Who can you trust?

wowisforstuds1238
wowisforstuds1238 Posts: 77 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been on this website now a little over 2 weeks, but I have already had some friends I have added, link malicious or unsecure websites masked as fitness info. Who can you trust when the people you think are real are actually bots? Any information regarding if this has happened to you would be greatly appreciated!

Replies

  • wowisforstuds1238
    wowisforstuds1238 Posts: 77 Member
    Yeah I’m new and I guess I put too much faith in people when looking for support and motivation. But it does happen to you guys as well?
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited March 2021
    It's been happening a lot recently - see this thread for more info and also for reporting them.
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10823922/help-inappropriate-friend-requests-pics/p1
    (Just add their profile name or link to the profile - a hardworking moderator is compiling them for deletion.

    I'd suggest vetting requests using the browser verion rather than phone app, if you spot a disparity between the gender given and the often all too obvious gender displayed (over-displayed!?) in the profile picture and a blank profile then there's a high chance is an automated Russian porn bot that has hijacked a dormant profile.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    wowisforstuds1238 wrote: »
    Yeah I’m new and I guess I put too much faith in people when looking for support and motivation. But it does happen to you guys as well?

    I've been on here since the fall of 2012...I pretty much ignored any requests early on because I wasn't experienced enough here to actually "know" anyone and I didn't particularly get any motivation from just random someone I have no experience with...so I couldn't really say. For the most part, I would be the one to send FRs to individuals on the forum that I would see over time have some things in common with myself...ie their exercise habits and preferences and training...ways of eating, etc.

    I didn't just want to have a big list of "friends" with whom I had nothing in common...For example, Sally who does keto and is overly exuberant about her way of eating and spends most of her exercise time droning away on the elliptical wasn't really going to do much for me in the motivation department...nothing in common. However, Scott who really enjoys cooking and making delicious healthy meals and is into triathlons and cycling...or Debbie who's into hiking and rock climbing...I can be friends with those guys.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,421 Member
    edited March 2021
    **Edit, I see sijomial already posted the link to the thread you can use for reporting above. Cross-post!!


    **Edit again, I have a Friend tip: When you want to be a "friend" with someone, and you send them a friend request make sure to write a small explanation of why you are asking for the friend thing. If I get a friend request with no explanation, I don't even look at the person's profile it I just delete the friend request.

    That might weed out most if not all of the bot friend requests.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    wowisforstuds1238 wrote: »
    Yeah I’m new and I guess I put too much faith in people when looking for support and motivation. But it does happen to you guys as well?

    I've been on here since the fall of 2012...I pretty much ignored any requests early on because I wasn't experienced enough here to actually "know" anyone and I didn't particularly get any motivation from just random someone I have no experience with...so I couldn't really say. For the most part, I would be the one to send FRs to individuals on the forum that I would see over time have some things in common with myself...ie their exercise habits and preferences and training...ways of eating, etc.

    I didn't just want to have a big list of "friends" with whom I had nothing in common...For example, Sally who does keto and is overly exuberant about her way of eating and spends most of her exercise time droning away on the elliptical wasn't really going to do much for me in the motivation department...nothing in common. However, Scott who really enjoys cooking and making delicious healthy meals and is into triathlons and cycling...or Debbie who's into hiking and rock climbing...I can be friends with those guys.

    Is Scott single?

    :)

    I don't do friends (sorry anyone who's ever tried) but I would stick to people you see in the forums.

    That and this is the internet.

    You can't trust anyone! :)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    **Edit, I see sijomial already posted the link to the thread you can use for reporting above. Cross-post!!


    **Edit again, I have a Friend tip: When you want to be a "friend" with someone, and you send them a friend request make sure to write a small explanation of why you are asking for the friend thing. If I get a friend request with no explanation, I don't even look at the person's profile it I just delete the friend request.

    That might weed out most if not all of the bot friend requests.

