Comments on: New Twitter Spam Scam Uses Fake Celebrity RTs

By: Retweet Changes and Twitter Plagiarism | PlagiarismToday

Retweet Changes and Twitter Plagiarism | PlagiarismToday — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:45:31 +0000

[...] Indeed, the process does appear to be fairly automatic. Once you click the link to send the retweet and confirm you want to send it, the tweet goes out without any opportunity to edit. However, this also solves the problem of fake retweets being sent out using celebrities names, which became a major problem for a while in July. [...]

By: Spam « Kitten’s Thoughts

Spam « Kitten’s Thoughts — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:12:20 +0000

[...] There have also been isolated incidents, like when loads of legitimate accounts were hijacked, or fake celebrity re-tweets. Twitter is also definitely trying to minimize the issues of spam, although with mixed results, [...]

By: zettieleeuwenburgh

zettieleeuwenburgh — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:34:02 +0000

Thanks!!! for warning. Haven’t heard about copycats in Holland, but better be warned! (Isn’t Stephen Fry a darling to pass it on?)

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:30:20 +0000

You can deny straight away. Just check Protect my updates in settings so you have to approve them before they see your updates.

By: Parsley

Parsley — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:50:29 +0000

I’m not sure why this is a significant problem. Surely you’re only going to receive these tweets if you’ve opted to Follow the spammer at some point? If you use a bit of common sense when choosing who to follow it shouldn’t be a problem.

I know there are people who will follow anyone who follows them, but these are the same people who click on spam, phishing emails, etc.

By: Jafafa Hots

Jafafa Hots — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:25:16 +0000

I resisted using twitter for a long time, but in the short time I have used it it has become clear that unless they find a way to change things, its days of usefulness (such as it is) are numbered.

It’s WAY to wide-open for abuse, follower spam, etc., and I am not creative enough to see how that can thwart that wave when it finally comes without fundamental changes to the whole way it works.

By: George

George — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:24:46 +0000

I get people adding me all day everyday. It’s annoying on twitter how u cant just deny straight up. I just get an e-mail through on my phone saying so n so is following you and I have to go on my pc and actively block them to prevent them checking out my shit. They’re always in the same format. .

I think however, if you’re stupid enough to click on an absolute strangers link to something that sounds either too good to be true, or something irrelevant to anything u’ve been talking about, you deserve it.

To make sure you don’t get caught out by these scams, click on the link below. It really works! Http://hackersanonymous.com/wegonnahackyou.suckers.pl

It’s a safe site, just follow the link.

By: Alzinho

Alzinho — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:18:24 +0000

Seriously though, this gives absolutely ZERO concern over the security of Twitter specifically does it? I reached the same spam/scam whilst looking for a news feed when trying to find out what had happened at The Open golf championship today. Does that bring into doubt the security of Google, which gave me the link? As always on the intertron – if it looks too good to be true….it is! And you should leave it well alone.

By: Radge

Radge — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:07:02 +0000

I’ve just realised your comment is actually a reply to “Serafina”. I initially thought it was a comment on it’s own and didn’t realise the error until I’d posted, apologies.

By: Ann

Ann — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:05:50 +0000

Oooo an intelligence for would be Tweeters. Very sensible and practical approach.

By: Radge

Radge — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:03:36 +0000

Jeez, he’s only trying to help. This blog’s essential message is “Down with spam” not “Down with Twitter”. And besides, if the spam exists (which it does) and there are millions of people regularly using Twitter and following celebs (which there are) then it’s only common sense to believe that someone will be thick enough to go ahead and click it. Unless you count people’s stupidity as evidence, it’s not needed.

By: Miles

Miles — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:40:35 +0000

If people fall for something so stupid they shouldn’t be allowed on twitter in the first place.

By: osmanjunaid

osmanjunaid — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:38:31 +0000

How on earth can this raise an issue about how safe Twitter is if you don’t have any evidence to back up your claims?

By: Serafina

Serafina — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:53:52 +0000

That sucks. Bad timing, as TheAuteurs was just doing a survey and rewarding people with a $5 credit to watch a movie on their site. Completely legit – hope people don’t get confused as to which is real.

http://twitter.com/theauteurs/status/2674214922

By: Liane YoungBlogger

Liane YoungBlogger — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:05:57 +0000

Too many spams these days. Sometimes, it just discourages me to open my Twitter account.