moment. Can anyone tell me what I should do now please

bod1467

Usually on a forum, spamming means making lots of posts to promote or publicise something that is against forum rules. (e.g. if someone posted in this thread about SEO services - that would be spam).

Have you been doing this at that forum?

If not, does someone else know your login details and THEY have been doing it without your knowledge or consent?

All you can do is email the forum admin and plead your case (POLITELY!).

macman

It could just be for something like using your business name in your sig or username,.
For example, if I joined MSE with the username 'FredBloggsWindowCleanerLondon, that would constitute spamming.

Steve059

On some sites, even posting the same thing over and over again, ie. to elicit a response, is regarded as "spamming".

littlemoney

bod1467, macman & Steve059

I haven't been making lots of posts to promote anything. Don't think I have posted anything since January on that site. In fact it's been a little while since I visited it. My name has nothing to do with a business.

I haven't told anyone of my log in details or password and no one else has the use of my computer.

Is it possible someone has worked out my password and logged in as me and done this?

bod1467

littlemoney wrote: »

Is it possible someone has worked out my password and logged in as me and done this?

Of course it is possible. But none of us have a crystal ball and can give you the answer. Follow my previous advice and email the forum admin.

ChiefGrasscutter

Why are you bothered?
If the forum doesn't want your presumably valued contribution to other people's problems and issues - then that is their problem.
I'm sure you have other things you could be doing.
I presume for the above to be true that the forum will let you read other people's messages and the solutions and is not one that requires you to log in before you can have access?

There was one forum I was minded to join ,except they "proudly" stated they only allowed "proper" email address to be registered - not free ones like hotmail/outlook.com etc. So I shug my shoulders (electronically!) and say - well that's your loss innit........I'll go and do the ironing.

macman

littlemoney wrote: »

bod1467, macman & Steve059

I haven't been making lots of posts to promote anything. Don't think I have posted anything since January on that site. In fact it's been a little while since I visited it. My name has nothing to do with a business.

I haven't told anyone of my log in details or password and no one else has the use of my computer.

Is it possible someone has worked out my password and logged in as me and done this?

So why don't you go to the site and see what is posted under your username? You'll then know if the post are yours or not. We can't tell you.
If they're not, someone's hacked your account, so either change your password, or de-register, and re--register again.

littlemoney

macman wrote: »

So why don't you go to the site and see what is posted under your username? You'll then know if the post are yours or not. We can't tell you.
If they're not, someone's hacked your account, so either change your password, or de-register, and re--register again.

I wanted to get some information off the site. When I go to the site I can't even get into to read anything. It seems to know who I am when I access the site so I can't get in to look.Is there a way of stopping the site knowing who I am so I can look or register again. It even know if I click on a link from google.

giraffe69

If you clear your cookies that will probably resolve the bit about knowing who you are. The easiest solution to this is to register a new id.

andy2004

site maybe using your IP address aswell. so you may need a proxy to get around that.