Maybe I made a mistake by reporting this to MyLot........
By Beaufly
@Beaufly (991)
United States
July 30, 2011 8:44am CST
Maybe I made a mistake by reporting what I suspect to be a scammer. I only
reported my instinct because I am a proponent of awareness and helping us all to
be as safe as we can when we are online. Last year, I experienced a nightmare with a scammer and I will not mention the sites because i would like for this discussion to stay up.
This person was insidious and known to create many fake/phony profiles and just basically recycles garbage social networking sites and he targets the international community. I am sure many of you have heard of some of these sites because they were
heavily promoted.
I have tried to write about those sites here only to have the discussion removed. Yesterday, I was on a forum that was unfamiliar to me and I saw someone who uses the same jargon and language as the scammer. I know that he or she has currently created a new site and has been actively recruiting for it. It is the same stale stuff repackaged. I looked at the comments and just moved on. I am not a member of that forum and I just decided to leave.
When I returned to Mylot, I saw that this same person (same profile) was over here in discussions basically asking people to PM them for more info regarding advertising or making money. This time, I contacted admin and did my first negative rating and expressed my concern and suspicions.
Well, today when I come on to MyLot, my star dropped from a 9 to an 8. I had heard in the past that if you rate someone negatively, it could effect your rating but wow, I am shocked. Maybe, I should not report what I see. The only reason I know this information is because before I figured out this person's schemes and evil deeds, I communicated with them a lot via skype, e-mail and on one of their networks before I figured out it was a scam.
Now, I guess I will be more skeptical about reporting anything here since the previous discussions from months ago were delete and now my rating has dropped.
6 people like this
10 responses
@GoAskAlice (5807)
•
30 Jul 11
Unless this person specifically knew you were reporting them and had a few dozen profiles with which to rate you down with, that incident alone would not be enough to cause that sort of fall. One person cannot effect your rating that dramatically. Also, a single rating on your part to another person, will have no effect on your own rating. You would have to be abusing the ratings system for that to happen and I can see that you have not done so.
6 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
30 Jul 11
I've heard a lot of complaints of fallen stars this drastically though Alex, so what's going on here?
2 people like this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
30 Jul 11
Well, I am sure that this person who is known for creating false and phony profiles probably has more than one. I know this person has several computers and may work as a programmer or in another techy arena. The person has also blasted my profile name here on other sites because in the past, I have ousted him because I did not want another person to lose money or time.
I just do not want to penalized for trying to do the right things. It is hard enough having to deal/compete with scammers in the marketplace because they have hurt so many people and the fear (esp in the US) is at an all time high. I am/was disappointed.
1 person likes this
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
30 Jul 11
Nope your idea of negative rating and reporting to admin is not directly the caused. For me the possibility is he/she knows you and he/she knows that your be in a side of reporting such action, so in retaliate to your action rating you negative also. Or as other said may be he/she have many friends or profile which used to you for a negative rating.
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
30 Jul 11
When you have decided to be a professional scammer, this is what you do for a living. Last year, I could not believe all of the info I found out. I was shocked and mad, almost a debilitating anger. I could not believe that people were creating false networks but after thoroughly researching this, I found out that this individual was known for this behavior. It is similar to men who act like women online to get more sales......it's all just so sleazy.
1 person likes this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
30 Jul 11
I am more likely to believe that it is this person who has come in here under many profiles and is here to get as many members as they can to join a scam via pm. Then they are rating me negatively. It's not much I can do but express how I feel.
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
30 Jul 11
It shouldn't be that way but it is. We are being punished for doing the right thing. A few years ago there were people who would ask to have their star dropped, why? because of the unfairness of rating. People were just outright rating people negatively and it was getting to the point where it was terrible. The star should not matter, but it does, it helps us earn more, and it's unfair when people negatively rate us. You did the right thing by reporting the scammer.
3 people like this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
30 Jul 11
This person is not new to being online, or to myLot. They have had one profile in the past and possibly more. They are not interested in this site and only wants to engage here to lure people to some scam. I like mylot but I really do not know what to do except to let admin know my situation.
3 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
30 Jul 11
I hate seeing those with no interest in this site. If they'd take the interest they'd see that this site can be extremely beneficial to us all. It's a good thing you reported them, and continue to do so. I still think there's something glitchy with these stars, it shouldn't have dropped so drastically for you.
3 people like this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
30 Jul 11
Well the thing is SCG, scammers with agendas are crafty and he/she definitely holds a grudge because I have come out on several sites proclaiming some of his/her previous scams. There have been at least 3 more questionable sites. I contacted several governing bodies and spent a lot of time trying to get the authorities to look into this. The problem is these people change up their info on a dime and if they are computer geeks and scammers, it can be even more difficult. But once you realize their patterns (because there are patterns), you can almost always see them a mile away.
I was at another forum and saw this person there (same stuff/talk) but then I was mortified when I saw this same profile here last night, asking people to pm. All I can do is my part and thank you for recognizing my efforts.....
The person has probably negatively rated me more than once and I submitted my first negative rating.
