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Want to talk to our Fraud Guy?
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Want to talk to our Fraud Guy? Stop by Live From AFF at 2:30 PM Pacific Time on December 14th if you have questions for our Fraud team (I know you do). I have a live broadcast every Wednesday at 2:30 PM (Pacific, San Francisco Time). I broadcast from my desk and take questions posted to the group Live From AFF. Many times I'll pull in other people who work here to talk about things I know don't how to answer. This week the head of our Fraud team will be sitting in with me to answer your questions. I already have a list of questions we will ask him, but please add any you'd like him to address in this post. Even if we don't get to it live, we'll keep this list going and have him answer later. If you can't make it this time, don't worry - I'll have notes for you to read through. Some questions so far: Silent Bots: There are (in the UK at least) a huge amount of undoubtedly BOT profiles that never do anything, no flirts/hotlists/mails, don't respond to mail, they just sit there looking pretty and stating they are up for hot action. From the profiles it is obvious they are from the same few sources, and many even come online at the same time every day. At certain times of day they can be 70% of my 'who's online now' search. They are not active scammers as scams need interaction to achieve anything. These are largely responsible for people thinking that A.F.F. post fake profiles. They could possibly be planted by competitors to lead members here to think that. . Question - Given the foregoing how is it possible to report these for abuse when they do nothing and therefore don't contravene TOU ? Report as a suspected fake... but the abuse dept team have no evidence to go on, so unless they learn to recognise a BOT and make a judgement call these profiles last a long time, reinforcing the belief they are sanctioned by the site. What do we do ?? Review Process: Currently photos and text are reviewed by different departments. This results in many fakes with glaring contradictions in their profiles (eg race = black, photo = white, but there are many others) going live. We have been told that the review process may be combined to improve the ability to pick up on these contradictions and deny the profile. Any news on this ? CAPTCHA: Why not use CAPTCHA on application to join ? Flirts/Hotlists/Who's Viewed Me: The removal of fakes from our flirts/views/hotlists lists more quickly has been widely welcomed and much appreciated. . They do still appear on the lists, albeit more briefly, and in the total number count... from that we can see the numbers have risen dramatically recently which demonstrates the site is under increased bombardment from fakes and that there has been no improvement in blocking them at source (ie sign up) but only in hiding them from view. Can they be blocked from going partially live and able to flirt etc ? Waiting Period: Superflirt _ the fakes' favourite button. Ryan has said that it is staying, despite the fact that very few genuine women use it and it aids the fakes greatly. How about a 'waiting period' at least, in which new members can't use the superflirt facility ? Maybe a week ? I mean come on, do any real women join the site and flirt by the page immediately ? A lot of fakes get weeded out in the first week. |
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I will be the first to say I suck at attending--or knowing much of the dynamics or workings of this site. I do have a question tough. 1...Is there a reason why a person gets shot back to the main page of men on cam (Live Webcams) when you are actually on say the Couples page? It happens when I go to look at cams in general. Does that make sense??? By the way--I appreciate the comments by others and the font sizes being rectified.
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You are absolutely right Dom--I am one of the worst...
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Thanks Ryan  I really think that an open debate here which will be seen by and participated in by a greater number of members will go a long way to easing member frustration if we get genuine interaction with the site and real answers to the common questions we have, it will also mean members are better informed on this major issue which is not going away. Many members are angry about this issue and understandably so, but I would ask everybody to stick to asking questions, making suggestions and observations and endeavouring to be constructive here. We know the scale of the problem and so does the site, so simply ranting that we're sick of it and calling the staff idiots is not going to help anything. Regardless of what has gone on before let's give this new initiative a chance eh, perhaps we can actually get somewhere ! I have been banging on about this issue for a long time (really, people are sick of me !) and am as keen to see an improvement as anybody here, but even I have to admit that after repeatedly bringing up various aspects of this issue with Ryan in the weekly meetings I have to say that some aspects of the issue are not as simple as they appear to us members. Having said that there are aspects which make no sense to me, and I believe improvements in counter fake/scam measures could and should be made for the protection and enjoyment of members and the credibility of the site.
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CAPTCHA Following last weeks live broadcast I understand that CAPTCHA is used in 'high risk' countries so would like to modify my question/request. Given that the source of the majority of fake/scam profiles are now (allegedly) resident in USA/UK/Canada/Australia can we extend the use of CAPTCHA to all countries to make it harder for the BOTS ?
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I have to agree with Spirit on all the issues, but with the Superflirt, that is one of the biggest problems with the fakes, they hit and run, hot list, etc. It really gets old, and the REAL women on this site, only about 2% might use it for friends or something. Limit the Super flirt to after one week, because the bots and fakes only have a shelf life of of 3 days max. But then it goes to the problem of all the fake profiles the scammers have shelved, waiting in the wings, so to speak, these are getting covered in dust, until the scammer sees fit. I could go on, but I realize, that its all been said before.
