Job "spam" via Proz.com Directory Thread poster: Claudia Krysztofiak
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For the last two weeks or so I have been receiving so-called job offers from an agency with an empty Proz-profile and a not running website. Their single BlueBoard entry says they don't pay.
I really don't mind being asked if I wish to join translation projects by whoever wishes to put Proz.com technology to good use, but I mind to be asked the same question once or twice a week by the same agency. That looks more like spam to me.
Their mail subject is
"Urgently... See more For the last two weeks or so I have been receiving so-called job offers from an agency with an empty Proz-profile and a not running website. Their single BlueBoard entry says they don't pay.
I really don't mind being asked if I wish to join translation projects by whoever wishes to put Proz.com technology to good use, but I mind to be asked the same question once or twice a week by the same agency. That looks more like spam to me.
Their mail subject is
"Urgently required Translators : English > German - IT"
but in the body of their mail they don't even mention for what. They are just fishing for contacts, not offering work.
I'll now add them to my list of junk senders, but I am wondering if such behaviour should also be blocked by Proz.
What do you think? ▲ Collapse
| | | | David Earl 
United States
Local time: 04:49
German to English
| That's extremely annoying. | Jul 5, 2007 |
While I really can appreciate your problem, and I'm glad you said something, I also think you've already implemented the most appropriate solution. I think Henry and his staff can do more productive things. My concern is that this could backfire.
It puts the ProZ staff in a position, where they would have to research the claims made and arbitrate. In extreme cases, it could lead to account deactivation, for example. In an ideal world, that could be an appropriate consequence of such... See more While I really can appreciate your problem, and I'm glad you said something, I also think you've already implemented the most appropriate solution. I think Henry and his staff can do more productive things. My concern is that this could backfire.
It puts the ProZ staff in a position, where they would have to research the claims made and arbitrate. In extreme cases, it could lead to account deactivation, for example. In an ideal world, that could be an appropriate consequence of such abuse.
Unfortunately, it's not an ideal world and _!hypothetically!_ some less ethical people might be tempted to cut down on the competition by making similar claims (and a lot of work for the staff). Any system is open to abuse, once it's implemented, right?
[Edited at 2007-07-05 20:41] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ralf Lemster
Germany
Local time: 12:49
English to German
+ ...
| Purpose of the blocking filter | Jul 5, 2007 |
Hi Claudia,
They are just fishing for contacts, not offering work.
I'll now add them to my list of junk senders, but I am wondering if such behaviour should also be blocked by Proz.
If you believe that they have broken any site rules, can you please specify which one? Unless I'm missing something, it looks like their use of the profile messaging function is within the scope of that function.
If ProZ.com were to prevent potential outsourcers from sending such messages, this would necessitate taking a decision on behalf of members - personally, I wouldn't want the site to take such a decision on my behalf.
The filter which allows you to block specific profiles from contacting you was designed for such situations - but I believe it should be your decision.
Best regards,
Ralf
| | | | | Discussion wanted | Jul 5, 2007 |
Ralf Lemster wrote: If you believe that they have broken any site rules, can you please specify which one? Unless I'm missing something, it looks like their use of the profile messaging function is within the scope of that function.
I wanted to discuss this issue with colleagues, not make a claim or tell Proz.com what to do, which is why I put this thread into the business area and not under Proz.com job systems. Someone - not me - decided to move it here. I do not think it is a problem of the job system.
Ralf Lemster wrote:
If ProZ.com were to prevent potential outsourcers from sending such messages, this would necessitate taking a decision on behalf of members - personally, I wouldn't want the site to take such a decision on my behalf.
Ralf, I would not want that either. But if this someone obviously ABuses the system and sends such mail to all members of a language combination every second day, I think it might at least be discussed, IF something should be done and if yes, what. In my opinion spam is a matter of disrespect and therefore a violation of Site Rule number 2.
I was wondering if it was just me and what other translators think and do about such spam.
Ralf Lemster wrote:
The filter which allows you to block specific profiles from contacting you was designed for such situations - but I believe it should be your decision.
Of course, if it is only me. Thanks for reminding me. For now I prefer to see, if they continue with this behaviour.