    This ^^^. I do do a whole lot with the friend request stuff these days, but back in the way back when, if I received a request that didn't have some kind of explanation of why they would want to be friends with me, it was just an automatic delete request.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,421 Member
    edited March 2021
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    wowisforstuds1238 wrote: »
    Yeah I’m new and I guess I put too much faith in people when looking for support and motivation. But it does happen to you guys as well?

    I prefer the interactions I have on the forums.

    I didn't find my feed terribly motivating and now only look at it accidentally. Don't know if this is still a thing, but I used to get posts in my feeds that "X is now friends with Y" - a big waste of space as far as I'm concerned. I have no interest in looking at other people's diaries. I also used to have two undereaters that got a lot of feedback in their threads which I also didn't want to see. For whatever reason I couldn't just unfriend them, lol.

    Can't you block people in the feed now? There's a little X box that hides them, I think.


    Dunno, I only go there accidentally too.

    ..and, yeah - those autopost things are super annoying. People can disable them, I don't know why they don't.

    I don't care about how many days you've logged in or what your exercise was. ("You" in the general way - I totes care how many days you have kshama.)


    Maybe this is one reason I have few friends...is that something people want to know? I don't get that.
  • wowisforstuds1238
    wowisforstuds1238 Posts: 77 Member
    I appreciate the advice. Thanks. I’ll be more careful in the future.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,261 Member
    Y'know, I'm kind of on the other side of this. I look at profiles (on the web version of MFP) before I accept a FR, and if it doesn't seem suspect, I accept it (though I do have some medium-strict criteria). In borderline cases, I might do a search on the ID in the Community forums. I also look at the profile after I accept, and delete the friendship if I see new things I don't like. Other than that, not being very oriented to that side of MFP, I pretty much ignore things unless I get inappropriate PMs or something (seems like this might be a more common for women than men, not sure).

    There's not much an MFP "friend" can do to harm me, unless I buy into a cat-phishing attempt or something. (I don't reveal a lot of personal info on my profile, and not much info I'd consider cat-phishing-useful on the forum.)
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,421 Member
    @psychod787 does have the most fun feed posts.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,944 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    It's been happening a lot recently - see this thread for more info and also for reporting them.
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10823922/help-inappropriate-friend-requests-pics/p1
    (Just add their profile name or link to the profile - a hardworking moderator is compiling them for deletion.

    I'd suggest vetting requests using the browser verion rather than phone app, if you spot a disparity between the gender given and the often all too obvious gender displayed (over-displayed!?) in the profile picture and a blank profile then there's a high chance is an automated Russian porn bot that has hijacked a dormant profile.

    Nearly sounds like you're describing me :D I don't do friends though, thus it doesn't matter
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    hpldkm4tbm1c.jpeg
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,613 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    @psychod787 does have the most fun feed posts.

    Now I’m curious but their account is private and I don’t usually bother with friends! 🤣 I want to see the exercises!
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,513 Member
    The half naked soft porn looking accounts don't really want friends
    I just reject those
    And I never click on links even from long term friends without an explanation of what it is and why they are sending it to me
  • slimgirljo15
    slimgirljo15 Posts: 269,456 Member
    edited March 2021
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    **Edit, I see sijomial already posted the link to the thread you can use for reporting above. Cross-post!!


    **Edit again, I have a Friend tip: When you want to be a "friend" with someone, and you send them a friend request make sure to write a small explanation of why you are asking for the friend thing. If I get a friend request with no explanation, I don't even look at the person's profile it I just delete the friend request.

    That might weed out most if not all of the bot friend requests.

    This ^^^. I do do a whole lot with the friend request stuff these days, but back in the way back when, if I received a request that didn't have some kind of explanation of why they would want to be friends with me, it was just an automatic delete request.