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I think the main thing that many people can't understand is that so many fakes go fully live when their profiles are so ridiculous and obviously fakes. Even the ones that are slightly better are very easily spotted by experienced members. . I think that the problem lies with the site being over reluctant to delete or further investigate when considering profiles. The case that there is some remote possibility that they might be genuine can always be made, but invariably if it looks like a fake, reads like a fake, and follows other fake patterns... it's a fake ! . I understand the need to be fair to new members, but what about being fair to the existing membership who could get scammed or at least have their enjoyment spoiled by the fake content here ? If I or other experienced members were to go through membership with a delete button I bet mistakes would be at most 0.5% if that, hundreds a day could be delted manually by a member of staff that knew what they were looking for. Deleted profiles could be emailed and would be free to contact customer service or whoever to request reinstatement if they were genuine, real members are frequently deleted wrongly because of spurious abuse reports and have to do that. It would be a minor inconvenience for a miniscule number of people not the end of the world, and nothing compared to the inconvenience caused to a huge number of members by the fakes. Which way benefits the most people ? . Your comments please
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I have tried repeatedly and won't stop saying it that 'super flirt' is first and foremost IGNORANT as it sends to everyone on a page WITHOUT READING profiles at all, hence people that are not even looking for similar things get them.. that is WHY the scammers use it.. no limits. SOOOOO.. if we could 'limit' flirts and things for the RECEIVERS I still think it would help. Let US as the users be able to choose.. A - Accept all flirts B - Accept only flirts that match Cupid settings C - Do not accept flirts That would HELP..not stop.. but HELP people from getting mislead and unwanted flirts and invites. Seriously, if "I" choose to not get any from those that DO NOT MATCH my Cupid setting at the bare minimum.. which we set those settings for a reason... then I won't get the flirts from people on the other side of the globe. I truly DO think that some thinking is necessary and I am not trying to be mean, but so many guys DO think that these hotties will run to do them because they WANT to believe it, that the scammers know it and run with it. If we all used a little common sense you wouldn't be so easily mislead by an ad, but these options WOULD HELP majorly... I believe that with all my heart. We all want to believe we are desirable.. I know that..but scammers use the illusion and fantasy to their advantage. Let's cut down the advantage if you refuse to remove 'super flirt' where they can without any reading or effort just spam everyone on a page with it.
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When you search profiles here, the profiles with no pictures tend to have less priority and show up towards the end of the search. Why not prioritize completed profiles, especially those with verified pics and confirmed ID's the same way in the searches and on the "who's online" pages?
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What I would like to know is why so many blatant fakes get past review. Some of them look like they have been written by a 5 year old. If they have photos they are stolen ones. Its getting worse, not better.
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12/23/2011 5:05 am |
verified photos? The majority i have seen people have there handle on paper on there feet. Behind there back no face ect.... This i feel proves very little. Obviously every profile is a person. In my opinion the only sure way is members with confirm id. Otherwise we are making a judgement decision based on email exchanges on AdultFriendFinder. Did use do away with the membership bonus for verified photos? The last few months this form of ID does not seem as popular. 
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Why do you want them off? Is it the quality of the comments you get?
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Just to let you know, the scammers are not limited to Standard, I recieved an e-mail from a Gold member, Stolen photo, that read like a Ghana Grade School Primer! Complete with contact information, (e-mail address). So who's minding the Store??? If one's like this are getting through, what are the chances that several hundred got through??? I'd say, Pretty damn good!!!!
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12/24/2011 10:12 am |
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When you search profiles here, the profiles with no pictures tend to have less priority and show up towards the end of the search. Why not prioritize completed profiles, especially those with verified pics and confirmed ID's the same way in the searches and on the "who's online" pages?
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I surmise the reason AdultFriendFinder / Passion doesn't weed out the fakes is that it allows them to CLAIM over 1 million members & be the "biggest" site out there (full of FAKE profiles mind you. It baffles me how the average user can spot fakes a mile away, but the "review team" can't. WTF!!?? Seriously?? Just use CAPTCHA for ALL registrations. WHY the reluctance? It won't catch all of the fakes, but it will demonstrate to us PAYING members of the site that AdultFriendFinder / Passion is actually serious regarding reducing the number of fakes on here and will reduce a great number of them. Also, LISTEN to the members: hardly anyone uses "superflirt." (Again, I thought the name of this blog was "AdultFriendFinder IS listening??" Your members are telling you (and you should already know,) few legit members (especially women,) use the damned thing. ...So don't be so hard-headed and stuck on keeping it; just get rid of it.
