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There's an interesting question (link for 10k'rs only) that was posted recently. On face value, it looks like a valid post. It asks a valid ubuntu question, but if you look a bit closer, it has a link to some real estate software site on the t in the word installed in the first line of the post.

My question is, what should I do in a case like this? Do I flag for deletion? Do I try editing it out and face potential roll-back wars?

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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Good catch! You should flag this as spam since it is clearly spam. The OP is trying to hide their spam in a valid-sounding question.

Actually, for such hidden things, a custom mod flag might be a better choice. Explain that it is hidden spam. Otherwise, the mod who handles the flag could easily miss it.

In this particular case, I found the text of the question in a forum post here. The spammer simply copied it and added the spam link.

I've now deleted the post, thanks for bringing it up.

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  • Here's another one by the same user: askubuntu.com/questions/803906/…. You'll look hard to find the link unless you go to edit.
    – anonymous2
    Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 12:27
  • 2
    Ok, of his 7 post, only 3 don't have links. However, some of his links aren't clickable because he put them inside backticks or codeblocks.
    – anonymous2
    Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 12:30
  • 4
    @anonymous2 yes, but they're still visible to search engines, presumably. I have now destroyed the user but I'll bet you the three that don't have links used to have them until someone edited them out.
    – terdon Mod
    Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 12:37
  • Thanks for your help! Much appreciated!
    – anonymous2
    Commented Aug 17, 2016 at 12:38
  • Should that user be advised against doing this? Any measures to be taken beyond deletion?
    – user308164
    Commented Aug 20, 2016 at 9:32
  • 3
    @luchonacho the "user" is most likely a spam bot taking random forum posts, injecting spam and posting them here. If they are human, they are already well aware that this is not allowed. Otherwise, why go to the trouble of hiding the spam link? No, this user knows exactly what they're doing. There's no point in warning them.
    – terdon Mod
    Commented Aug 20, 2016 at 10:35
  • @terdon I'm curious, is this behavior actually boosting the Google score of the spammer's website?
    – Fiksdal
    Commented Aug 27, 2016 at 10:09
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This is one of those cases where I personally would flag for moderator's intervention because this is not so obvious of a case. Explain clearly that the post is spam and is disguised, point where the link is placed.

1
  • 7
    Very good point.
    – terdon Mod
    Commented Aug 20, 2016 at 10:37

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