Short-Media Infiltrated By Shill

Lincoln Russell 22 Feb, 2006 at 2:15pm ET Article published in Tech

Short-Media has seen its first recognized “attack” by a spammer using a newly revealed, insidious form of ad posting. The user first makes innocuous posts to seem like a normal member. After some time, they post a link asking for opinions of the website. For more information, see [b]GHoosdum’s thread in the Pub[/b] with links to Penny Arcade’s notices about this type of attack.

I was told that if I accepted the job, I was to have at LEAST 50 identities on as many forums as I could muster (they wanted 100 eventually), with a goal of 5 posts an hour. The posts had to be well thought out, and the idea was that I was to establish multiple identities with a history on the forums, so that when the timing was right a well written but subtly placed marketing post could be finessed in. And regular visitors would recognize the post as coming from a long time poster. (from Penny Arcade)

The source is the spammer’s insidious thread in the…

Source: Short-Media Pub

Comments

22 Feb 2006 ~ 2:41pm RWB I saw this in a comic a while back at penny arcade... I thought it was so crazy it might just work. This is getting rediculous.

Let us all boycott the intarwebnet!!!

Well... maybe not. LOL
22 Feb 2006 ~ 2:55pm primesuspect This same user, abortretryfail, has also been spotted at ic-games.co.uk with the username FourteenthHell, using two of the same IPs he/she used on this site.

Good work to everybody involved - bothered, James Collins, Ghoosdum, and others who felt a bit uneasy about this user
22 Feb 2006 ~ 3:12pm Cyclonite I think I've been here long enough. Time for me to "finess in" a link. :bigggrin:

Visit Short-Media! The best place on the internet!
22 Feb 2006 ~ 3:44pm Straight_Man Good work catching him/her, gang!
23 Feb 2006 ~ 8:03am GooD I wonder what they will do next ?

Ok he's being paid to basicaly chat on forum and then put a pub once in a while... What a boring way to get paid... Well at least they can't post about viagra of some $/"!%? like that cuz it will get them ban too easy lol

After a day of hard work this guy can go to sleep and say 'man i've done a lot for the world today...' Maybe that's what he's saying to himself, but in the end he's the same kind of person that those who spam my email box everyday, so he can go to hell

Well.. Good job on 'finding the rogue spammer' :Pwned:
23 Feb 2006 ~ 9:39am GHoosdum On a similar topic, what is your opinion on this site? Personally, I'm a huge fan.
23 Feb 2006 ~ 12:37pm Thrax So, does anyone like iPods?
23 Feb 2006 ~ 1:01pm primesuspect Apparently we've been infiltrated by another expert shill. This user goes alternately by "Thrax" and "Sunofwolf" and uses the same IP as a user "nomad". I'm not sure if they are all three the same person. "He" is really skilled, as he has hired actors to play himself and his "brother" who have actually visited my house. "his" modus operandi is to get several thousand posts, belong to the community for several years, grow up on the site, and then after he feels trusted, sneaks a link to a free ipod..

Watch out for users like "Thrax"
23 Feb 2006 ~ 1:36pm QCH

primesuspect wrote:

Apparently we've been infiltrated by another expert shill. This user goes alternately by "Thrax" and "Sunofwolf" and uses the same IP as a user "nomad". I'm not sure if they are all three the same person. "He" is really skilled, as he has hired actors to play himself and his "brother" who have actually visited my house. "his" modus operandi is to get several thousand posts, belong to the community for several years, grow up on the site, and then after he feels trusted, sneaks a link to a free ipod..

Watch out for users like "Thrax"

You pegged him!!
23 Feb 2006 ~ 1:58pm Linc That... was bloody hilarious.
23 Feb 2006 ~ 2:01pm GHoosdum Those actors were quite convincing!
23 Feb 2006 ~ 2:05pm primesuspect Really? I found them pretty dry and lifeless.....
23 Feb 2006 ~ 2:21pm Leonardo

Those actors were quite convincing!

Yes. Sunofwolf played Thrax expertly.
24 Feb 2006 ~ 5:34am Thrax

primesuspect wrote:

Really? I found them pretty dry and lifeless.....

**** you...

Leonardo wrote:

Yes. Sunofwolf played Thrax expertly.

And you...

/me takes his Apple iPod© and goes to another website.
24 Feb 2006 ~ 7:19am Shorty This is why I love this site
24 Feb 2006 ~ 10:31am Thelemech This user goes alternately by "Thrax" and "Sunofwolf" and uses the same IP as a user "nomad". I'm not sure if they are all three the same person. "He" is really skilled, as he has hired actors to play himself and his "brother" who have actually visited my house.
He visited your house??
24 Feb 2006 ~ 12:53pm primesuspect

It's a joke. I've known thrax for years. Yes, him and several other members of the site pretty regularly hang out at my house
1 May 2006 ~ 7:31pm primesuspect I was browsing craigslist today, and found this:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/cpg/155934775.html

Sounds like an opportunity to be a paid shill!

"We do NOT SPAM" <--- lies!

and the dude's email address is @ nationalhomeclub.com, which is just one of those parked domains
1 May 2006 ~ 9:57pm primesuspect omg these people are ridiculous. I emailed them:

prime wrote:

just curious.... Is this basically the same thing as described here?

If so, this is INDEED spam, because you are not adding any value to the communities you "join" - you are there for one purpose, and that is to deceitfully act as if you are a member of an online family, and then sneak ads on to the site once you are "trusted". It's very unethical.

