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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

There is a poster that seems to be here just to harvest replies. What should I do?

185 replies

Another2Cats · 13/05/2026 21:33

Very much as the title.

There is a poster here who made her (their?) first post on 25th April.

Since then, she (they) has made 57 posts, of which 55 are starting threads that appear to be just there for soliciting engagement. This is done by way of asking a question and providing a three or four word opening post. Or sometimes only a single word in the opening post.

Should I highlight this to @MNHQ and, if so, should I link to all the 55 threads that they have started since 25th April?

For context, I am often on the Genealogy board and it was only after seeing two threads started by this person there that I took notice and realised that they had also started multiple threads on other boards as well.

This included Chat, Other Subjects, Tech Tips, AIBU, Property/DIY, Music, Sports, UK Travel, Education, Baby Names, Living Overseas, Style and Beauty, True crime and unsolved mysteries, Bullying, Parenting, Pets, Food/Recipes, Wildlife nature & conservation, and Telly Addicts.

Starting 55 new threads in the space of two and a half weeks which appear to be very much about soliciting engagement doesn't seem to really be in line with what MN is really all about.

Just to add to that, the username of this person is a direct reference to a thread that the newspapers back then picked up on. It was a thread from 2013 that people who were here then would likely remember and the poster is likely purporting to be somebody with a history dating back to then (despite their first post being on the 25th April this year).

Without giving the name of this poster, it would be like if she had called herself something like "Isle of Wight bollards" or "stacking goats".

Am I even right to call out this sort of harvesting of replies?

Are MNHQ likely to do anything about this even if I do make a complaint?

OP posts:
EmpressaurusKitty · 17/05/2026 07:44

Report it. In the new context it might get deleted.

Itsasecretnow · 17/05/2026 08:45

EmpressaurusKitty · 16/05/2026 21:19

Yeah, this one has been deleted.

ForTheTitle · 17/05/2026 08:59

EmeraldRoulette · 16/05/2026 20:07

They are out in full force today, aren't they?! With bizarre questions and even asking for the date in full format.

I imagine it must be bots.

@Another2Cats I think you'd have to draw MNHQ attention to this thread, possibly you have to email them or maybe report the thread. I don't think they look here as a matter of course - I don't know for sure though

Edited

When you say ‘bots’ - what does that mean?

Are they real people?
AI generated?
A bug that is infiltrating MN?

I don’t really understand…🤔

BarometerOftheTimes · 17/05/2026 09:39

Same poster under different name- b..c...fatballs (again, a username alluding to classic threads) asking a few weeks ago for letters from parents' names. Post reported.

BarometerOftheTimes · 17/05/2026 10:38

Update- MN have removed the thread now.

Thmssngvwlsrnd · 17/05/2026 11:10

I've just been on a thread about someone leaving their receipt at an ATM, and one poster has mentioned they bank with TSB. I think MNHQ should really be warning people that there is at least one poster on here fishing for information.

justasking111 · 17/05/2026 13:05

Thmssngvwlsrnd · 17/05/2026 11:10

I've just been on a thread about someone leaving their receipt at an ATM, and one poster has mentioned they bank with TSB. I think MNHQ should really be warning people that there is at least one poster on here fishing for information.

The naivety of posters is concerning. But is MN obliged to protect them from themselves?

Thmssngvwlsrnd · 17/05/2026 14:08

justasking111 · 17/05/2026 13:05

The naivety of posters is concerning. But is MN obliged to protect them from themselves?

I suppose not. Just wondering because mumsnet know there is currently a poster around who is purposely looking for info - presumably that's why they are deleting all these threads. I wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't clicked on this thread. It wouldn't hurt them to put up a reminder about not sharing any personal details.

KellyMumsnet · 18/05/2026 10:51

Morning everyone.

It sounds like this is a returning banned poster who we are aware of. While we've no reason to think they are here with any nefarious purpose, as always, we wouldn't encourage anyone to share too much personal information that could be put together and used in any way but we'd hope that people would be as cautious as they are anywhere on the internet and not post anything like that on those threads either.

If you spot anything similar and are concerned please do just hit the report button. We can usually tell pretty quickly if someone is a previously banned poster or just someone innocently asking a question and not returning to the thread, but we're always happy to check things out.

Manchegomango · 21/05/2026 11:11

Its obviously either a scammer looking for answers to security questions or an AI bot using MN as a training ground

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