viral PM from adventuregamers.com

colpet · 01-16-2010, 05:32 AM

I got an email today saying I had a PM at the adventure forums.
I've deleted the links.

Quote:

Dear colpet,

You have received a new private message at Adventure Forums from AdminLady, entitled "Important message from the forum administration".

To read the original version, respond to, or delete this message, you must log in here:
links deleted just in case

This is the message that was sent:
***************
Dear, Carlius;colpet;bewaretheturnips;trixiebabe;Fairygd mther!

A virus alert was noticed on your computer.
We highly recommend you to check your computer and perform online virus check at our site immediately: links deleted just in case----------------------------------------------------
Sincerely, Forum Administration links deleted just in case***************

Again, please do not reply to this email. You must go to the following page to reply to this private message:
links deleted just in case

All the best,
Adventure Forums

It obviously is bogus. Anyone else get this?

*stepurhan* · 01-16-2010, 05:40 AM

If anyone receives a suspect PM like this then please let one of the forum moderators know. You'll need to ensure the username sending the PM is included.

The list of forum moderators can be obtained by clicking the "View Forum Leaders" link at the bottom of the main forum index page. Needless to say "AdminLady" is not on that list and has no connection with this site.

LadyLinda · 01-16-2010, 06:38 AM

I got it also.

tsa · 01-16-2010, 07:38 AM

I have a suspicion those valentine 'spammers' have something to do with it. No proof of course; I didn't get the PM.

jannar85 · 01-16-2010, 08:11 AM

Yeah, the one that sent to me, got banned

Hurray.

gameman007 · 01-16-2010, 09:34 AM

I got the same thing in my PM's today Colpet. A false virus checker shows up if you open the link. This spyware can be dangerous as there's a form of it that paralizes computers and it continuously pops up telling you a virus has been found, opens porn sites and just doesn't let you do anything. Luckily a free spyware checker and remover gets rid of this (Malwarebytes.com. Just download, install, update and run the program, the quick scan works fine)
This is actually the best spyware detector and remover out there, even better than the ones that charge for their apps.

Regards,

Bill

***fov*** · 01-16-2010, 10:08 AM

I got the PM too. Nothing like sending "An important message from the forum administration" to one of the forum's administrators.

***Jackal*** · 01-17-2010, 08:49 AM

And today we have another one pulling the same stunt. Also banned, of course.

LadyLinda · 01-17-2010, 09:00 AM

Must be the same person or a list of our AG user names is being circulated.

Did you notice that we all have a join date of Sep/Oct 2003?

***Jackal*** · 01-17-2010, 09:10 AM

These are PM's, which can only be done from within the forum, and any forumite can view a list of user names. Nothing is being circulated externally.

And the common join date is because that's when AG's forums re-opened after its long down time. Any previously-registered users were all given that date by default.

PhiloHippus · 01-17-2010, 10:38 AM

I have also been receiving these malicious PMs, from this and other forums. Last one I received here was from some "luckkyman" user who has apparently been banned already.

This is clearly an automated process, I just don't know if it means that legitimate users are unknowingly sending these messages due to their PCs being compromised or if it means that a bot is creating these accounts and sending the messages.
Either way however it's also clear that this won't just go away by itself so could the admins kindly make sure this doesn't happen? If it's a bot, you could make registration harder, perhaps with more elaborate capchas. If it's legitimate user's machines doing the nasty, implement some kind of filter where messages like these are prevented from circulating, it's fairer than banning less attentive users altogether.

booB · 01-17-2010, 11:23 AM

In this day and age, are people STILL clicking on links from people they don't know, that claim to find VIRUSES!!OMGOMG on their computer?

It sucks that people pull this crap, but, really, if you clicked on it, you deserve whatever happens. IF YOU DON'T HAVE PROOF THAT WHOMEVER SENT YOU THE LINK ISN'T LYING, DON'T CLICK ON IT!