And he responds with this:

spammer wrote:

Hello Administrator,?

To answer your question,:There is no cost to you. Nothing to sign up for. Nothing to join.
Sincerely,
Kani
NHC-ESI

Here's more information:

We are delighted you have shown interest in being part of our marketing team.

Below you will find more information regarding the Buzz Worker. Towards the bottom you will find additional information we need from you in order for us to make our decision. If you are interested please forward the requested information in it's entirety.

If you have any questions about any of this information please reply to this email.

Sincerely,
Kani (pronounced Connie)
NHC-ESI

Our company seizes the opportunities that the Internet presents for building brand identity, enhancing customer loyalty and increasing sales and profitability.

We do this by running marketing campaigns via directly engaging the online community.

You will be paid based on the performance of your campaign.

Job Description:

You will be working 100% from home. You will help create the buzz on a range of products. Your main responsibility will be to spread the word on the product in a campaign through the internet. You must be familiar with online communities and online Chat etiquette. You will collect feedback. And your ability to relay the information without prejudice is vital.

Note: This is performance compensation (not sales or commission) but may take time to train and become familiar with our procedures and protocols. $10-$35 per hour. This does not cost you anything. Nothing required to join. You basically get paid to get the word out on our products. We do not SPAM.

You will be working with an Elite Success Coach who owns the company. He believes in totally being up front, open and honest about everything. He believes too much expectation is not good. But careful defining of what you want is never bad. Forcing the results can be damaging. With that in mind, you in this position, will have even more freedom to develop what you think might bring the best results.

Skills and Experience Sought

This position allows freedom and creativity. You must consider yourself in the “know” of what’s happening online or in online communities.

Masters/or Bachelors Degree preferred not required in Management, marketing or computer science.
Must have DSL or high speed internet.
Must have clean at home work environment. A desk, with computer and phone away from distractions.
Must have ability or long distance phone service to call the Los Angeles area on a daily or weekly basis plus contact your “leaders and workers”. (depends on your location)
Experience working on websites or online business models, preferred not necessary.
Experience communicating through Chat and Email.
Experience with online communities, i.e. chat rooms, Group lists, online social networks.
Experience in marketing,preferred not necessary.
Knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook and the more computer software the better.
The candidate must be a self-starter.

[Paypal Account (It's free! We pay you through here)]

[MSN Messenger Account (It's free! We perform a short training session on here)]

Being real is preferred. Being overly polite is not required. Just be open and honest all the time.

Within the body of an email (we cannot open attachments):

1. Submit your resume (if you have one)

2. Answer the following questions: Why do you want to work from home? and Do you have a day job? If so, which days and hours are you able to work?

3. What have you done, what websites (be specific) are you familiar with to consider yourself in the “know” of what’s happening online or in online communities (which ones)?

4. Describe your hobbies or interests in full detail. Please include why those are your hobbies or interests. Or send me your 'myspace' type of account that clearly defines your hobbies or interests.

Candidates will be screened and selected candidates will receive more information and a follow up email.

Are you f'ing kidding me? I email you to tell you how unethical your crap is and you respond with a job decription and extend an offer to me? Holy crap!

I should respond to the job offer
1 May 2006 ~ 10:37pm Leonardo Kudos to Craig's. The felt the same way about it that we did. Dirtbags take another hit.
1 May 2006 ~ 11:07pm profdlp When I hit 10,000 posts I figure it will be safe for me to talk to you all about Amway. :thumbup
1 May 2006 ~ 11:19pm zero-counter This is a good bit of information.
1 May 2006 ~ 11:22pm profdlp

zero.counter wrote:

This is a good bit of information.

Thank you! Amway makes wonderful products - send me $300 and I'll get the starter kit shipped out to you. You could be out on the street selling drain opener door-to-door by this time next week!
1 May 2006 ~ 11:34pm Leonardo Or, you could be out on your a$$, banned from this site, dirt...

oh, wait, it's PROF! Oops, hold back the banning reaction. Breath deeply...OK Kwitko, back off. Necropolis, are you listening?
1 May 2006 ~ 11:47pm zero-counter

profdlp wrote:

Thank you! Amway makes wonderful products - send me $300 and I'll get the starter kit shipped out to you. You could be out on the street selling drain opener door-to-door by this time next week!

Not you silly, the thread's main point...:o
2 May 2006 ~ 7:31am Winga

profdlp wrote:

When I hit 10,000 posts I figure it will be safe for me to talk to you all about Amway. :thumbup
2 May 2006 ~ 8:25am GHoosdum

primesuspect wrote:

omg these people are ridiculous. I emailed them:

And he responds with this:

Are you f'ing kidding me? I email you to tell you how unethical your crap is and you respond with a job decription and extend an offer to me? Holy crap!

I should respond to the job offer

I enjoyed the "open and honest" and "paid through Paypal" parts of the job description. Just a hint to the spammers: jobs pay you a thing called a "paycheck" and report your income to the Federal Government. Paypal is not a means of doing this, it's a means of skirting the system. Real honest there, guys.

You really should respond. See if you get the "job". It would be awesome if you could take the whole organization down.
2 May 2006 ~ 12:03pm profdlp

GHoosdum wrote:

...You really should respond. See if you get the "job". It would be awesome if you could take the whole organization down.

I agree. You could be the next Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano.