Is it just me or AIBU to feel paranoid at recent number of troll posts? ^Thanks^ media press!

[bimbedybam]

Just don't know who and what to believe anymore on here.

Trolling is NOT harmless. Some of it might be. A lot of trolls are after your money, your shared stories of a dubious nature, or just here to suck your emotions. Some of them are trying out plot lines. That is probably the least harmful. Then there are the journos and the ones who appear on travel threads to spam their holiday let, phrasing it a genuine recommendation....I could go on.

Yes and with all the trolling variables in mind posters need to be safe and careful

Being new myself, joined in the summer, I'm feeling really naive right now. I joined for support re my dd4 having a stroke at birth and have since posted some true feelings and life issues. Not even thinking there would be 'fake' people on here. Just shows you how stupid I am. I didn't even know what a troll really was until I read this thread.

Rule of thumb,don't disclose anything you don't want seen by numerous inc trolls
Don't send money,or paypal to anyone
And it's only words on a screen

See, I don't mind sending money. I don't see it as trolling, I mean, they must genuinely need it to bother posting, even if they are exaggerating about having eaten cat food to survive.

Obviously Im not so thick that I reply to the scam emails asking for your bank details though, but a tenner in the post is different

You can send me a tenner please. I am very desperate. . Joke.

Are you really that naive?if they post it's genuine.scams thrive on folk like you
There is other statutory provisions and voluntary sector too
It's lovely you feel for others.bit £10 in post,you've been had

I'm not sure elskov understands what trolling means.

Elskov,do you realise people write false,emotive,gut wrenching posts to get money
Post online To tug at heart string,on off chance someone pops a £10 in post
Trolls embellish or lie for emotional or financial gain or other such motives

Bloody hell, I'm off to start a thread for cash if people are happy to give it to me .

See, I don't mind sending money. I don't see it as trolling, I mean, they must genuinely need it to bother posting, even if they are exaggerating about having eaten cat food to survive.

Really?

You realise that there are people who make accounts on popular websites just to befriend the naive, and make money don't you?

On normal sites, they'll put a few months of posting in...being nice to everyone and gaining trust...so they have a posting history before they strike with the sob story. This is called 'puppy walking' the account.

It only takes a handful of people on each of those websites, to send them a few quid and it makes it worthwhile.

Mumsnet however, must be the easiest site around for these people because due to name changing (banned on most other sites) they don't even have to build up a history...they can just say they've name changed because they're embarrassed.

Now you might be thinking this is far too much trouble for some people to go to, but they treat it like 'working from home'. Knowing they get to chat on the internet and by Christmas they should see a financial gain.

Heartbrokenmum73. I got in first. I will have elskovs's first £10
me me.

I think if you can afford it, and if you genuinely don't care either way if it's genuinely needed or not then crack on. It's your money.

But you really do need to not care if it's just been added to someone's ipad fund or been used to swell to the already bulging bank account of a serial scammer.

Fucking marvellous, you're all willing to dole out cash, but no one will help me when my cupboards spewing out spawn from the seventh circle of Hell.

You bunch of cocknoodles

X-post Worra.

I think some people done realise that there are people who make a very nice living simply by scamming small amounts of money from vast amounts of donators.

These aren't simply people who are on the bones of their arse and make up a story to get some cash. These are seriously nasty people who live the high life on kind-hearted people's naïvety.

Why would you send money to some random on the internet?

Some people need to step away from the internet.

gamerchick I trust that the "dead daughter by another long standing member" situation has been resolved and that this person no longer posts?

What worral said. A nice posting history - short and sweet, lots on Baby Names which requires no thought. A nice sob story or two. And lo and behold, just before xmas, the ceiling falls in or or the cash point eats your xmas presents or some such. I have seen so many posters send things that OP was in desperate need of, never to receive so much as a thank you.

It is really sad, as there are so many in need and so many who have done good deeds. And I like to think most people ARE genuine. But this site has got too big for this sort of thing. Sadly.

elskovs are you actually bonkers?

I hope you didn't send the Xmas list wifey more money to buy her kids more fictional shit. Then again, it doesn't matter if you did cos it's harmless innit?

Honey well this is your lucky day! I happen to be an exorcist and can rid you of your foul demons. All I ask is my travelling costs and a small donation. Paypal me at [email protected].

I may start a whip round to pay some one to do something about Randall's guttering, and Randall doesn't even sob about her bloody guttering.

mn is always like this

I am a bit more wary lately but my troll radar isn't great. I am too suspicious of everything.

Shyla, I have pm'd you all,my bank details. I still have some less after giving the nice man from Microsoft my savings to fix my computer.

I have sent a voucher to a random on the internet. It was all fine.