***fov*** · 01-17-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

I just don't know if it means that legitimate users are unknowingly sending these messages due to their PCs being compromised or if it means that a bot is creating these accounts and sending the messages.

They're not legitimate users. We're looking into possible ways to prevent it on the registration side, but in the meantime, alerting us if you receive a PM like this (either in this thread or by sending a message to a moderator) would be helpful. Specifically, we need to know the username of the person who sent it to you.

Zanthia · 01-17-2010, 04:17 PM

I got two such a PMs, but both senders are banned, so I guess they are already taken care of.

colpet · 01-18-2010, 04:38 AM

Another day, another e-mail. 3 so far.

Martin Gantefoehr · 01-18-2010, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Another day, another e-mail. 3 so far.

Same here. Senders were AdminLady, luckkyman, and (today) LadyXAdmin.
Of course, I clicked all of the links and ordered all of the products offered, using my complete credit card and bank account details.

Angela · 01-18-2010, 06:49 AM

I've gotten a couple of these as well, but not from anyone not mentioned so far.

LadyLinda · 01-18-2010, 07:17 AM

I've also gotten a total of 3 so far.

AdminLady, Mstr. Bankol and LadyXAdmin

tsa · 01-18-2010, 09:01 AM

I'm jealous! I haven't gotten anything (yet).

BerserkerTails · 01-18-2010, 09:16 AM

I got a couple from both Lady_Admin and Luckkyman. Also a few months back, I received a prescription pill advertisement from AlexDixi. Shows how much I check my PMs here, haha.

01-16-2010, 05:40 AM	#2
stepurhan Freeware Co-ordinator Last Online: 03-12-2018 06:31 AM Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South East England. Posts: 7,309	If anyone receives a suspect PM like this then please let one of the forum moderators know. You'll need to ensure the username sending the PM is included. The list of forum moderators can be obtained by clicking the "View Forum Leaders" link at the bottom of the main forum index page. Needless to say "AdminLady" is not on that list and has no connection with this site. __________________ No Nonsense Nonsonnets #43 Cold Topic A thread most controversial, that’s what I want to start Full of impassioned arguments, of posting from the heart And for this stimulation all will be thankful to me On come on everybody it won’t work if you agree Last edited by stepurhan; 01-16-2010 at 05:47 AM..

01-16-2010, 06:38 AM	#3
LadyLinda Senior Member Last Online: 05-19-2012 07:05 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 157	I got it also. __________________ LadyLinda

01-16-2010, 08:11 AM	#5
jannar85 I create. Therefore I am. Last Online: 04-15-2016 12:10 PM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 518	Yeah, the one that sent to me, got banned Hurray. __________________ Regards Atle Ragnar Jarnæs Lerøy ~Working on the upcoming adventure game, Roger Foodbelly~ Click the name, to join its Facebook Page! My Games

01-17-2010, 09:00 AM	#9
LadyLinda Senior Member Last Online: 05-19-2012 07:05 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 157	Must be the same person or a list of our AG user names is being circulated. Did you notice that we all have a join date of Sep/Oct 2003? __________________ LadyLinda

01-17-2010, 10:38 AM	#11
PhiloHippus Junior Member Last Online: 01-17-2010 05:00 PM Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lisbon, Portugal Posts: 16	I have also been receiving these malicious PMs, from this and other forums. Last one I received here was from some "luckkyman" user who has apparently been banned already. This is clearly an automated process, I just don't know if it means that legitimate users are unknowingly sending these messages due to their PCs being compromised or if it means that a bot is creating these accounts and sending the messages. Either way however it's also clear that this won't just go away by itself so could the admins kindly make sure this doesn't happen? If it's a bot, you could make registration harder, perhaps with more elaborate capchas. If it's legitimate user's machines doing the nasty, implement some kind of filter where messages like these are prevented from circulating, it's fairer than banning less attentive users altogether. Last edited by PhiloHippus; 01-17-2010 at 11:00 AM..

