Forum Blocked ?

[Omega Man]

Is Greg talking about a new MOA website, and Omega Man talking about a new forum?

This is the new version of VB. It is a bit different than the older version, so some of the features have changed. Integration of the Flea Market will take some time but we are working on it. The home page is having work done also. The new VB that you see here was considerably more than the usual up-date. Thanks for your patience. OM

[20774]

I think there's a bit of confusion. If you read the September ON, Vince mentioned that things were going to change. It was supposed to be September but things have been pushed back. The changes are a new website AND a new forum...all new software. That software will completely integrate the website and forum...the current arrangement is two separate enties with a bridge of some kind. The change is all still being worked out...some missing elements, testing, etc. Not sure just when it will show up.

The current forum needed an upgrade due to on-going virus and other issues. It's still VBulletin, but as you can see, a different look. Same stuff all except the Flea Market. How to incorporate the Flea Market is a tough one. It wasn't a VBulletin product. And with a new forum software coming with its own Flea Market capability, we hope to come up with an interim version to bridge the gap.

HTH...

[GREGFEELER]

Is Greg talking about a new MOA website, and Omega Man talking about a new forum?

To clarify, I was referring to the new (coming soon) MOA web site - not the forum. We have a whole new software backend administration system in our office which was implemented earlier this year. There will also be a new platform for our web site which will be better integrated into our backend database. There may be other changes as well, but the web site change is a given.

[Lee]

To clarify, I was referring to the new (coming soon) MOA web site - not the forum. We have a whole new software backend administration system in our office which was implemented earlier this year. There will also be a new platform for our web site which will be better integrated into our backend database. There may be other changes as well, but the web site change is a given.

Thanks.

[Lee]

. Integration of the Flea Market will take some time but we are working on it.

Here's and example of the Classifieds on I-BMW using VB version 3.5.4

http://www.i-bmw.com/classifieds/index.php

It's easy to use and easy to edit your add if needed.

[20774]

Lee -

Thanks...there are several places to see how Classifieds might work. My main issue is and has been the merging of the forum area with buying/selling. We've been trying to keep a separation there, hence the Flea Market not being directly within the forum area.

We'll probably implement a temporary section for Flea Market, but another major hurdle is getting all of the content in the old Flea Market into the forum. They're two different databases and it's not easily transported or cut-n-pasted.

Another aspect is that the Flea Market is for members only and there's a lot of personal contact info there we don't want to make readily available. We can work around that, but something that has to be considered.

We're still trying to see how to do it.

[Omega Man]

Here's and example of the Classifieds on I-BMW using VB version 3.5.4

http://www.i-bmw.com/classifieds/index.php

It's easy to use and easy to edit your add if needed.

Thanks. I'll take a look. Gary

[Lee]

Another aspect is that the Flea Market is for members only .

I like the idea of the Flea Market only being available for members, but I still see a lot of complaints of non member scammers having access. I don't know why, but we see very few problems with scammers on I-BMW.
MOA has a much larger Flea Market than the I-BMW Classifieds and maybe the scammers just try harder to break into the MOA Flea Market because of the larger volume.
When I buy or sell on the MOA, I go in with the thought that the buyer or seller is not a member.

[happy wanderer]

I like the idea of the Flea Market only being available for members, but I still see a lot of complaints of non member scammers having access. I don't know why, but we see very few problems with scammers on I-BMW.
MOA has a much larger Flea Market than the I-BMW Classifieds and maybe the scammers just try harder to break into the MOA Flea Market because of the larger volume.
When I buy or sell on the MOA, I go in with the thought that the buyer or seller is not a member.

These are interesting comments. Where do you see a lot of complaints about Flea Market scammers? I've never seen any so I'm curious.

I've bought stuff on the Flea Market with a lot of confidence due to the fact that I would be very surprised to see MOA members taking advantage of other MOA members. There's a lot of us but not enough that word would get around quickly and it doesn't so I assume the best. So far I've had nothing but great experiences on our Flea Market once I've decided the price is right.

[Lee]

These are interesting comments. Where do you see a lot of complaints about Flea Market scammers? I've never seen any so I'm curious.

I've bought stuff on the Flea Market with a lot of confidence due to the fact that I would be very surprised to see MOA members taking advantage of other MOA members. There's a lot of us but not enough that word would get around quickly and it doesn't so I assume the best. So far I've had nothing but great experiences on our Flea Market once I've decided the price is right.

It's not MOA members. I've seen posts where someone places a want to buy ad and non members who are scammers reply.

[jkbales]

Not likely. Until the MOA makes modifications to vBulletin you will continue to have problems. I can't tell you how many times I have had vBulletin and phpBB tell me that if I updated all my sites to the latest level, all my problems with dirtbags would go away. The fact is, that these guys (vBulletin and others) have no clue how to protect you, and nor do they care. You should count your luck stars that only MOA members can register. Otherwise, you would have to deal with tens of thousands of auto-bot registrations per day.

I agree. Any board is a target. It's bad enough when users create havoc, but much worse when someone malicious gains admin privileges. vBulletin can be made more secure, at the expense of ease of use. Like never exposing an admin's ID to viewers, forcing use of strong passwords, implementing effective CAPTCHA challenges, make admins undeletable/unalterable (and several other changes), and by limiting posting frequency. Each helps minimize problems, but will not eliminate them.

[happy wanderer]

It's not MOA members. I've seen posts where someone places a want to buy ad and non members who are scammers reply.

Still not sure I get this.
- There are no "posts" (as in forum posts) in the Flea Market. There are only ads.
- Only logged in MOA members can post and ad and only logged in MOA members can reply.
- There is no public access to the current Flea Market. Members only.
- The ads contain a link to reply to which is strictly between the MOA seller and the MOA buyer.

Maybe a link to these posts you've seen would be helpful.

[Lee]

Still not sure I get this.
Maybe a link to these posts you've seen would be helpful.

Not having any luck with the search function, even when I try the member who I think is one that warned about this problem.
Sorry I brought the subject up.
Must have been a bad dream I had and made the whole thing up.

[ka5ysy]

I would like to thank the staff working on the BBS for all their efforts in maintaining the system and resolving the current issues. I appreciate the time required in doing all this.


Merry Christmas to everyone !

[TED]

Still not sure I get this.
- There are no "posts" (as in forum posts) in the Flea Market. There are only ads.
- Only logged in MOA members can post and ad and only logged in MOA members can reply.
- There is no public access to the current Flea Market. Members only.
- The ads contain a link to reply to which is strictly between the MOA seller and the MOA buyer.

Maybe a link to these posts you've seen would be helpful.

Lee is right, there has been a problem with scammers in the Flea Market for years. Whether they get in through a hack or just joined the MOA to get access, there have been times when 100% of people placing a "WTB" ad have been contacted by these guys. All email I have traced from those approached who have cooperated with me, and pickup confirmations from Western Union and MoneyGram, have all led directly back to Nigeria.

As for links, do a search. There are several long running threads with plenty of posts from victims and almost-victims with plenty of detail. Also, plenty of posts from me warning of these guys and working hard to inform folks how not to get taken.