2 people like this
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
30 Jul 11
I would not call it a mistake, but there are times when something you may say can hit a person or people a certain way and it can cause your rating to go down, even if you did not intend to offend. That happened to me one time and I was so sure that what I did say was not offensive to anyone, but I was speaking up for someone who apparently was disliked so much that unless you actually talked bad about this person, you would get negative marks. It is not fair in my opinion to do this as it discourages people from saying things that they really want to say and it stifles the free flowing of genuine dialogue. We should be free to express our thoughts and feelings without indiscriminate repercussions.
2 people like this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
30 Jul 11
Well, I am a believer in fairness and justice. If everyone just talks nice and never reports anything or speaks up, what kind of world would we live in. Would the holocaust have continued? Would the US still enslave Africans? I guess an unfortunate take home point is that this is an open social site and people are free to come in and go as they please. I realize that all I can do is do what I think is right and best. I really like mylot and when I see something that is incorrect, I want to be able to speak up and not worry about repercussions. I don't think it was one act of injustice against me but several. I am thankful that myLot is aware and Alex has come and responded so hopefully they will watch for suspicious activity. That is my hope.
1 person likes this
@shibham (16977)
• India
31 Jul 11
Well friend...
As i have understood your discussion and as far i can remember one discussion already posted here having such issue. Where a mylotter told that he has found his discussion and some other discussions in some other forums. As i can remember again, no one can publish a discussion on other forum unless mylot itself. Dont know exactly who and how and where? But i think mylot better can answer them but be sure not a single mylotter can share the same topic on other forum. ( if you are telling about this issue, then its my polite reply. No offense meant.) And regarding your star issue, i had also 10 and now 9. It happens. Do your job and will gain the same star within days. All the best.
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
31 Jul 11
Shibham, Respectfully, the imposter/imposer is not posting the same discussion. This is basically a scammer I am having a problem with. The things stated on other forums was him directing attention off of my raised issues about his/her scam sites by attacking me and using the name I use here which is different from the one I use there.
The Star issue: I think he/she has negatively rated me on more than one occasion possibly using different profiles here in mylot. Plus, I just negatively rated one of his/her profiles and I think my last action pushed my star down. I do understand that this happens.
I will continue to post here. I like it here just do not want to be penalized if I see something/someone inappropriate and I report it. No one wants that.
1 person likes this
@lovelyn_medrano (3070)
• Philippines
30 Jul 11
You just did the right thing beaufly. For me even if my rating drops as long as many in here saw and read my comment or discussion before it was deleted that is fine... At least I have saved many from falling into their dirty schemes... and that matters most...
Have a good day! I am sure, you'll earn that star rating again in no time.
2 people like this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
30 Jul 11
I appreciate your support. I felt the same way and I know there were many who responded to my deleted discussions regarding those scam sites so I know that some were spared because many people thanked me for the info so I did have the chance to get some info out there for all to see.
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
30 Jul 11
That is not fair to you. If they don't want us to report things that we see, then why have the opportunity to do it and why have the buttons there for us. It seems that you have been punished for no reason, but that star rating really doesn't affect us any, does it?
1 person likes this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
30 Jul 11
I believe it affects our earnings. I am not an expert in this. It lowers our reputation rating. Anything when abused causes issues. So, in theory having the rating system should be a good thing and help to keep us all on our toes and doing the right thing but when people with ulterior motives comes in, then we are dealing with something different.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Jul 11
beaufly I think you have run across another of the trolls. I
thought mylot had rid us of them but sounds like you have been
trolled. whoever is upset with you has decided to take it out
on you. I had it happento me overnight so I reported that someone had taken my star from blue ten to a five just overnight. mylot
watched then reported to me two men had stayed up all might minusing
everything I had ever posted. the two men were barred from mylot
and told never to reapply to mylot.
and told never to reapply to mylot. 2 people like this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
30 Jul 11
Wow Hatley, now that was drastic. I can't even imagine. That is terrible and I am glad that mylot monitored this. Even though, mine is not that drastic, I hope that they will still pay attention. There is also another profile that is a little suspicious but since I was not as sure (as with this one), I have not reported it but maybe I should. I just don't understand why people just go and leave well enough alone but we are dealing with a different animal, scammers and spammers.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
31 Jul 11
You did not make any mistake to report it to mylot. In fact, you have done us all a favor, and mylot as well. Now they can keep a watch on this person and hopefully will be able to prevent them from creating new accounts.
I am sorry your star has dropped. I hope it is raised soon!
1 person likes this
@Beaufly (991)
• United States
31 Jul 11
Well, I am glad that Alice/Alex came over and acknowledged that I am not abusing the system and they have been alerted. As far as deleted discussions, many people saw the comments regarding some scam sites and I am thankful for that. I do feel like I have done my part and I am hope that my star will shine again in the future.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
31 Jul 11
I believe your star shall be raised soon. Hopefully it will be very soon. I will do what I can to help you. Thank you very much for trying to alert people about the scammer you know. For those who have seen it, it is very helpful and that is a kind gesture on your part.
1 person likes this
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
1 Aug 11
Ohh frined now my points is also decreasing day by day I dont know whats the reason and who is doing this. I never tell to admin for anybody. I not know about last year incident because I become member of mylot this year.
1 person likes this
