MN, can we look into PMs on threads where a poster is experiencing financial difficulties?

[immortalmarble]

Especially at this time of year when obviously managing money can be tricky for people.

I think a lot of posters are genuinely just after advice or to share the emotional burden so to speak but I think there have been chancers in the past so people are understandably wary.

Would it be possible to disable the PM function or for MN to check PMs in such instances? I honestly think the damage is twofold: genuine posters are treated like trolls and trolls are treated like genuine posters and offered money and goods.

I agree. I think those genuinely after advice simply won't post if they have been mnetters for more than a few weeks because of the scammers.

Hi immortalmarble, thanks for raising this. When this kind of thread is reported to us, we always post on the thread warning people that not everyone is who they say they are on the internet. We also investigate throughly behind the scenes and will immediately ban anyone who doesn't appear to be genuine, or who appears to be posting for the first time. We hope this helps make things clear - we do always look closely into these threads when they're reported to us.

Thanks pax

The problem is Golden that giving money isn’t a benign act that only harms the person who gives the money.

I think there have been threads that started as a poster genuinely wanting advice but then offers of money rolled in and it was just too tempting and then was relied on.

It’s also worth remembering posters who are vulnerable themselves are often the ones who give and that’s concerning.

Clara thanks ... I know you don’t hesitate to take action when something is proved, but proving ill intent must be difficult at times!