SPAMBOTS - how can we stop them - read FIRST post.

[notoneidea]

I've had this, I've also noiced my custom profile fields are now not appearing on the registration screen

[baxterdown]

Hi everyone,

+1 here. I run a private by-invitation-only forum and as of two days ago I'm getting slammed with odd registrations. I lowered the CAPTCHA background noise to 10, but it didn't help.

Is there a way to add a new user via the ACP? If there is (and I couldn't find a way to), I could set account activation to "none" and manually add new users.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[ric323]

Is there a way to add a new user via the ACP?

No, not without a MOD

If there is (and I couldn't find a way to), I could set account activation to "none" and manually add new users.

"None" means "no registration is required". "Disabled" is the option you would want.

Have you tried custom fields?
Knowledge Base - Custom Profile Fields as an Anti-Spammer Tool

[hewmac]

I've also noiced my custom profile fields are now not appearing on the registration screen

That was a fault in an earlier upgrade - moving up to the latest should fix that.

[pietpetoors]

"and/or set a moderation queue so that all new members first post(s) have to be approved."
How do you do that?

[Kevin Clark]

"and/or set a moderation queue so that all new members first post(s) have to be approved."
How do you do that?

Admin panel
post settings

Enable queued posts:

Then the field under that determines how many of their first posts get queued.

[COD3M4ST3R-X]

Is there a way to add a new user via the ACP? If there is (and I couldn't find a way to), I could set account activation to "none" and manually add new users.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Well theirs a validated MOD ACP Add user by Highway Of Life.You can download it from his homepage.
Edit:Link on 3rd page posted by me.

[baxterdown]

Have you tried custom fields?

Yes I did, but I couldn't get it to do what I want. I would like to make a text field where the person registering has to enter a security code (string of characters like abc1234) I provide to them in advance. I tried creating a "Single text field" but that didn't work. I couldn't find where to enter the string... Am I doing it wrong?

[pietpetoors]

Admin panel
post settings
Enable queued posts:

Not in my control panel.
If I go to post settings I only get the following options:
Messages
* BBCodes
* Private message settings
* Topic icons
* Smilies
* Word censoring
Attachments
* Attachment settings
* Manage extensions
* Manage extension groups
* Orphaned attachments

[COD3M4ST3R-X]

Yes I did, but I couldn't get it to do what I want. I would like to make a text field where the person registering has to enter a security code (string of characters like abc1234) I provide to them in advance. I tried creating a "Single text field" but that didn't work. I couldn't find where to enter the string... Am I doing it wrong?

Well try this modification for a chance Automatic Spammer Detection This MOD uses Stop Forums Spam to check username, email and IP for potential spammer. If anything is returned, all the founders receive a PM notify them about the user.
Hope this helps