Spam emails distracting and inappropriate. Support forum or sales platform. Thoughts please?

[Hampshiregal]

Hi lovely ladies

I have truly found lots of support on this forum. It's been so helpful to know that there are other ladies in the same boat.

There are loads of spam posts here - it's daily and usually from a particular clinic in the Ukraine and there's one in Greece also mentioned here a lot. Seriously, I have fertility problems but I'm sure that doesn't make me completely stupid. If someone only ever post about promoting a particular clinic then there's some ulterior motive. The rules of the forum clearly say not to mention particular clinics and to private message with feedback. Thanks to previous warnings about spam and surrogacy-I don't respond to those either.

Sometimes I find the spam funny and other times I'm offended that sales people are here but I'm hormonal. Again, if a particular clinic is mentioned then I don't respond. We all know the guidelines. I won't get sucked into sales peoples nonsense. I have never mentioned the name of my clinic. To me clinics that are good don't need to infiltrate infertility support forums.

Is this just me? Thoughts please?

[Hidden]

I completely agree. I used to be a member on here 3 years ago, and it wasn't anything like this. There was the odd one but it was aways more obvious.

I find it utterly distracting and wish I could just delete them. I find some of the posts really odd. Actually many don't mention clinics. I honestly think it's some weirdo getting kicks out of taking the pee out of us, some of them seem to be fake emotional posts about family or friends who went thru IVF..

Really annoying, I agree xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

And like you, I couldn't have got through my IVF journey without this forum, when I was having treatment 3 years back. It was a life saver and i made a few good friends from it. So, it's still a really valuable site. I only ever came off the site because I did get a bit worried about security, I'd given so much away abut myself back then.

How are you feeling ? xx

[Hampshiregal in reply to Hidden]

I know there's a particular clinic in the Ukraine beginning with b and ending in x who are always on here and one in Greece beginning with D. It totally puts me off theses clinics because it's totally unprofessional. There are several posters who are clearly sales people (guy beginning with n and ends k).

Why on earth you someone put 'I'm sorry for your bfn but don't give up hope go to clinic xyz who have excellent results and only two thousand euro'. Then other people like that post. Are the people liking that post working for the same clinic. So, inappropriate.

[Hidden in reply to Hampshiregal]

Oh I didn't notice the Greece one..thx for pointing out, and it goes to show how it can fool us. Thanks for this. The Ukraine was is a pi** take. Like any of us would go to that (v sadly) war torn country for treatment.

Actually it's a good idea to share who is doing what.. I find that they are registering multiple user names. If you click on there profile, they only ever just joined in the last few days.

And I agree, they are grouping together and replying to echothers post to make them look genuine. what idiots. xx

[CountryCat]

You are not alone at all! They stand out like a sore thumb, are completely against the grain/ethos of the site and annoy the hell out of me too!

The posts are generally poorly written, sound insincere and have no point to them whatsoever. It is such a shame, as there are so many fabulous people on here who are being honest, baring their souls and looking for REAL advice and support.

Would be fab, as Iloveeggs says, if we could hide or delete these!

[Hampshiregal in reply to CountryCat]

I have pressed the report button on several and some have disappeared but I think I see that some kindly folk get sucked in or more sales people responding to each other.

I did write a response like please don't sell here but I wasn't allowed to post it.

[Tugsgirl in reply to Hampshiregal]

Why weren't you allowed to post it? They're disgusting preying on vulnerable women like this 😞 xx

[Hampshiregal in reply to Tugsgirl]

I just wrote it's against forum guidelines to mention particular clinics but we can private message about them. Then the website responses with Opps that's doesn't sound nice so we can't post it.

[Tugsgirl in reply to Hampshiregal]

😮 that's shocking xx

[Tugsgirl]

I reported one this morning. I feel mean as I do it, just in case, but they just don't seem genuine!! They sometimes talk in a third person situation involving family members or neighbours etc. They almost always mention the Ukraine. It's getting so that there are two or three new ones a day. I'm very wary of new members as a result now 😕 xx

[Hampshiregal in reply to Tugsgirl]

Thanks Tugsgirl, Countycat and loveeggs. I'm so glad it's not just me.

If a post mentions a clinic by name, the Ukraine or surrogacy I don't respond. There's a guy called n**kn**k (not sure if I can fully mention so edited) who does nothing but clinic promoting. I wrote a post like, why do you always mention this clinic on every post you write but the website would not allow me to post my response. Bit unfair that people can write such inappropriate things and I can't ask if they work for a clinic.

[Tugsgirl in reply to Hampshiregal]

All we can do is keep pressing report, report, report I guess! It's got so bad lately... 😞 xx

[Hampshiregal in reply to Tugsgirl]

I think it's because they pop up on the news feed and some do get lots of responses. I'm just going to post more things, maybe more pictures of the cat lol.

[Tugsgirl in reply to Hampshiregal]

And why not? 😂 X

[Hampshiregal in reply to Tugsgirl]

Not everyone likes cats.

[Tugsgirl in reply to Hampshiregal]

Go for it I say 😊 X

[Hidden in reply to Hampshiregal]

I like cats!

A lot.

Could not have got through IVF without my cat, he was more supportive than my husband in some ways lol

[Hampshiregal in reply to Hidden]

Mine has been like an angel. He sat with me on the bed every time I got back from the clinic and on low days he's just been there looking cute.

[Aleelilook in reply to Hampshiregal]

I like cats! I have 5!! X

[Tugsgirl]

Just reported two more from the same username clearly advertising a well known Ukrainian clinic 😕 xx

[Hampshiregal in reply to Tugsgirl]

I've often wondered if the staff at this particular clinic in the Ukraine are set targets to write on a certain number of fertility forums. Is that what they do in their marketing team? Anyway, I'm thinking of other posts I can write.

[Hidden in reply to Hampshiregal]

Ive just seen another one.. about a lady who had 2 children already but wants 4 and says she has recurrent pregnancy losses. If you look at the posts over the last 3 days, none of them add up and she mentioned Ukraine once but said they cant help her. i think they think this is being clever...

I dont even think we should type Ukraine here.. do they get a bonus every time its mentioned, i wonder.

Some of them are clearly trying to make friends, so they can perhaps hook us in via PM.

[Tugsgirl in reply to Hidden]

Report it xx

[Hampshiregal in reply to Hidden]

I thought maybe they get a Euro each time someone responds or it's just part of their sales target. I have thought about responding by correcting their English then we can both learn something. I've certainly learnt how unprofessional their clinic is.....

[London7]

Oh I'm glad it is not just me going crazy with these posts! Sometimes the poster doesn't mention the clinic but that their sister/aunt/friend had a miracle child after years of trying at a clinic and they are clearly fishing for people to PM them or start a dialogue about what clinic it is. It is so annoying. I've been reporting like crazy but they just keep popping up like weeds! And occasionally there is a borderline one and I don't know if it is real or fake. Super annoying and also really rude to use this forum for that purpose.

[Hampshiregal in reply to London7]

If I'm not sure, I don't respond. I tend to look up their posting history and if they have a profile. I'm pretty shocked by the responses, either we are kind hearted ladies on this forum or they are all sitting in a clinic in the Ukraine creating fake profiles all day.

If it mentions a clinic, surrogacy, a friend/aunt/relative and bad English. I avoid it. I am pretty annoyed by the regular fake posters that are on here and can't believe it's allowed. Still there even though I've reported them.

[CountryCat]

Blow me down if someone hasn't just posted yet another of these 'Ukraine happy' posts!! Grrrrrrrrrr 😬

[Tugsgirl in reply to CountryCat]

Post has been deleted! 👏🏻 xx

[Hampshiregal in reply to Tugsgirl]

Yes, that was quick. I was wondering if these marketing staff were told that they would be fake posting on a daily basis or was it sold to them as a marvellous sales opportunity with lots of commission £££££ I guess it's a job.

[Tugsgirl in reply to Hampshiregal]

They aren't thinking of the damage they can cause, some women will stop posting or coming here for advice if they think it's not safe to do so and we all know what a lifeline it is xx

[Hampshiregal in reply to Tugsgirl]

It makes this forum an unsafe place. I did actually send a message to a user to say I think the post was phishing, it was a bit unclear but the English was dreadful. Maybe we just need to keep supporting each other.

[Tugsgirl in reply to Hampshiregal]

We do indeed. Keep reporting etc etc xx

[Clare_lou]

It's so annoying!!!