PMs from new users?
 

Anybody get a private message from a user called "RefBall", asking questions about becoming a ref? I got this message yesterday, but the user has no posts to the forum. I'm curious as to why I'd get this as a PM, instead of the user simply posting it as a new thread.

Is this a new form of spam? Or am I being overly suspicious? It just seems odd.

Had the same PM.

+2

So, in my case, it means the person is not so discriminating. ;)

So should we respond to it? It's just so odd.

I responded to it...worse thing that can happen is I wasted 10 or so minutes on the reply.

It is weird......
 

Maybe it's their way of taking a poll without getting abused by us?! :eek:

They must be only messaging the esteemed members. :D

I told him to PM the Illinois guys.

I decided against replying. Someone else can deal with that odd behaviour.

That's what I did, too, Juggs.

I got it too. I told him I'd answer his questions if he sent me his debit card number and PIN. Still waiting.

I got his message too, so that "esteemed members only" thing bites the dust.
I answered and suggested that he put his questions in one or more threads. Guess he's shy out in public.

I told him to go to a local HS game and ask those guys.

I got it, and the message said that The_Rookie also got it. Any evidence that it might be spam?

They are all legitimate questions, so I'm inclined to answer them.

I answered, and he said he was in Illinois, so I referred him to a couple regulars here from there. Haven't heard from him since. Just be sure to not give any personal information. I would just refer him to names and numbers that are already publicly available.

Good advice. There seem to be quite a few of us from Illinois on here.

Maybe He's Asking "Experienced" Members ???
 

Then why did I get one?

I got the message too.

Gave the poster my two cents.

For what it's worth, Larks was also on my PM.

If I had to guess, I doubt it's spam based on my PM...but I could be wrong.

Damn, I thought he came to me b/c of my excellent posting history. :mad:

I didn't reply, but only cause I didn't have time. I would've replied that he can get a better range of answers by posting on the public forum.

The only evidence is that seemingly the exact same message was sent to multiple people at roughly the same time by a user with zero posts, when it would have been much easier to simply post in the forum. That smells to me like an automated process.

Not definitive, by any means, but very suspicious to me.

Obviously not just the "esteemed" members....I got it as well. See no reason not to try and help out. Any way he is targeting "veteran" refs??

I had my PMs turned off. :)

Inquiring minds want to know......
 

So, now that several of you have replied - anyone get a thank you or comments back from your reply?

Excellent question. I'm betting no one has.

I had a reply to my follow up question, nothing since.