Scams, Scamming, Spammers, Are You One Of Them? Think again
The invention of the Internet has created many awesome results and opportunities that can be of great value and provide much information to help those seeking answers.
It has brought many people together including old friends, created new awesome friends and families that may be on the other side of the world or even in other states where you can now communicate with ease to them in many ways, like emails, social media accounts etc.
Business alike can now communicate via emails, webinars and even provide many forms of documents online that might have previously required travel and setting appointment or meetings to deliver and discuss.
You are now able to even do many forms of courses online without the need to travel and even look up something that is of interest to you and perhaps purchase something even get it delivered to the front door.
So many opportunities are available to you all at the drop of typing a few words in the search engines and there you go.
All Types
Wealthy Affiliate draws in many different types of people who come from all around the world and for various reasons.
The most common factor would be for some form of financial incentive.
Many have come to Wealthy Affiliate looking for that opportunity to be able to gain some financial independence from their current life situations.
You may be looking for some extra income to top up with what you have already.
Some come with very little income or none, seeking a way out of the rat race they are in.
You will find many who want to be free from their regular (just over broke) 9-5 type JOB where the higher authorities reap the rewards from your hard earned work that you put in and if your still get paid a standard rate which if you’re lucky just covers the bills and other necessities in life.
You will also find those who are determined to want to create their own lifestyle by having their own online business and be able to work their own hours and are prepared to work hard (especially at the start) to make it happens either for themselves and or for their family.
Regardless of what your financial situation you have a great opportunity here in Wealthy Affiliate to learn the right way toward the success you seek be it financial, personal independence, or just doing what they love and loving what they do.
Some members here may be fine with their financial situations but love blogging on their own website because the love what they do and are doing what they love.
Regardless of what your financial situation you have in life. Being a member here in Wealthy Affiliate has given many some wonderful opportunities in life they could never find elsewhere.
Just look at some of the Super Ambassadors we have had in the past and recently who came from the All Paid Super Affiliate Conference in Las Vegas
Many of those members started just like you and me. They built up their own solid foundation with their website(s) and worked their butt off especially at the start to get where they are now.
The other side
We have seen many spammers around the world attacking websites both Governments right down to the local everyday folk who may have a website and are just trying to do what they can to improve their quality of life for themselves and/ or for their families.
Then you have this other unwanted side where someone instead of being helpful they become deceitful by scamming you or the system, spamming you with multiple emails which is common even pretending they are someone else trying to get into your personal details with the aim of robbing you for all you may have.
When going online you may have seen many kinds of scams.
Here are a couple of examples mentioned in the past via email with pretending to be someone else that you would normally trust but could easily be taken for a ride unknowingly
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/apache1/blog/more-phishing-scams-with-paypal
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/apache1/blog/dont-take-the-bit-of-the-wrong-apple
There are those that make everything look so simple and that you can make thousands or more within a week or two mostly as the drop of pushing a button.
They are very good at playing with your emotions and take their own gamble some fail others succeed at your cost many get away with it.
To them the more they try to connect the bigger opportunity to gain advantage in ripping someone off
You opportunity here in Wealthy Affilaite
Now Wealthy Affiliate gives many a wonderful opportunity by providing what is known as a Starter membership which is an awesome way to not only learn about what Wealthy Affiliate is but to give you some added resources to have a go and see if this is for you.
With the 2 different courses that are available for free along with 2 free SiteRubix sub-domains this give you a wonderful opportunity to learn how to earn online while you are still building your website along the way.
Wealthy Affiliate gives this Free Starter Version to all who simply just want to give it a go and if it is for them, they have an option to become a premium member, which will give them so much more opportunity to go further forward with the many added benefits a premium members has.
So anyone can join for free and is free to try out yet there are some who can’t look at an opportunity to benefit and grow instead they try to scam the system as we have seen recently with some blog posts .
Fortunately, these people have been taken off the list here at Wealthy Affiliate by the powers to be in Kyle and Carson and are no longer a threat. Then again, they were never a threat as WA has many features in the background to take care of such losers.
As this starter membership is open to all there will always be the occasional scammer trying their best to rip either WA off or try to attract a member with their links most of whom add this into posts and in their profile.
This is considered as spam and should be noted to that person along with clicking the spam button
It takes 10 members to click the spam button to automatically block that persons privileges so make sure you are doing this for the right reasons and not because you dislike the person or for your jealously.
Important Note
I have lost a couple of wonderful friends a few years ago because there were a group of members, for whatever reason keep hitting the spam button on this person and they were not promoting anything if fact they were giving credit to WA for what they have learned along their journey here as well as posted some wonderful and inspirational blogs nothing religious or anything that were against the rules just sharing their joy and being grateful for being here.