01-16-2010, 07:38 AM	#4
tsa Playing character Last Online: 11-03-2017 01:10 AM Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 7,472	I have a suspicion those valentine 'spammers' have something to do with it. No proof of course; I didn't get the PM.

01-16-2010, 09:34 AM	#6
gameman007 Junior Member Last Online: 11-21-2010 10:52 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ardsley, NY Posts: 17	I got the same thing in my PM's today Colpet. A false virus checker shows up if you open the link. This spyware can be dangerous as there's a form of it that paralizes computers and it continuously pops up telling you a virus has been found, opens porn sites and just doesn't let you do anything. Luckily a free spyware checker and remover gets rid of this (Malwarebytes.com. Just download, install, update and run the program, the quick scan works fine) This is actually the best spyware detector and remover out there, even better than the ones that charge for their apps. Regards, Bill

01-16-2010, 10:08 AM	#7
*fov* Rattenmonster Last Online: 03-19-2013 04:05 PM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 10,404	I got the PM too. Nothing like sending "An important message from the forum administration" to one of the forum's administrators.

01-17-2010, 08:49 AM	#8
*Jackal* Hopeful skeptic Last Online: 09-18-2013 05:02 PM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,743	And today we have another one pulling the same stunt. Also banned, of course.

01-17-2010, 09:10 AM	#10
*Jackal* Hopeful skeptic Last Online: 09-18-2013 05:02 PM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,743	These are PM's, which can only be done from within the forum, and any forumite can view a list of user names. Nothing is being circulated externally. And the common join date is because that's when AG's forums re-opened after its long down time. Any previously-registered users were all given that date by default.

01-17-2010, 11:23 AM	#12
booB Junior Mint Last Online: 09-07-2010 06:58 AM Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA Posts: 350	In this day and age, are people STILL clicking on links from people they don't know, that claim to find VIRUSES!!OMGOMG on their computer? It sucks that people pull this crap, but, really, if you clicked on it, you deserve whatever happens. IF YOU DON'T HAVE PROOF THAT WHOMEVER SENT YOU THE LINK ISN'T LYING, DON'T CLICK ON IT! __________________ *I'm in my undies. That's... SO not appropriate.*

01-17-2010, 04:17 PM	#14
Zanthia Sky is not the limit Last Online: 01-28-2011 03:21 PM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kyrandia Posts: 1,496	I got two such a PMs, but both senders are banned, so I guess they are already taken care of. __________________ RUBY + EXOTIC FLOWER = RED POTION TOPAZ + TULIP = YELLOW POTION RED POTION + YELLOW POTION= ORANGE POTION

01-18-2010, 04:38 AM	#15
colpet Easily amused Last Online: 05-25-2016 04:49 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,091	Another day, another e-mail. 3 so far. __________________ Occasionally visiting Uru Live (KI 00637228).

01-18-2010, 06:49 AM	#17
Angela member Last Online: 01-18-2010 06:50 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: California, USA Posts: 29	I've gotten a couple of these as well, but not from anyone not mentioned so far.

01-18-2010, 07:17 AM	#18
LadyLinda Senior Member Last Online: 05-19-2012 07:05 AM Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 157	Today was number 3. I've also gotten a total of 3 so far. AdminLady, Mstr. Bankol and LadyXAdmin __________________ LadyLinda

01-18-2010, 09:01 AM	#19
tsa Playing character Last Online: 11-03-2017 01:10 AM Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 7,472	I'm jealous! I haven't gotten anything (yet).

01-18-2010, 09:16 AM	#20
BerserkerTails Senior Member Last Online: 07-06-2010 02:58 PM Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 359	I got a couple from both Lady_Admin and Luckkyman. Also a few months back, I received a prescription pill advertisement from AlexDixi. Shows how much I check my PMs here, haha. __________________ Play Two of a Kind.