act00 Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 Can you give some examples of what the conversations are like? It will help others in answering. I don't think there are robots, but if you're talking to someone who doesn't seem to be able to hold a real conversation and can't answer basic questions, there is a high probability you're talking to a fake, a fraud. They can't really answer questions because they don't have a real history. As a woman, I'll get long flowery messages of hopes for a wife. The previous wife is typically deceased with a young child. They are usually deployed, therefore, unavailable for talk or meet, and the hours they can text are difficult being on the other side of the world. You can't extract normal conversation out of them. Brothers, sisters, memories of growing up, what area they live in (like major crossroads). Some information is too highly detailed, like their high school, things one can find on the internet, and information typically reserved with strangers, as you don't want to give up too much personal stuff. If they don't/can't meet, that's an issue. If they can't talk on the phone, issue. If they live long-distance, this is perfect because there is no way to easily meet. It's possible this person just doesn't text or communicate well via text. I would suggest asking this person out. I'm assuming they live local. If not, then ask for a phone conversation. I was talking to someone local last week. He failed to answer some pretty basic questions, and when I asked about meeting, he was saying something like "let's see how things go online." Red flags. This one seemed real. He's either not real or really new to online dating and being terribly vague. This after saying he wants to get to know me. Head scratching. 2
PegNosePete Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 As far as I know POF doesn't use robots. But undoubtedly some robots (scammers usually based in Africa who follow a basic script) use POF. 1
CptInsano Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 Actually, it is possible to write a scraperbot for POF just to get a first response. Scraping is however work-intensive, and unlike Twitter for example, as far as I know POF doesn't offer any REST services you can easily code against. Otherwise it is relatively easy to trigger people to respond to bots in social media. I once tried on Twitter, and it was much simpler than I thought. For example, my bot would take pictures with a fixed webcam, check Google APIs for weather information, and comment with the picture on the weather. Even this simple context makes it easy to trick people. My question is: Why exactly do you think you're talking to a bot? 1
elaine567 Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 I feel like I am talking to one... Whether he is real or not is irrelevant, who wants a guy who sounds like he may be a bot...? 3
Gr8fuln2020 Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 I have had near instantaneous and generic responses from quite a few very attractive profiles simply by visiting their page. Either a meet me or again, some generic message that looks very similar from one to another. Either they are online 24/7 AND have lightning fast typing and reflexes or it is some script/bot responding.
CptInsano Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 I have had near instantaneous and generic responses from quite a few very attractive profiles simply by visiting their page. Either a meet me or again, some generic message that looks very similar from one to another. Either they are online 24/7 AND have lightning fast typing and reflexes or it is some script/bot responding. Even if POF doesn't use them: A relatively simple client-side script can do this. This question is why. I'm guessing to start a rapport until a human can take over. 1
Gr8fuln2020 Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 Even if POF doesn't use them: A relatively simple client-side script can do this. This question is why. I'm guessing to start a rapport until a human can take over. ...by scammers. Don't you think? Yes, it is true. I always resort to sending one additional message questioning the intent and commenting on the incredibly quick response. They ALWAYS end up being scammers. 2
CptInsano Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 ...by scammers. Don't you think? Yes, it is true. I always resort to sending one additional message questioning the intent and commenting on the incredibly quick response. They ALWAYS end up being scammers. Most likely scammers or advertisers for other services, yes. POF is one of the few dating sites you can search w/o being a member, and some of the profiles scream scammer like nobody's business. 1
kendahke Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 I feel like I am talking to one... I think so. They sure do have a lot of scammers. 1
Author Springsummer Posted October 2, 2017 Author Posted October 2, 2017 Whether he is real or not is irrelevant, who wants a guy who sounds like he may be a bot...? Just checked..."your conversation with ... has been deleted", "... has been deleted". guess his is not a robot after all? so he deleted himself? or he has been deleted?
joseb Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 Just checked..."your conversation with ... has been deleted", "... has been deleted". guess his is not a robot after all? so he deleted himself? or he has been deleted? Much more likely it was deleted after many people reported. I've had messages from many bots on pof. Generic messages, if I reply their reply makes little or no sense. So I report them and they are deleted pretty quickly. I've stopped using pof as pretty much anyone I talked to was a bot or scammer . 1
Author Springsummer Posted October 2, 2017 Author Posted October 2, 2017 I've stopped using pof as pretty much anyone I talked to was a bot or scammer . Really? that bad? what do you use then?