Gradually a couple of us contacted Kyle and their privileges got restored then bam this group of people stuck again finally this person had enough and quit this person was a spiritual person just wanted to learn a bit more to make their website better with SEO and all other things we have available.
I know some of these are still members but I also know their writing privileges got taken away from them for a while as a result of this and a couple of other reasons.
However, that is past and I hope they have learned from their wrongdoings and continue forward in a positive way and wish them well.
That is why I am saying think before you click that spam button Kyle and Carson know who clicks the buttons so don’t think you can get away quietly if you are doing this for all the wrong reasons.
Do this only for the obvious one like some of those poker and gambling ones we have been seeing many times latterly
The Blatant type of promotions with no intention of learning here but to just try and capitalize the free options WA have given them. These are the real troublemakers here.
You have that option to report such scams, scamming and spammers here in Wealthy Affiliate
Then there is another group who may not have a direct focus on spamming yet their spamming is still against the rules
There are some starter members who genuinely are not aware that promoting their website, products and providing such links on their posts and profile is considered as spam.
For those give them the benefit of the doubt and just provide them with a simple message that you cannot promote your website or products here within the WA community and give them the link Spam is a No NO this link created by Kyle is below.
Then there are those
I have seen in the past and still to this day members who should know better who add their website link on their profile and even any posts and training they may have created.
These are not just restricted to starter members but Premium members some are outside the top 200 and some are inside including the top 25.
Many have been here for a while they give credit to WA for their wonderful lessons encourage others to follow the training yet then themselves spam with providing their personal links in profiles, posts and training.
What gives? Spamming is spamming
Regardless if it intentional or not or with the quiet hope someone may check out your site and you may get an added advantage on the side.
If you know, the rules then obey them.
You are not above anyone else regardless of your position on the Ranking ladder.
Read the rules if you haven’t and if you have read the rules which I am sure you have adjust the wrongs you are doing I will start looking into some as well I don’t care who you are, whether you follow me or not, whether you like me or not or for whatever reason you are not following the rules.
I am not the spam police in any way but I love Wealthy Affiliate this is my home and the home for many members here don’t’ abuse what you have.
I am more than fair to many perhaps to fair but I will not take your crap of abusing the system however light it may look. Many have been hear longer than me and still promote their website.
I am not talking about the question can you look at my website I am having issues and seeking help by providing their link in the post or question.
This is considered fine as you are seeking support and help but providing your website details at the end of your comment or saying I have created a website then providing a link for no other reason than to advertise is against the rules and will not be tolerated.
There are many who would agree with this and for those I thank you for your due diligence in looking after your home.
Just in Case you can't find the rules or decided to not read all of this here it is again for your benefit. Oh My please in sharing this link for you.
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/training/wealthy-affiliate-t...
Here is a wonder post from Keisha that adds and enhances on some things mention above
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/keishalina9/blog/wa-heroes-v...
End of Rant but not end of seeking those who abuse the system intentional or not.
Andre
Additional change
When writing this I know I had details on where you can show your website and social media details but it seems I much have deleted this in error fortunately another wonderful member phll1944 brought this to my attention.
So if you look on the right hand side under your pofile where the your posts, training are under that you will see "follow me on"
here you can add your website name along with other social media site you are part of you can add up to 7 to this.
Also note that only people who follow you can see this section if they decide to use it that is.
This is the only place where you can advertised your website and or social media links.
Thank you for that Phil much appreciated
Andre
Recent Comments
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Hi Andre,
As always, an excellent, succinct and well needed reminder of what is and isn't right or acceptable. I am a 'newbie' and will admit I tread the digital highway with light feet for fear of a making a wrong step. This is my choice as I do not yet have the knowledge to run around without care. Your post has, as many post on here, given me more confidence in the path I take on a daily basis.
Thank you.
I feel that WA is unique. Many forums out there have strict policies, do's and don'ts and a host of 'moderators' to chastise,guide and sometimes dismiss those who seek to abuse the place in which they reside. WA seems to work more organically in a 'self-governing' way. This allows us the freedom to express ourselves.
Members owe it to themselves and to fellow users to be aware of the rules and etiquette that are in place so they continue to thrive and enjoy the platform as it was intended.
Be well.
Thank you, John, and for your great support as well
I totally agree with you that WA gives us more freedom to express ourselves perhaps sometimes too much for some but it is there.
I am in a few groups elsewhere and have seen some moderators who have deleted a comment when they did nothing wrong and were only supporting someone else in a very professional manner.
