BEWARE of Imposter Screen Names!

[Ginger Doll]

I was in my PM's this evening, sending a message to a friend of mine. I couldn't remember character for character how their screen name went, so I started to type it in.

The recipient bar will automatically fill in matches after you type in a couple of characters...

It was then that I noticed that the screen name of my intended recipient had a clone... almost a perfect match, character for character. The only difference was that a " . " was missing.

I almost mistakenly sent my PM to the wrong person. I checked the imposter screen name under the "search" tab, and "find posts by this user." This screen name had no posts whatsoever.

I just got to thinking...how EASY it would be for someone with bad intentions to impersonate a screen name that we are all familiar with...and gain their credibility and our trust. Avatar pictures can be copied and duplicated. And most people probably wouldn't catch it.

So, when you get a PM from someone, or send one...PLEASE double check through their known posts on the board...that their screen name matches up, exactly character for character.

[Sweet N Little]

Wow! Thanks for looking out for us Ginger, much appreciated.
guess my new alternate handle ginger dolly is out ? lol

[MrGiz]

Hmmmm... not cool at all!

A missing "." , eh? Zero posts For this area?

[bud69]

If its a friend why pm and not text message? I would never pm a friend on eccie. In fact I don't trust any of these boards with pm's. They are accessible to the owners and mods. Text message is best because most cell providers delete them after 30 days.

[Ginger Doll]

Originally Posted by bud69

If its a friend why pm and not text message? I would never pm a friend on eccie. In fact I don't trust any of these boards with pm's. They are accessible to the owners and mods. Text message is best because most cell providers delete them after 30 days.

My friend is married. And as friendly as we are, I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate an unexpected text message being intercepted by his S.O. Not everyone has a "hobby" phone. I've found that it's safer to just assume that they don't, and refrain from unannounced communication.

It's called discretion...perhaps you've heard of it?

This thread is about making sure you are actually PMing the person you think you are, not the method by which you choose to message them.

[Ginger Doll]

Originally Posted by Sweet N Little

...guess my new alternate handle ginger dolly is out ? lol

That's cool, as long as I can be Sweeter N Littler. I've always wanted to be.

[bud69]

It's called discretion...perhaps you've heard of it?

Ah yes, discretion, The better part of Vallor... I am just saying using pm on these boards is not private and by your own admission, subject to error. Emails are stored forever as are these posts and "private messages". Text messages are deleted by the carrier in 30 days and seem to be the safest. But if one has WOS, (wife over shoulder), then case for pm on eccie is valid. fortunately I do not have that problem. Wife moved out a few years ago. Lucky me!

[Ginger Doll]

Originally Posted by bud69

...I am just saying using pm on these boards is not private and by your own admission, subject to error...But if one has WOS, (wife over shoulder), then case for pm on eccie is valid...

I'm sure my friend would also agree...he would much rather have the mods of this board reading his private messages, than have his wife reading my texts!

Congrat's to finding the cure for W.O.S. It's a difficult disease to shake.

[Guest010312-3]

Thanks for the heads up Ginger!!!

In response to bud69, I personally, don't accept random texts, intial contact must be via email or PM, my phone number is not even posted anywhere. To be honest, I prefer PM/email to texts most of the time.....often, I don't even carry my hobby phone with me unless I am touring or have something scheduled. I would NEVER randomly text a male hobby friend....too much risk of it being seen by the wrong person and them getting busted by wife/SO. I agree with Ginger...discretion should be the number one concern when communicating with friends.

[trisha dior 1]

thanks ginger

[guest100913]

Regarding the OP, I would recommend updating your CONTACTS to include the actual, correct ECCIE handle, then when you wish to PM, go to CONTACTS, click the handle of your confirmed friend, then choose to send a PM. So many handles are similar, and if one is not careful, a PM will go to the wrong person.

Regarding the privacy of PMs, while mods can access more info that is considered private, the PM system is actually very much preferred for many of us. Unexpected text messages to a non-hobby phone are a no-no. PMs allow the person to respond in a time that is more convenient, and private. If someone has a significant concern about written communication, then use an encryption and key for email. At least then you know only the intended recipients can see the message (unless there is a reason for some agency to want to decrypt your message).

[urhuckleberry]

Originally Posted by bud69

If its a friend why pm and not text message? I would never pm a friend on eccie. In fact I don't trust any of these boards with pm's. They are accessible to the owners and mods. Text message is best because most cell providers delete them after 30 days.

Actually, PMs are not accessible to mods. The only PMs we see is when they are reported to us by the recipient. I don't know about the (3) owners, but I suspect they have better things to do than poke around several hundred thousand PMs which have been sent on Eccie.

Back on the topic, I see many similar handles when I am assigning reviews. That is why reviews are sometimes assigned to the wrong provider; the reviewer types the wrong name in the review, and a moderator who doesn't know babydallas from baby dallas types in the wrong handle. You might be shocked how many similar names there are...usually with no malicious intent, but you never know.

Huck

[Revive]

And I have texts that are 5 yrs old? They don't delete on my phone. And although I do have a hobby phone it is only on on hobby days.