Gr8fuln2020 Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 I've stopped using pof as pretty much anyone I talked to was a bot or scammer . That's not my experience. There are a few, but not often. Do you make initial contact? Are they all young and gorgeous w/ only a single pic?
act00 Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 Chances are, they were reported by others and the profile deleted. I've gotten a handful of scammers, but overall, most seem real. I don't bother with people outside my local area, as they tend to be scammers, but I'm also not interested in pursuing long-distance, even if they're real, so I pretty much wipe out a lot of the potential scammers from the get-go. If they claim to be local, their lack of ability to meet you, let alone name major crossroads or recognize your area, suggests they're not real/scammer. When you meet someone, proceed with caution. Don't give up too much personal information or schedules. If they can't respond to normal questions that are typical in normal conversations, and if the times they write are off the schedule of normal (unless they claim to work nights), you can reasonably doubt, and don't put in too much effort, even stop communication entirely, but the big, defining moment is insisting to meet in person or have a phone conversation. Someone with a thick, foreign accent who claims to be home-grown won't be calling. Nigeria runs 8 hours ahead of me, so when their primary communication time is 2-3 a.m. for me, and they claim to have a day job, that's not normal...flags go up. 1
joseb Posted October 2, 2017 Posted October 2, 2017 That's not my experience. There are a few, but not often. Do you make initial contact? Are they all young and gorgeous w/ only a single pic? I've had pof for about 2 years. I dont use it too much, but I can only remember a handful of "matches" that were not a bot or scammer. I've never met anyone. It's been a complete waste of time. When I uses it first I made initial random contacts, but more recently I've used it more like tinder, liking people that get suggested. The ones that matched were almost all bots. I think it's either an age thing, or a geographical thing. Because I have heard it's good for some people.
Author Springsummer Posted October 2, 2017 Author Posted October 2, 2017 here was the short convo: Me : so you travel a lot? He: pics? Me: (sent pic) He: I can barely see you Me: the same can be said of your pic (both of us have 1 pic and worn huge sun glass and he worn helmet as well). but anyhow here is my pics, so hopeful I can see more clearly of yours (sent 2 more closeup pics) He: So, tell me more about you,what do you do for a living? (no pic attached!!!) Me: I need to see more pics of yours. (yesterday morning) (I saw he was online a couple of time during the day, so yesterday evening...) Me: I am turned off by difficult and non respectful people, so doesn't matter what you look like anymore. btw, I work as this and that and make this much, but it's not your business anyhow good luck with your search. lol (today...conversation deleted..)
mortensorchid Posted October 3, 2017 Posted October 3, 2017 here was the short convo: Me : so you travel a lot? He: pics? Me: (sent pic) He: I can barely see you Me: the same can be said of your pic (both of us have 1 pic and worn huge sun glass and he worn helmet as well). but anyhow here is my pics, so hopeful I can see more clearly of yours (sent 2 more closeup pics) He: So, tell me more about you,what do you do for a living? (no pic attached!!!) Me: I need to see more pics of yours. (yesterday morning) (I saw he was online a couple of time during the day, so yesterday evening...) Me: I am turned off by difficult and non respectful people, so doesn't matter what you look like anymore. btw, I work as this and that and make this much, but it's not your business anyhow good luck with your search. lol (today...conversation deleted..) This is not someone you want to be with under any circumstance. I don't know if it's a bot or not but whatever the case may be immediate red flag if they want to see another picture of you. Even if you're a 10 they will find fault with it.
act00 Posted October 3, 2017 Posted October 3, 2017 Not answering a direct question and wanting pics...nope.
joseb Posted October 3, 2017 Posted October 3, 2017 So a guy types "pics" and you just send them???. Dont do that! He doesn't sound like a bot though, more like a catfish or bored married dude.
dispatch3d Posted October 3, 2017 Posted October 3, 2017 Yeah that conversation did not go well. I don't think its a bot but I think regardless you're better off not dating them.
PegNosePete Posted October 3, 2017 Posted October 3, 2017 Me : so you travel a lot? He: pics? NEXT! Don't waste your time with people who don't communicate like adults. Put up some good quality pics, and don't communicate with people who don't also put up good quality pics. Sending pics in messages is totally unnecessary, your profile should have enough good quality pics to pick you out when you meet. 1
CptInsano Posted October 3, 2017 Posted October 3, 2017 here was the short convo: Me : so you travel a lot? He: pics? Me: (sent pic) He: I can barely see you Me: the same can be said of your pic (both of us have 1 pic and worn huge sun glass and he worn helmet as well). but anyhow here is my pics, so hopeful I can see more clearly of yours (sent 2 more closeup pics) He: So, tell me more about you,what do you do for a living? (no pic attached!!!) Me: I need to see more pics of yours. (yesterday morning) (I saw he was online a couple of time during the day, so yesterday evening...) Me: I am turned off by difficult and non respectful people, so doesn't matter what you look like anymore. btw, I work as this and that and make this much, but it's not your business anyhow good luck with your search. lol (today...conversation deleted..) Hard to know whether it was a bot or a guy blatantly fishing for pics. I'm surprised that you played along as much as you did. Are guys usually that blunt?
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