There are some moderators that take things too personally and abuse their authority and delete a comment without even giving a reason or reply to that person.
I am in one group where I have seen a moderator taken off with their responsibilities as moderator because of this abuse of privileges.
But here we have the 10 member option which hitting the spam button will take effect letting the various authorities to look into and take any further action if necessary.
Personally, I feel when this is hit a new window should open up and for that person to state why they did so.
This could easily stop those who do it for the fun of annoying someone or group together because that don't like that person.as I mention within the post.
But that is up to WA
Have a great week ahead
Thank you again for all your support as well
Andre
Hi Andre
I am glad you wrote this - having observed what you have written about within the WA community - I can relate to what you are speaking about. There will always be opportunists unfortunately, the saddest part is that we stand to lose great community members as a result of the opportunists' actions.
Thank you for addressing these very important points.
Blessings
Louise
Thank you Louise and you are most welcome. It is sad to lose some members not because they did anything wrong but the fact it takes away their joy of being here had gone too far.
Blessings
Andre
A wonderfully detailed and well thought out post, Andre, but I would like to bring to your attention the fact that website links are not just allowed in your profile, but encouraged. They are in the Follow Me section at the end of your profile.
Thank you Phil,
Yes in the follow me section they are allowed and that is the only place they should be not on profiles or in posts or training. I know I had it written down but must have deleted it in error while I was editing so glad you brought that up.
Andre
I also know that it is only allowed in follow me once a member has reached a few levels of training from what I remembered because I used to wonder why some had and some didn't. I don't think newbies can use that feature yet or an I wrong?
Not sure about starter members but I just checked and have a few newbies who are premium and been here for a week only and have their social media on display.
You will also find that some do not wish to display which is their right not to do so.
Plus only those that follow you can see this if you have anything listed.
Hope that helps
Andre
Simply check your profile and your posts as Phil pointed out which I did have but somewhere along the line I deleted it during editing the follow me on which is the right hand side under your posts and training in the only place you can leave your website and social media details.
If there's a space intended to be supplied maybe WA allowed it. I think I did in the past is to include my post link from my site and I also deleted after sometime.
Yea if you posted your link within a post then that is not allowed same as posting your link within a profile. Many still abuse this as I mention regardless of their position then some have not been here for a long time as well so that is very hard to monitor or take action.
But there is nothing wrong in mentioning your website can be located under the follow me section if someone wishes to visit just not in the post or profile or training as well.
As I said the only time you can is if you are having an issue as are asking for help in some way just not blatantly promoting it
Thank you for this well written blog.
I have for the first time seen the rules.
I think they should be added in the training at level 1 so that every newbie falls in line immediately.
From what I remember I could be wrong which is known to happen.
When you first join the link is there somewhere but it could have been years ago when I first joined.
Although we may give the link of spam is a nono the actual title is called
Wealthy Affiliate - The Open Education Project of which the spam is within a section of this.
See more comments
Well Apache, this is what I think. Wealthy Affiliate is not only a platform for a website. If it were just that there are so many more places out there that can do that a whole lot cheaper than WA. It is not just a university, because there are a lot more places out there where this information is available for free. What Wealthy Affiliate is is a community and how foolish it is, in my opinion, for a community, any community, not to support the businesses of the members of their own community because this makes the economy of the entire community stronger and its survival is practically guaranteed short of a natural disaster or electrical black out. Apache, why would I buy something directly from Amazon or Walmart online if I knew that one of the members of my own community had an affiliate link to those sites? If I am really interested in the survival of my Wealthy Affiliate Community and this platform, I am going to shop locally with the members of Wealthy Affiliate. This ensures everyones survival from top to bottom. Kyle and Carson are two very generous young men and realize that people on this platforrm are struggling to make these monthly membership dues and assist them by giving them credits for reviews and comments which they can convert to cash and pay their dues. But what does that do to the person that sponsored them? Well, I would imagine that their commission on that member's membership is cut as well. The only answer is to SHOP LOCALLY, especially with those who have helped you, but also with new members who are struggling and if we do that we will soon see a very wealthy community, a community that lives up to its name. So, I am going to keep doing what I am doing Apache, in the best interest of my community. If that is unacceptable and I am kicked off this platform, fine, this is not where I want or need to be anyway in that case. But thank you for your viewpoint. Sorry I don't get it. I hope we can be friends and agree to disagree.
Hi Terri thank you for the thoughts and views and you are entitled to that.
But I do agree with you we can agree to disagree without any further comment.
Wishing you well