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I surmise the reason AdultFriendFinder / Passion doesn't weed out the fakes is that it allows them to CLAIM over 1 million members & be the "biggest" site out there (full of FAKE profiles mind you. It baffles me how the average user can spot fakes a mile away, but the "review team" can't. WTF!!?? Seriously?? Just use CAPTCHA for ALL registrations. WHY the reluctance? It won't catch all of the fakes, but it will demonstrate to us PAYING members of the site that AdultFriendFinder / Passion is actually serious regarding reducing the number of fakes on here and will reduce a great number of them. Also, LISTEN to the members: hardly anyone uses "superflirt." (Again, I thought the name of this blog was "AdultFriendFinder IS listening??" Your members are telling you (and you should already know,) few legit members (especially women,) use the damned thing. ...So don't be so hard-headed and stuck on keeping it; just get rid of it. The amount of fakes on this site is?????? If its not about the numbers, then what is it??? Everyone here understands this is a business, and a business tries to make money, but this has just gone way overboard. On new profile photos, there is another fake from Columbus, Ohio, that has tried to surface at least 5 times in the last 2 months, its so fake, you can smell it, then, why is this still getting through???? It sure seems that your open to ideas, but when the chips are down, nothing happens.
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Totally agree with this comment, profiles with confirmed id, and verified photos and then fully completed profiles should be given preference and show up first in any search you do on here. 99% of the fake profiles information are never fully filled in properly. I agree it may be possible to access certain sites to maybe double check American docs,but not for every country in the world! It therefore follows that one can NEVER be truly certain that the person one is conversing with is genuine unless via skype or cam. Yet again the fraudsters are ahead of the game,everyone else is playing catch up.
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What I would like to know is why so many blatant fakes get past review. Some of them look like they have been written by a 5 year old. If they have photos they are stolen ones. Its getting worse, not better. . A while ago, Mr. K (from the Abuse Department) mentioned that there's a quota that must be met by the "new profile" review team...something like 95% are supposed to be passed, if I recall correctly. If true, this hints at the source of the problem...if the reviewers do, in fact, have "accept" quotas, they'll let anything through to meet the requirement and let the members sort it out, which is precisely what seems to be happening. . 
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THIS really is the problem. At least SOME of the fake profiles are so blatantly fake that even a cursory review would pick them up. If I can pick them up so quickly, how is it that the "new profile review" people (who must see thousands a day) miss them so regularly? . A while ago, Mr. K (from the Abuse Department) mentioned that there's a quota that must be met by the "new profile" review team...something like 95% are supposed to be passed, if I recall correctly. If true, this hints at the source of the problem...if the reviewers do, in fact, have "accept" quotas, they'll let anything through to meet the requirement and let the members sort it out, which is precisely what seems to be happening. . now it comes out theres a quota, this pretty much puts it in stone. It's all about the numbers, and nothing else, I've pretty much said that all along. It's a numbers game. That's now two cats out of the bag, let's go for the perfecta!!! What else is going on??????
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There would be a huge backlash if they deactivated members for non-activity within any hour they are logged on. Too many people log on first thing and leave it on all day, checking on it in between other activities. I use to do this. I have heard from a lot of people that do this. It would piss me off if I had to keep calling the site to reactivate my account.
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HEY FRAUD MAN! WAKE UP: The fakes are back in full force again with moopie, whoopie, smookie, snuggle-pooo and all that mess. Looks like AdultFriendFinder broke something or the bots have found a new way in. Fix this soon, or I won't be upgrading again -- they are all over the pace.
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. Ive tested it with Ryan sometime ago,and they know about it. BUT,,, I've recent found a way around it that seems to work. It 'appears' to be one or both parties have a 'stale cookie'. Before sending Or receiving pics~Both members need to refresh/or change the site's page they are on. Yeah,it's a pain in the *** fix but for now it does seem to work,and easier than continuing to try re-send pics. I'm going to re-post this as a reminder in the Live group also. AdultFriendFinder Parody Of a Real Sex Site 
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There was also huge opposition from members to the removal of profile background bling and custom colours on profiles. Did the site take any notice of our feedback??? No they did'nt and just went ahead with their own plans. I don't think this site values member feedback as they very rarely take any notice of it!
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4/29/2012 8:22 pm |
I've used the SuperFlirt option twice now. At the time it seemed like a great idea. Just "flirt and go" with anyone and everyone that had viewed our profile, not having to waste any time going through pages of viewers, looking at pics and reading profiles. Bad idea...... On the positive side, I got exactly what I had wanted. Getting hotlisted, flirted with, views and emails. It was all good up until reading some of the emails. Got the normal thanks for the flirt, like your pic, profile then a question I never considered I'd have to answer.......What was my motivation for the flirt? Why? I felt really bad and will be more careful if I ever do it again. post 2891193]
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