"Suspicious Activity" from myLot search
By liquorice
@liquorice (3887)
March 28, 2010 10:12am CST
Earlier today I was searching for discussions to do with hypnosis using the myLot search button. It told me that I'd got an award of a couple of cents, and then after a few more searches it told me that there was suspicious activity going on from my account and that I couldn't search any more for now. 
What does this mean? I can obviously still use my myLot account (for now anyway..), and it's letting me respond to and post discussions, but I'm wondering is my account safe??? I don't want to be banned...
Has this happened to you? What happened?
I can understand that they don't want people abusing the search facility now that they're rewarding us for using it, but this is the only way to search myLot (unless we do it externally through google or something, but it's a bit annoying to have to do this when there is a perfectly good search facility in myLot..) If we are limited in the number of different search combinations we are allowed do in the myLot (paid) search box then maybe there should be another box we can use that isn't part of the new scheme. That way we can opt out of getting rewards, but be able to do as many searches as we need to do..
Just an idea. I don't usually gripe about myLot as I looooove it here and think it's a great site, but this left me a little shocked and confused.
What does this mean? I can obviously still use my myLot account (for now anyway..), and it's letting me respond to and post discussions, but I'm wondering is my account safe??? I don't want to be banned... Has this happened to you? What happened?
I can understand that they don't want people abusing the search facility now that they're rewarding us for using it, but this is the only way to search myLot (unless we do it externally through google or something, but it's a bit annoying to have to do this when there is a perfectly good search facility in myLot..) If we are limited in the number of different search combinations we are allowed do in the myLot (paid) search box then maybe there should be another box we can use that isn't part of the new scheme. That way we can opt out of getting rewards, but be able to do as many searches as we need to do..
Just an idea. I don't usually gripe about myLot as I looooove it here and think it's a great site, but this left me a little shocked and confused.3 people like this
12 responses
@GoAskAlice (5807)
•
28 Mar 10
Your account is safe and you needn't worry. I'm very glad you understand we must have something in place for curbing abuse. Since the reward system is still new we are monitoring and evaluating our statistics and we'll be looking at moving the abuse thresholds. In the meantime please keep using the search facility the way you have been.
@rosdimy (3926)
• Malaysia
29 Mar 10
GoAskAlice,
This is more of a query rather than a solid discussion from my art.
My search pattern can easily be flagged as suspicious.
1) I tend to do searches on dfferent topics at around the same time.
2) I prefer copy and paste for later reading and analysis, thus my search count racks up quickly in a short time.
In the present situation I have to change my search pattern, which in turn makes me reluctant to make searches the usual way.
2 people like this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
28 Mar 10
Hi, liquorice. This has happened to me too! Once I was rewarded for searching, I tried searching again and there was this message that said this too. I thought that my account was banned. But it was not. I also thought that I probably could not use the search feature anymore. I also agree too, that there should be a separate search option for members to search up under without it giving us an reward. This alarmed me as well. But, once I found out, that I can only search once a day and get an award, I can no longer search again until the next day. I thought that the search feature was considered to be unlimited. But, it wasn't.
2 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
•
28 Mar 10
Thanks for your answer cream. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I found it a bit strange, and also a bit of a surprise, as I'd forgotten all about the talk of search rewards, and that we didn't just have unlimited searches like a normal search bar. Maybe we need some kind of warning that flashes up when we search to stop us getting restricted like this(?). I guess I'll just have to be more careful in future.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
28 Mar 10
I totally agree, licorice. The search feature should have the option where it warns us that we have reached our daily maximum allocated searches for that given day. It will make it so much easier for members. And then we won't have to worry about being banned or suspended for doing too many searches. That is why I will just search and once I am rewarded, I will not search again. I will wait until the next day to search.
2 people like this
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
28 Mar 10
Wow i did not know mylot is giving people money for doing searches . Well i think contacting the admin may solve the problem . hopefully you will be lifted from the restriction soon . Guess i won't try it first laugh out loud .
@liquorice (3887)
•
18 Apr 10
Yes, it is a bit uncertain how we should be using it. Luckily myLot are looking into how they can improve the search bar. See Alice's answer higher up the page. 
@homeshoppers (6166)
• Philippines
29 Mar 10
its in mylot TOS actually that we should just use mylot search if we need too and not because we want too, some uses it just to earn an award from mylot since they offer award by using search, but also remember that once they find out that your using mylot search in purpose they will zero out your balance also knowing you did it with purpose.
2 people like this
@avani26 (1518)
• India
28 Mar 10
Happened with me some days back and now I am scared to use the search button. I sent them a mail telling that I hope they take a notice of it. Actually as per their guidelines we are not supposed to duplicate posts so I usally try searching using many key words before starting any new discussion but looks like I overdid it and I got a message as mentioned by you.
I would really hope that they take a note of your suggestion that way I can search without getting scared. I like mylot too and therefore do not want to get banned.
2 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
•
18 Apr 10
Sounds like you're using the search bar in a way that makes very good sense! Glad I'm not the only one this is happening to. Did they write back?
Thanks for your answer.
@DarthJustice (2014)
• United States
28 Mar 10
That happened to me once a few days ago. Fortunately it goes away eventually. I think it only happens if you search too frequently in a certain amount of time. That's what I think anyway. I could be wrong though.
@carmenzhj (120)
• New Zealand
29 Mar 10
Maybe it would be better to contact the admin and ask them if they are aware such matter.
@lifeafterdeath09 (2043)
• United States
1 Apr 10
yes your account is safe. what happened was you searched too fast. you have to wait a cirtain amount of time till you use the search engine again. best of luck with earning 
@phoenix8606 (4942)
•
28 Mar 10
hi! yeah, after we've been rewarded once we are not suppose to keep searching, no matter do we do that to earn some more or just to find something, and that's the only thing that I don't like with the search box. maybe they should make it so that after you have been rewarded once, that you can keep searching without getting a second reward!
@liquorice (3887)
•
28 Mar 10
Yes, that's a good idea. Maybe they should limit everyone to (a maximum) of one reward per day. That would solve the problem of people searching just to get rewards. Good thinking!
@setsuna26 (2751)
• Philippines
29 Mar 10
Hey good thing i saw your post. I mean i even want to use this search feature of mylot but now that its a lil bit scary i might think twice before i use it again. Yeah ive been rewarded for using the search function of this site and based from your story i really wont be using it that much anymore, just to be safe and i really want to enjoy this reading and commenting part of the site ;) and im glad that your not banned or what happy mylotting! ;)