    FYI.. you can't see those messages anymore. Its a deleted feature.
    So.. someone may have sent you a heartfelt and genuine hi accept me message and all you'll see is blank.. 😔

    Correct? @Alex
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Y'know, I'm kind of on the other side of this. I look at profiles (on the web version of MFP) before I accept a FR, and if it doesn't seem suspect, I accept it (though I do have some medium-strict criteria). In borderline cases, I might do a search on the ID in the Community forums. I also look at the profile after I accept, and delete the friendship if I see new things I don't like. Other than that, not being very oriented to that side of MFP, I pretty much ignore things unless I get inappropriate PMs or something (seems like this might be a more common for women than men, not sure).

    There's not much an MFP "friend" can do to harm me, unless I buy into a cat-phishing attempt or something. (I don't reveal a lot of personal info on my profile, and not much info I'd consider cat-phishing-useful on the forum.)

    ditto that.

    i do share a lot on my page, I'm pretty open in general. people love me or hate me LOL i accept most requests, as long as it seems like they're a real person, though I do check out the profile right afterwards to confirm they dont have a lifestyle that would make me cringe every time they posted, or are habitually eating too little, things like that.
  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    edited March 2021
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    wowisforstuds1238 wrote: »
    Yeah I’m new and I guess I put too much faith in people when looking for support and motivation. But it does happen to you guys as well?

    I prefer the interactions I have on the forums.

    I didn't find my feed terribly motivating and now only look at it accidentally. Don't know if this is still a thing, but I used to get posts in my feeds that "X is now friends with Y" - a big waste of space as far as I'm concerned. I have no interest in looking at other people's diaries. I also used to have two undereaters that got a lot of feedback in their threads which I also didn't want to see. For whatever reason I couldn't just unfriend them, lol.

    Can't you block people in the feed now? There's a little X box that hides them, I think.


    Dunno, I only go there accidentally too.

    ..and, yeah - those autopost things are super annoying. People can disable them, I don't know why they don't.

    I don't care about how many days you've logged in or what your exercise was. ("You" in the general way - I totes care how many days you have kshama.)

    Maybe this is one reason I have few friends...is that something people want to know? I don't get that.

    This is turning out to be a strangely funny thread :lol:

    I lost my streak and didn't care enough to fix it, so my days are wrong ;)

    I totes care about @glassyo: and Scott!

    I did like looking at exercise if it was interesting. @psychod787: has fun categories like "kicking *kitten* and chewing artificially sweetened bubble gum" :lol:

    DID SOMEONE SAY MY NAME? Glad I can entertain you! LOL
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    claireychn074 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    @psychod787 does have the most fun feed posts.

    Now I’m curious but their account is private and I don’t usually bother with friends! 🤣 I want to see the exercises!

    Here are some more:
    • Fist Full of Steel!
    • Checking myself, before I wreck myself!
    • Taking @ss and kicking names
    • Adding plates before dates.

    And a shout out for "Donating blood" which I assume is legit. Yay for blood donors! I'm anemic and cannot donate, and last year needed a transfusion and four iron infusions.

    All of the above are legit, of course.
    I've checked on him! :wink:

    Love you too @PAV8888
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    slimgirljo15 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    **Edit, I see sijomial already posted the link to the thread you can use for reporting above. Cross-post!!


    **Edit again, I have a Friend tip: When you want to be a "friend" with someone, and you send them a friend request make sure to write a small explanation of why you are asking for the friend thing. If I get a friend request with no explanation, I don't even look at the person's profile it I just delete the friend request.

    That might weed out most if not all of the bot friend requests.

    This ^^^. I do do a whole lot with the friend request stuff these days, but back in the way back when, if I received a request that didn't have some kind of explanation of why they would want to be friends with me, it was just an automatic delete request.

    FYI.. you can't see those messages anymore. Its a deleted feature.
    So.. someone may have sent you a heartfelt and genuine hi accept me message and all you'll see is blank.. 😔

    Correct? @Alex

    Ugh, really? That was a way I filtered. If someone can't be bothered to send a message, it's generally an automatic decline, unless I already formed a good impression of them from the forums.
  • slimgirljo15
    slimgirljo15 Posts: 269,456 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    slimgirljo15 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    **Edit, I see sijomial already posted the link to the thread you can use for reporting above. Cross-post!!


