Pesky Gummie Posts

[smurfchops]

I am sick and tired of reporting these blatant adverts. Please please don’t click on these “questions” and they may, just may, take the hint and GO AWAY.

[Bobbisox1]

I don’t know anyone that does smurfy

[Buenchico]

The people who post these spam links (and those who're paying them to do so), probably couldn't care less whether anyone actually reads their posts or clicks on their links. It's really an exercise in 'search engine optimisation'. The spammers know that Google ranks sites partly on the number of links there are on the web to those sites.

Someone offering CBD gummies for sale doesn't want a link to their business (or scam site, as the case may be) appearing half way down page 157 of Google's search results. They want to see it near to the top of page 1. So they flood the internet with links to SuperGreatGummies.com (or whatever), in the hope of getting that site more visible in Google's search results. If one or two people actually click on those links, and make purchases, it's a bonus for them but that isn't the purpose of their exercise.

Reporting spam can see prompt results when an AB Editor is at work in their office in Kettering but is unlikely to see much happen quickly if the report is submitted out of office hours. (Moderators don't see reports. Only the Eds do. So if we don't happen to notice spam in 'Latest Posts' or under 'Most Recent', we're not able to delete it).

[Bobbisox1]

I have just two email addresses , one is a Google one I use for stuff like Ryanair,trains etc, the amount of bilge that gets in there is unbelievable

[barry1010]

smurf, just ignore them - you don't have to report them. I report them but I doesn't aggrieve me to

[davebro]

they could be filtered - the mgmt can't be arsed

[Hopkirk]

I stopped reporting recently when I discovered the fact that Chris mentions.
Mods don't see the reports.

[barry1010]

But the Ed does, Hopkirk. Enough reports might spur him in to filtering the ads out or whatever he is able to do.

[jno]

still the best way to get them dealt with in office hours, Hopkirk, as the Eds should be here to act on them.

[Ellipsis]

... and I would have gotten away with it if it hadna been for those Pesky Gummie Posts ...

[Old_Geezer]

All the more reason to automatically spot suspect posts and not show them (especially not to Google) until vetted by a human.