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| *sigh* an ideal world *yearn* :-) | Jul 5, 2007 |
David Earl wrote:
Unfortunately, it's not an ideal world and _!hypothetically!_ some less ethical people might be tempted to cut down on the competition by making similar claims (and a lot of work for the staff). Any system is open to abuse, once it's implemented, right?
You are absolutely right.
On the other hand, if we had a process, where people can just inform the staff "Profile xyz sent 10 identical mails the last 3 weeks" and a considerable amount of Proz.com members sends this info, this could be a slight hint that someone was not acting sensibly/respectfully here and that this is not welcome.
Of course they can still collect mail addresses from the web and still send their spam, but at least Proz' good name would not be misused. I think, it is good to discourage abuse of existing systems from time to time.
But then on the other hand, maybe it's really not worth the trouble and would take too much of our precious time. The Profile filter Ralph mentioned is a good solution.
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Claudia Krysztofiak wrote:
On the other hand, if we had a process, where people can just inform the staff "Profile xyz sent 10 identical mails the last 3 weeks" and a considerable amount of Proz.com members sends this info, this could be a slight hint that someone was not acting sensibly/respectfully here and that this is not welcome.
Hi Claudia,
You can submit a support ticket about any situation you perceive as abusive.
Regards,
Enrique
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Claudia Krysztofiak wrote:
Their mail subject is
"Urgently required Translators : English > German - IT"
but in the body of their mail they don't even mention for what. They are just fishing for contacts, not offering work.
What do you think?
Honestly, I don't see a problem with that. It is not Viagra or Nigeria prince-needing-help-to-get-his-millions stuff. I personally would contact them, it's my area of work. Could you send me their contact email, perhaps they need Russian translator?
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| Agree with Claudia | Jul 6, 2007 |
Claudia Krysztofiak wrote:
For the last two weeks or so I have been receiving so-called job offers from an agency with an empty Proz-profile and a not running website. Their single BlueBoard entry says they don't pay.
I really don't mind being asked if I wish to join translation projects by whoever wishes to put Proz.com technology to good use, but I mind to be asked the same question once or twice a week by the same agency. That looks more like spam to me.
Their mail subject is
"Urgently required Translators : English > German - IT"
but in the body of their mail they don't even mention for what. They are just fishing for contacts, not offering work.
I'll now add them to my list of junk senders, but I am wondering if such behaviour should also be blocked by Proz.
What do you think?
Especially since the profile is empty and they don't have an official web-site. Maybe, proz can actually implement a system that requires certain minimum information to be there in every profile (eg. contact details and a brief company history in case of outsourcers).
I know there's another translation site that implements this system and any empty profile is deleted by the site mods. So it is not impossible to put such a system in place.
Of course, a reasonable time, say one week- a fortnight, should be given to new users but otherwise, is there any reason why there should be so many empty profiles?
And no, I wouldn't waste my time by replying to an outsourcer with an empty profile. Of course, all of us need work but who wants to waste time tracking down someone and/ or chasing someone at the time of payment?
| | | | Vadim Pogulyaev
Thailand
Local time: 17:49
Member (2007)
English to Russian
I had the following leter recently:
"Hello,
We are currently looking for translators/reviewers (English -
Russian) skilled in the IT-area. SLD Trados and Catalyst 7.0 are
required. Please get in touch with us and contact:"
Is that it?
I found corresponding bluboard entry with one positive feedback, but according to it, official site should be in "fi" domain, given contact email was in com.
Anyway, what's the poin... See more I had the following leter recently:
"Hello,
We are currently looking for translators/reviewers (English -
Russian) skilled in the IT-area. SLD Trados and Catalyst 7.0 are
required. Please get in touch with us and contact:"
Is that it?
I found corresponding bluboard entry with one positive feedback, but according to it, official site should be in "fi" domain, given contact email was in com.
Anyway, what's the point of such letters, we know what are the nigerian admirals and khodorkovsky wives are about, what about this guys?
[Edited at 2007-07-06 05:20]
[Edited at 2007-07-06 05:30] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Thank you all, I learned a lot | Jul 17, 2007 |
Thank you all for your answers and comments that give insight how other people think about this. It is always refreshing and enlightening to see different views.
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