    **Edit again, I have a Friend tip: When you want to be a "friend" with someone, and you send them a friend request make sure to write a small explanation of why you are asking for the friend thing. If I get a friend request with no explanation, I don't even look at the person's profile it I just delete the friend request.

    That might weed out most if not all of the bot friend requests.

    This ^^^. I do do a whole lot with the friend request stuff these days, but back in the way back when, if I received a request that didn't have some kind of explanation of why they would want to be friends with me, it was just an automatic delete request.

    FYI.. you can't see those messages anymore. Its a deleted feature.
    So.. someone may have sent you a heartfelt and genuine hi accept me message and all you'll see is blank.. 😔

    Correct? @Alex

    Ugh, really? That was a way I filtered. If someone can't be bothered to send a message, it's generally an automatic decline, unless I already formed a good impression of them from the forums.

    Yep.. I only recently found this out myself. I thought it was strange I wasn't even getting a "hi" with the fr and haven't for a long time.
    Its weird they still have a spot though for you to add a message when you send the request. But yeah.. the receiver won't see it. 😔
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    slimgirljo15 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    slimgirljo15 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    cmriverside wrote: »
    **Edit, I see sijomial already posted the link to the thread you can use for reporting above. Cross-post!!


    **Edit again, I have a Friend tip: When you want to be a "friend" with someone, and you send them a friend request make sure to write a small explanation of why you are asking for the friend thing. If I get a friend request with no explanation, I don't even look at the person's profile it I just delete the friend request.

    That might weed out most if not all of the bot friend requests.

    This ^^^. I do do a whole lot with the friend request stuff these days, but back in the way back when, if I received a request that didn't have some kind of explanation of why they would want to be friends with me, it was just an automatic delete request.

    FYI.. you can't see those messages anymore. Its a deleted feature.
    So.. someone may have sent you a heartfelt and genuine hi accept me message and all you'll see is blank.. 😔

    Correct? @Alex

    Ugh, really? That was a way I filtered. If someone can't be bothered to send a message, it's generally an automatic decline, unless I already formed a good impression of them from the forums.

    Yep.. I only recently found this out myself. I thought it was strange I wasn't even getting a "hi" with the fr and haven't for a long time.
    Its weird they still have a spot though for you to add a message when you send the request. But yeah.. the receiver won't see it. 😔

    Confirming that messages with FR no longer come through. That’s been a feature for months. For a time, they sometimes showed up on the web or app (but not both and not consistently), but they haven’t come through at all in months.

    But the bots aren’t hard to find on the website (check all the profile pics).

    99.9% of my FR come from mutual friends. My feed is pretty active, very interactive and there’s a lot of overlap/mutual friends. Most have nothing to do with the forums ever. I’m pretty sure some of them don’t even know there are forums.

    Different strokes and all that.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    It's been happening a lot recently - see this thread for more info and also for reporting them.
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10823922/help-inappropriate-friend-requests-pics/p1
    (Just add their profile name or link to the profile - a hardworking moderator is compiling them for deletion.

    I'd suggest vetting requests using the browser verion rather than phone app, if you spot a disparity between the gender given and the often all too obvious gender displayed (over-displayed!?) in the profile picture and a blank profile then there's a high chance is an automated Russian porn bot that has hijacked a dormant profile.

    I’ve been on here for about eight years. Apparently, I’m not as discriminating as I could be when it comes to accepting friend requests. 😂

    I usually access MFP through my phone, and in relation to the thread above, I accepted friend requests from the Mostly Naked Bots because the thumbnails were too small for me to really tell. 🤦🏻‍♀️

    When I saw the thread, I went on my computer and sure enough ...

    You can use the search tool to look at their ousting history—just look for their user name. That way you can see what they’re about.

    Welcome! 👋🏻

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