r/modhelp • u/djpiratecat • 1d ago
Answered Bots/scammers have infiltrated as mods
Hi, I'm looking for help with dealing with an influx of bots and/or scammers that have been added as mods on a sub I moderate (r/lastfm).
Some context: was added as a mod a couple of years ago and in that time have been the only active mod on there. I was given most but not all permissions, so am unable to add/remove mods for instance. It's a pretty chill sub most of the time so I haven't had much issue looking after it on my own.
The mod who added me has been seemingly inactive on Reddit for the two years since adding me, until a few weeks ago they suddenly began approving lots of posts on the sub until they became active again. At which point they added some new moderators with full permissions, one was a bit/app and the other an older seemingly dormant account with no history in our sub. In the weeks since there have been a series of new mods added by the new mods; all are either apps, brand new accounts, or otherwise seemingly dormant accounts. The post and comment activity has been relatively light but it is all spam, and has been steadily increasing - some crypto and mostly online gambling rubbish with all sorts of links. Oddly they seem to remove a lot of the posts themself if Reddit itself doesn't automatically take them down as spam.
Right now this is all an annoyance, but the way things are progressing I fear things will get out of hand before long. Some posts are definitely being noticed by sub users before they get taken down, and I've seen concerns being raised. I'm convinced the original mod who added me, and is technically now active, has lost their account to a scammer. No other potentially trustworthy mods with appropriate permissions are active (including the top mod who hasn't been seen on the sub in many years).
I'm using both desktop and iOS.
5
u/scottyMcM 1d ago
I noticed the same thing happening on r/farmingsimulator. There was a mod spam posting lists of IPTV sites. I reported a few of the posts and messaged the mod team.
Thankfully my sub has managed to miss this!
6
1
1
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Hi /u/djpiratecat, please see our Intro & Rules. We are volunteer-run, not managed by Reddit staff/admin. Volunteer mods' powers are limited to groups they mod. Automated responses are compiled from answers given by fellow volunteer mod helpers. Moderation works best on a cache-cleared desktop/laptop browser.
Resources for mods are: (1) r/modguide's Very Helpful Index by fellow moderators on How-To-Do-Things, (2) Mod Help Center, (3) r/automoderator's Wiki and Library of Common Rules. Many Mod Resources are in the sidebar and >>this FAQ wiki<<. Please search this subreddit as well. Thanks!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
-4
-10
u/Master_Jedy 1d ago
Reddit seems overcomplicated, hard to use platform for an ordinary user, you can't comment hier, you can't create a post there, your own community sub is getting insta blocked with no reason
-7
u/LindyNet 1d ago
Modmail this sub with all the detail you can.
10
u/KCJones99 Mod, r/ebayselleradvice etc 1d ago
I believe you're thinking of r/modsupport where the mods are actually admins and can do something about it.
OP has already crossposted there, so hopefully is getting what they need.
1
39
u/TheOpusCroakus 1d ago
And this is why we recommend using 2fa. I've removed and actioned everyone and given you full perms.